What is Diabetes?

The most common type of diabetes in childhood is Type I Diabetes.  This is a condition in which the pancreas no longer makes insulin because the insulin producing cells have been damaged.

Insulin is the hormone that regulates the body's blood glucose. In a person that doesn't have diabetes, the blood glucose level will be between 4-7 millimoles per litre and stays stable because each time we eat, insulin is made in the correct amount.

If you have Type I Diabetes, insulin can no longer be made.  Controlling the body's blood glucose now depends upon insulin being given by a subcutaneous injection.  Your blood glucose can be measured from a simple finger prick test; the result is used to work out how much insulin is needed.

How Insulin Works

We know that insulin is the vital 'messenger' which converts the food we eat into energy.  The sweet and starchy food we eat and drink, (carbohydrates) are broken down into glucose (sugar) in the stomach; the glucose then passes out of the stomach into the blood stream via the intestines.  Insulin allows the glucose to be used as fuel for all our daily activities, even for sleeping, to ensure adequate growth and to repair cells when damaged.  Insulin also transfers any extra glucose in the blood stream to muscles, fat cells and the liver to be stored until it is needed for energy.

Extra energy is required for exercise and during emergencies, e.g. when we are unwell.  Our bodies use up the energy stored in our muscles and liver for these occasions.  If the energy stores are empty, the body uses fat for energy.  This explains why tiredness and loss of weight are common signs of diabetes.

Without insulin, the glucose from food and drink stays in the blood stream causing the blood glucose to rise, some gets filtered through the kidneys and then passed out of the body in the urine.  The glucose in the urine also takes water from the body along with it.  This explains why many children drink and wee a lot, sometimes day and night, before diagnosis.  High blood glucose levels can also encourage infections.

The amount of insulin being produced would have been slowing down for a considerable time (weeks-months), so sometimes the onset of the symptoms may have been gradual and can often go unrecognised.

The body now needs help to process the glucose that is taken as food and drink, otherwise you will continue to feel unwell.  Insulin injections and a healthy diet, along with regular exercise, will now be necessary to control the blood glucose and keep the cells full of glucose for energy.

We appreciate that this is a very anxious time for you.  The children's diabetes team will be able to offer you ongoing help and support and teach you about caring for your diabetes.