Glossary Term Name
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About the Disease:
What are the different types of diabetes?
What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?
What is the "honeymoon phase"?
Is type 1 diabetes hereditary?
How did my child get type 1 diabetes? We have no family history.
How long will my child have type 1 diabetes? Can you outgrow it?
Daily Life and Management:
What is the optimal blood sugar range?
What foods should a person with type 1 diabetes eat/avoid?
Are there support groups or other parents I can talk to about everyday issues?
What do I need to know about type 1 diabetes in school?
How do I know whether my child is getting the best medical care available? Is there a list of recommended doctors and health care experts I can check?
Where can I get a medical ID for my child?
I need financial assistance for type 1 diabetes supplies and/or healthcare.
Where can I find health insurance for my child with type 1 diabetes?
I have type 1 diabetes and need help finding life insurance
Where can I find information about camps for kids with type 1 diabetes?
Research:
What's the latest research information? Is there a cure in sight?
How can I help find a cure?
If you think you or your child has diabetes, call a doctor immediately, and drink fluids WITHOUT SUGAR to prevent dehydration.
What is the "honeymoon phase"?
In a person who has type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are destroyed by immune cells. However, right after the time of diagnosis, some patients go through a "honeymoon phase" in which their existing beta cells still function. A number of research projects are currently taking place which hope to preserve the function of these existing beta cells after the honeymoon phase in people with type 1 diabetes.
Is type 1 diabetes hereditary?
Researchers are still trying to get a clear picture about how genes and environmental factors interact to determine a person's risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Forty percent of everyone in the United States carries one or more of the HLA genes (human leukocyte antigen) which lead to increased risk of type 1 diabetes. To be at increased risk, however, an individual needs two copies of these genes, one from each parent.
One in 400-500 people in the general population develops type 1 diabetes, but 1 in 20 (5 percent) people are at risk if a parent, sibling, or child has the disease. Research has shown, however, that genes don't tell the whole story, and suggests that environmental factors (which are not yet fully known) play a role as well.
JDRF is currently funding a study that will follow more than 7,000 newborns at increased genetic risk of developing diabetes and will collect vast amounts of data on potential environmental factors over a 15-year period to see which ones are associated with a greater or lesser risk of developing diabetes.
How did my child get type 1 diabetes? We have no family history.
Research has shown that at most, only 15 percent of people with type 1 diabetes have an affected first-degree relative - a sibling, parent, or offspring. Research suggests that genes account for less than half the risk of developing type 1 diabetes. These findings suggest that there may be environmental factors that influence the development of type 1 diabetes.
In general, there is a misconception that type 1 diabetes is a familial disease and primarily occurs in families where there is someone with diabetes. In reality, only about ten percent of individuals who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have a family history of diabetes.
How long will my child have type 1 diabetes? Can you outgrow it?
At this point, type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease, meaning you never outgrow it. However, JDRF is doing everything in its power to find a cure and also produce treatments that improve people's lives as soon as possible. We were founded in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, who made a promise similar to the one all JDRF volunteers have made to their loved ones with type 1 diabetes--the promise to find a cure.
In the meantime, one of the best things you can do is listen and learn from the experiences of others while also responding to your child's individual needs or tending to your own. Avoid blaming yourself or your child when things don't go smoothly. The reality is that type 1 diabetes is a difficult disease to manage, but we have come a long way and the technology is getting better all the time. Take advantage of the people, products, and other resources available to you.
DAILY LIFE AND MANAGEMENT
What is the optimal blood sugar range?
You should check with your doctor to determine the range of blood sugar levels best for you or your child. In general, optimal blood sugar goals are:
Before Meals: 70-110 mg/dL
At Bedtime: 100-140 mg/dL
If your before-meals blood sugar is consistently lower than 70 mg/dL or higher than 140 mg/dL, or your bedtime blood sugar is consistently lower than 100 mg/dL or higher than 160 mg/dL, you probably need a change in your treatment plan and should consult your doctor. Blood sugar goals may be modified for children and others who are at greater risk for hypoglycemia.
What foods should a person with type 1 diabetes eat/avoid?
People with type 1 diabetes should discuss their individual dietary needs with their doctor. Individualized meal planning is an integral part of every diabetes care plan. The key to every plan is balancing diet, exercise, and insulin intake to achieve blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. It's important that anyone new to diabetes develop strategies for eating out and controlling portions, and that they understand how to read and comprehend food labels.
JDRF Kids Online has additional information on healthy eating for kids with type 1 diabetes and their parents. You also might want to join Juvenation, JDRF's online community for people touched by diabetes. The site features a Diet and Nutrition group and a Recipe Swap group.
You can also ask other people with type 1 diabetes or parents of children with type 1 in your area who they recommend. In addition, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) website is an excellent resource for type 1 diabetes care information, and allows you to search for an endocrinologist in your area.
Where can I get a medical ID for my child?
A number of companies make medical alert IDs and products specifically marketed toward children with type 1 diabetes. The Children with Diabetes website has a comprehensive listing of medical ID products.
I need financial assistance for type 1 diabetes supplies and/or healthcare.
There are pharmaceutical assistance programs offered directly by some drug companies for people with type 1 diabetes who have little or no insurance to help offset the cost of supplies or prescription medications. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (888-477-2669) offers a point of access to hundreds of assistance programs that have joined together to provide savings to the uninsured. The Together Rx Access Card (800-444-4106) offers 25 to 40 percent off brand-name prescription medications at pharmacies nationwide. Additionally, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has a publication called "Financial Help for Diabetes Care." Order print copies from the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: 800-860-8747.
Where can I find health insurance for myself or my child with type 1 diabetes?
The federal government's new site, Healthcare.gov, has information about health insurance options as well as an easy-to-use guide to help you find out which private insurance plans, public programs and community services are available to you. Also, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has a publication entitled "Financial Help for Diabetes Care." Order print copies from the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: 800-860-8747.
For your child, every state in the nation has a health insurance program for infants, children, and teens who are not otherwise insured. To find out about programs in your state, search Insure Kids Now!, offered by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (or call 877-KIDS-NOW). Another option to investigate is your state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
I have type 1 diabetes and need help finding life insurance.
People with type 1 diabetes may encounter difficulties obtaining life insurance. It may be necessary to do some individual research to find a company that will provide you with a policy. While JDRF does not keep lists of companies that offer life insurance to people with type 1 diabetes, we can offer some direction to help you start your research into finding a policy.
An online search engine is a good place to begin your research. If you do a Web search using terms such as "diabetic life insurance," you should find companies that will provide coverage. JDRF cannot vouch for any of the companies that you may find in this manner, however, so we strongly recommend you investigate them thoroughly.
