Childhood Diabetes

Childhood Diabetes Today, diabetes is a huge problem in society. There are almost three million children and adults in the United States who have diabetes. Children suffer more now from diabetes than they have in the past. The reasons why children have diabetes are genetic, societal, and their personal body chemistry. According to Steven Dowshen and Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, "diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose, the main type of sugar in the blood. Glucose comes from the foods we eat and is the major source of energy needed to fuel the body 's functions" (Dowshen). That means everything that we eat is extremely important to our health in daily life. Food can lead us to a good health if we know how to eat in a correct way. However, if we eat food everyday that contains very high cholesterol, sugar, and fat, our bodies will collect that excess. It can lead to diabetes, and adults as well as children can suffer from it. There are two types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, also called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes, and type 2 diabetes. People who have type 1 diabetes need to take insulin injections because their glands do not make any insulin. Moreover, this type needs insulin every day. The immune system of people who suffer from type 1 diabetes destroys the insulin-producing data cells of the pancreases. In addition, type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children and young adults. On the other hand, people with type 2 diabetes can still make insulin, but not adequate to their body 's needs. People who have type 2 diabetes have to take insulin via injections or pills or tablets. Usually, this type occurs in adults age forty-five years and up (Dowshen). Glucose can cause diabetes. According to Dr. Ruby Go, president of the Philippine Lipid Atherosclerosis Society (PLAS), "Prediabetes occurs when the body does not respond properly to its own insulin and this cause glucose levels in the blood to increase." ("Go") That means

Cited: Dowshen, Steven, MD, and Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD. "Type 1 Diabetes: What Is It?" Virtua Health. March 2005. 10 November 2006 . --------"Diabetes Facts and Myths."April 2005. 15 November 2006.