Diabetes is an autoimmune disease. That means the body’s defense system attacks some of the body’s own cells. In type 1 diabetes, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed, and therefore they are no longer capable of making insulin. We don’t know exactly why this happens, but we do know that some […]
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Diabetes is often diagnosed by measuring fasting glucose levels. If that value is lower than the value necessary to diagnose diabetes but your doctor suspects you still may have diabetes, an oral glucose tolerance test may be done. This is a special test that shows how well the body uses glucose. Talk to your doctor
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Treating diabetes is a team effort. You (the parents or guardians) and the child are the most important members of this team, working closely with the child’s doctor, who may be a pediatrician or an endocrinologist. In addition, the care team may include: A diabetes educator (often a nurse) A dietitian A psychologist or other
Diabetes can’t be cured, but it can be controlled. The treatment varies according to how much insulin the body makes, and how well the body is able to use available insulin. Many people with type 2 diabetes can control their diabetes at first by losing weight, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. Others also
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