WHAT IS DIABETES?

D I A B E T E S I S A D I S E A S E T H AT I N V O LV E S H I G H B L O O D G L U C O S E L E V E L S . W H E N A P E R S O N E AT S FOOD, THE BODY CONVERTS IT TO GLUCOSE. THE GLUCOSE IS THEN TRANSPORTED FROM THE BLOODSTREAM INTO THE CELLS BY A HORMONE CALLED INSULIN; A HORMONE MADE IN THE PA N C R E A S . W H E N T H E B O D Y D O E S N O T M A K E ENOUGH INSULIN, DIABETES OCCURS. DIABETES IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CHRONIC DISEASES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS; ABOUT 151,000 PEOPLE BELOW THE AGE OF 20 Y E A R S H AV E D I A B E T E S .

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF DIABETES

In type 1 diabetes, the cells in the In type 2 diabetes, which starts in adulthood (and in some teenagers), the

pancreas that make

insulin are destroyed, and therefore they are no longer capable of making insulin.

body still makes some

insulin but it doesn't make enough so the body cannot use it properly.

SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES
Symptoms of Type 2 Increased thirst and urination Symptoms of Type 1 Increased thirst and frequent urination Extreme hunger Weight loss Fatigue Irritability or unusual behavior Yeast infection Blurred vision

Increased hunger
Weight loss Fatigue Blurred vision Slow-healing sores Frequent infections Areas of darkened skin

EARLY DETECTION A body mass index (BMI) or weight above the 85th percentile for his or her age Family history of type 2 diabetes Being a Native American, African American, Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander High blood pressure

High cholesterol
Higher-than-normal liver enzymes, a sign of inflammation from fat deposited in the liver Polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormone problem that interferes with ovulation

HELPFUL TIPS FOR TEACHERS

DONT DRAW UNNECESSARY ATTENTION TO YOUR STUDENTS CONDITION. Your student with diabetes may have to eat snacks periodically in the classroom. In addition to your students designated snack time, remember that he or she MUST eat whenever they feel low. This is imperative, especially if the student is unable to have his or her blood sugar level checked first. This is NOT a choice for the child with diabetes, but a necessity! PROVIDE INCONSPICUOUS AND GENTLE REMINDERS. Pay close attention to your students regular snack time. Not all children (especially the very young) can tell time, or are going to remember their snack time. If you havent noticed them eating, pass them a note or work out a special password between the two of you that reminds them of their snack time. DO NOT SYMPATHIZE: EMPATHIZE. A child with diabetes does not want or need your sympathy. These children need understanding, acceptance and support. Educate yourself in every way possible about diabetes. Learn how it may affect them and have compassion for how they must live their lives each and every day. ALWAYS BE PREPARED. Always carry a quick and portable snack WHENEVER you and your student with diabetes leave the classroom or the school grounds. This is especially important during fire drills, earthquake drills, field trips, special presentations and/or

STATISTICS
Almost 16 million Americans have diabetes, but about one-third of them are not aware of their condition because they have no symptoms. Nearly 800,000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed each year in the U.S. The chance of developing diabetes increases with age. It affects 0.16% of people under age 20, 8.2% of people age 20 and older, and 18.4% of people over age 65. Non-Hispanic blacks are 1.7 times as likely to have diabetes as nonHispanic whites. Hispanic/Latino Americans are almost twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age. The direct medical cost of diabetes in the U.S. is $44 billion. Indirect costs, such as disability and work loss, are $54 billion.

Diabetes and the Law There are laws protecting children with disabilities from discrimination in all public and most private schools and daycare centers. These laws make sure that children are treated fairly at school and that their medical needs are met.

There are resources available to you, just pick up the phone or turn on the computer
Web References A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine from the National Institutes of Health National Institutes of Health. June 4 2013. Diabetes in Children and Teens. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetesinchildr enandteens.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 25, 2013. Children and Diabetes. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/projects/cda2.htm Mayo Clinic, June 9, 2011. Type 1 diabetes in children. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-1-diabetes-inchildren/DS00931/DSECTION=symptoms Mayo Clinic, March 9, 2013. Type 2 diabetes in children. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2-diabetes-inchildren/DS00946/DSECTION=symptoms WebMD, Diabetes Health Center, November 9, 2013. What Is Type 2 Diabetes? Retrieved from http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/diabetes_symptom s_types

Resources American Diabetes Association Baltimore, MD 410-265-0075 Maryland | the diabetes resource

www.thediabetesresource.com/listingcategory/maryland IOH - Diabetes assistance programs Maryland

www.isletsofhope.com/diabetes/assistanceprograms/maryland-1.html Services for Children; University of Maryland Center for Diabetes

http://umm.edu/programs/diabetes/services/f or-children