Juvenile Diabetes / Type One Diabetes

Fourth leading cause of death is diabetes, which is chronic metabolic disorder that afflicts seventeen million people in the United Sates. The human body main source of energy is sugar or glucose. Glucose comes from eating foods such as bread, vegetables, and sweets that contain carbohydrates. Also, the body makes some glucose. Glucose enters into the bloodstream. In the abdomen near the stomach is the pancreas organ. Pancreas contains beta cells (islets of Langerhans) that produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that brings glucose to the cells of the body to use, that helps cells in the body take in sugar, which is then converted to energy. When beta cells are destroyed, by the body's immune system (white blood cells or insulin antibodies), they don't produce any more insulin, which is the cause of Type One Diabetes. Over two million patients suffer from Type One Diabetes. Increase in glucose level, which causes the body cells to starve, for nutrients that normally receives energy. Symptoms of Type One Diabetes include dehydration, weight loss, and damaging the body that may include nerves, small blood vessels of the eyes, and hardening of large arteries that can cause heart attack and stroke. Also, symptoms include: Abdominal pain, drowsiness, difficulty in breathing, fruity smell to the breath, and Ketones (large amount of Keytones may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis) in the urine. The combination of high level of sugar, dehydration and acid build known as ketoacidosis (DKA), or insulin deficiency, is the first sign of this disease. Type One Diabetes or "juvenile diabetes" occur usually early in life. In 2000, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, juvenile diabetes accounts approximately ten percent of all diabetes in the United States. Currently not possible to predict, exactly when these antibodies will cause a problem. In some children, antibodies will not be present in the body, for months or years, before onset of Type One Diabetes appears. While in other children, antibodies become present within the first few weeks of life.
Hyperglycemia or high blood glucose occurs in diabetes. This happens when there is too much sugar in the blood. Two specific types of hyperglycemia: Fast hyperglycemia is blood sugar greater then 90 - 130 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), after fasting at least eight hours. After a meal or Postprandial hyperglycemia, when blood sugar usually greater than 180 mg/dL. People that don't have diabetes, rarely exceed 140 mg/dL or 180 mg/dL after a large meal. Long duration's of postprandial hyperglycemia, can lead to Type Two Diabetes, which is common form of diabetes.

Causes of Type One Diabetes

Family member has diabetes, and Caucasians. Sometimes associated to genes that cause diabetes. Also, eating healthy and avoid being over - weight. Obesity in children has been linked to diabetes, and especially Type Two. During the past two decades, twenty-five percent of children are considered obese. According to June 2000 issue of Diabetes, researchers found a link that children that drank more than half a liter (about three glasses) of cow's milk a day, would be five times more likely to develop diabetes. This maybe related to a protein found in milk. Also, researchers determined that "number of diabetics and non-diabetics who had breast-fed for at least 2 months or had received some cow's milk before 2 months of age, did not differ." Reported in 2002, according to Charity Action Research, "over-active immune response to the coxsackie B4 virus (CVB4) may trigger diabetes. Virus in the Immune System will attack, and kill cells in the pancreas, which produces insulin. Most commonly effects children, with flu like symptoms. The strain for the virus was found, in the pancreas of a child dying of Type One Diabetes. In March 2004, a Danish study concluded there is no risk of developing type One Diabetes, after receiving childhood vaccines. The study observed nearly 750,000 children. Heart disease and Type Two Diabetes can be prevented, by proper nutrition and diet.
Currently, no substantial preventive methods or cures once diagnosed. Treatment is available to control diabetes for most patients. Early diagnosis can prevent serious complications. Physicians treat ketoacidosis by administering insulin and recommending drinking more fluids - sugar free. Also recommended, good nutrition, exercise, and testing blood glucose on a regular basis.

Experimental Methods to Cure Type One Diabetes

In May 1999, according to Journal Science, Dr. Ji-Won Yoon at the University of Calgary Alberta, Canada: His research studies was able to isolate in mice, the gene (GAD) that causes the body to attack and kill tissues, that produce insulin. His research team was able to create a vaccine for mice that suppress GAD, in the pancreatic cells. Scientist determined that eighty-percent of people that have Type One Diabetes, have the GAD antibody, compared to five percent of the general population. May take ten to fifteen years to develop a vaccine, for humans that can manipulate the GAD gene. Transplantation for insulin producing pancreatic beta - cells (islet cell transplant), have shown positive results, treating type One Diabetes. Insulin producing cells from a donor pancreas, rather than the entire organ, is transplanted into diabetic patient. The procedure is less invasive surgery, and method called the Edmonton Protocol. A specialist called an interventional radiologist performs the islet cell transplant. Islet cells are transplanted into the liver, where insulin is produced more effectively. About one million islets are needed, from two or more donor organs. Patients receiving the islets have to be treated with immunosuppressants drugs, which suppress the activity of the immune system, from rejecting the islets. The procedure is considered experimental and performed in clinical trials. However, further studies have been curtailed, because of the sever shortage of donor beta cells. Researchers in Mexico have managed to treat children with Type One Diabetes, using beta cells transplanted from piglets. According to the study, twenty-three children aged eleven to seventeen, where given beta cells from ten piglets, which were needed to provide enough cells for each child. After five years, researchers detected insulin-producing cells within the children. Other studies conducted by University of Ulster scientists, discovered that "modified-forms of GIP", a naturally occurring molecule produced by the body, can combat key symptoms of diabetes. This stimulated the formation of a new company, to develop production of new anti-diabetic agents.