To test for diabetes, there are four different kinds of tests. A random glucose test is the test normally used to test, screen, and diagnose patients with diabetes. It is also used to monitor a diabetic's glucose levels. Another form of testing is the two-hour postprandial glucose test. This is usually for confirming "a preliminary diagnosis of diabetes". Another form of testing is the fasting glucose test. This is another primary test for diabetes (Diabetes Center- Heart Center Online For Patients).
Treatment for diabetes includes regular insulin therapy and educating yourself on the disease (Juvenile Onset Diabetes). Juvenile onset diabetes requires daily shots of insulin. There is also an insulin pump available. It is worn on the body and gives insulin directly into the body and makes insulin injections unnecessary (WebMDHealth).
Juvenile onset diabetes or Type I diabetes is a fairly common disease. Each year there are 1 million new cases of diabetes found in people over the age of 20 (National Diabetes Statistics). 16 million U.S. citizens have diabetes (Kelly 79). This is only a fraction of the millions of others affected by the disease throughout the rest of the world. The incidence of diabetes in the U.S. population totals 6.2%. Approximately 151,000 children and teens have a form of diabetes. Children and teenagers have an incidence of 1 in 400 for juvenile onset diabetes (National Diabetes Statistics). Of the many people who have diabetes, roughly 10% have juvenile onset (Diabetes). Most cases of type I diabetes occur around age 10-12 in girls and 12-14 in boys (Diabetes Mellitus).
An average child aged 11 said this when asked "what's it like living with type I diabetes?" "It's okay, I can live with it. It's [the diet] pretty healthy, so it doesn't bother me much. When asked if he remembered anything from being diagnosed he replied, "Well, I remember that it was pretty fun in the hospital. (laughs) My mom was very scared though; before the diagnosis." He was five years old when he was diagnosed. He was also asked how he manages his glucose level, he replied, "I use my glucometer to monitor my blood glucose level. If it is too high, I can get sick. On the other hand, if it's too low I can have a low blood sugar reaction. Too low is apx. 68 and too high is apx. 175. If it's too high, I may either take a small dosage of insulin, or exercise. If it's too low, I must eat something with sugar in it. If it drops too dramatically I must take an injection of glucose from the hospital, probably." How did they test you for diabetes? "I think they tested my urine, which is kind of gross, they also tested my blood." Do children treat you differently? "That's a pretty good question actually. They know I have it, of course, and they sometimes worry about me when I'm low. They don't treat me mean though. I've never had a situation where anyone's made fun of me. I know my friends get really scared when I'm having a reaction." How can you tell if you're low or high? "When my blood sugar is high, I sometimes get thirsty and I have to go to the bathroom a lot (urinate). When I'm low, I get tired, sometimes I get hungry, but I may also lose my appetite. I might lose a little bit of consciousness depending on low I get. How do you manage your insulin? "I take shots 2 times a day. Of course I use insulin, humulin insulin. I take regular and NPH. I'm not sure what that stands for. My mom sometimes gives (the shot) to me on my behind (laughs) or my upper arm. I give it to myself in the leg. I'm trying to lose paranoia from giving it in my stomach. My sister also gives (the shot) to me, which I like the most because it's less painful when she does it." Do you have a very different diet? "In a way. I have to eat about 5 times a day. I usually have breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, and another snack. That about covers it." Are there many foods that you cannot eat? "The foods I can't eat on a regular basis are usually foods with high sugar levels in them. Such as non-diet soda, chocolate, candy, etc." (Joey Cuevas 3/25/03).
Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin. If managed correctly, and treated daily with insulin injections and balanced glucose levels in the blood, the disease is treatable, not curable, and livable.