Type 1 Diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is a disorder of the body's immune system. We all have a pancreas—and this is where the disease works. The pancreas job is to produce insulin. Insulin helps your body move the glucose (sugar) contained in food into cells throughout the body. Your body uses glucose for energy. A Type 1 diabetic does not have a properly working pancreas, and it cannot produce insulin. The glucose stays in the blood and can cause serious damage to the body's organ systems.

Diabetes is a very serious disease and effects many children and adolescents. It's not something that you can grow out of either.

People with Type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin everyday in order to maintain healthy levels of insulin. Before they inject themselves, they have to test their blood sugar levels. Through years of instruction and practice, diabetics use their blood sugar level in order to calculate how much insulin they need. The insulin regulates their blood sugar levels.

Diabetics have to take extra care in their food intake and exercise. In order to keep their blood sugar at healthy levels, they must watch everything they eat. Eating food with too much sugar can cause their blood sugar to rise, making them feel anxious and hyper. Not eating can cause them to feel tired and sluggish. Type one diabetes symptoms include: 

If you think you or someone you know may have diabetes, you should call a doctor immediately.

Diabetes can be controlled. Diabetics can have children, play sports, and go away to college, but they have to take extra care of their bodies. If they do, they can have normal, healthy lives.

There is no cure for diabetes—yet! With the help of many generous people, years have gone into researching for a cure. November is National Diabetes Month. You can help finding a cure a reality by donating or raising money or volunteering.

Check out the Juvenile Diabetes Research foundation at www.JDRF.org. You can find out how to make a difference!