Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes or sometimes insulin-dependent diabetes, can shake up a family’s routine.
Managing diabetes ““ there’s no sure cure yet ““ is a complex, sometimes seemingly impossible, juggling act involving diet, physical activity, medication and the very real dangers that come with not keeping blood sugar levels as close to optimal as possible.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a national non-profit foundation based in Cincinnati and dedicated to raising funds to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes, has identified these myths and facts about the disease:
Myth 1: My child will outgrow Type 1 diabetes.
Fact: Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong challenge for patients and their loved ones. There’s no cure ““ yet, JDRF stresses ““ but the disease and its devastating effects can be managed.
Myth 2: It’s caused by obesity.
Fact: Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that helps the body use sugar. It’s unclear why this happens, but experts believe it’s a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Myth 3: Insulin cures Type 1 diabetes.
Fact: Insulin lets the body properly metabolize sugar and helps slow the damage done by diabetes. Even if the child with the disease follows medication and diet plan perfectly, he or she still has diabetes. No known diabetes cure exists.
Myth 4: Children with Type 1 diabetes can’t exercise or play sports.
Fact: Of course they can, but increasing physical activity means a little more work in terms of monitoring blood sugar levels, eating the right amount and kinds of calories, and getting the right doses of insulin at the right times of day. Physical activity is good for everyone, and helps keep the body and spirit healthy.
Myth 5: Kids with diabetes can’t eat sweets.
Fact: Too many sweets aren’t good for anyone, diabetic or not. Eating any carbohydrate, including sugar, raises blood glucose levels. The key with diabetes is learning to limit sweets and planning how to include a treat in your day once in a while ““ while still remembering to count the carbs and calories toward your daily intake.
Myth 6: Children with Type 1 diabetes can achieve “tight control” ““ glucose levels at or near normal ““ if they follow a strict treatment plan.
Fact: People with diabetes can do everything right according to their treatment plan and still experience high or low glucose levels. A number of factors ““ including stress, diseases, hormonal changes and, especially in children and teens, growth spurts ““ affect blood sugar levels, and it can be nearly impossible to plan for all of them. The inability to achieve “tight” blood sugar control doesn’t mean the patient is doing something wrong.
Myth 7: Only kids get Type 1 diabetes.
Fact: Most people with Type 1 diabetes are diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, but the disease can occur at any time of life.
Myth 8: Kids don’t get Type 2 diabetes.
Fact: Type 2 is still the “minority” diagnosis among kids with diabetes, but it does happen, especially with the increase in the last several years of obesity among children and teens.
Myth 9: It’s inevitable that my child ““ who will live with diabetes for years ““ will develop complications, such as heart disease or amputations, no matter how disciplined we are.
Fact: Not necessarily. The mechanisms that lead to complications aren’t yet well understood, and they vary from person to person. In some cases, people may be genetically predisposed ““ independent of the effects of diabetes ““ toward certain complications, including heart disease and stroke.
