A special thank you to Kodak for this picture. Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the endocrine system. The prevelant type in childhood is Type I Diabetes. This is a condition in which the body does not produce a sufficient amount of insulin to use the food that a person eats for fuel. Diabetes can lead to many long-term complications if not adequately controlled.
Treatment includes daily insulin injections, a proper diet, and adequate exercise.
There is no cure for diabetes but with proper management those with the disease can expect to live long and happy lives. Children with diabetes are faced daily with insulin injections, the need for proper dietary management, and the correct balance of exercise. This often leads to feelings of being different from their peers and can cause conflict within the family. These issues and many others need to be addressed with diabetic children, so that they can learn about their disease and how to control it. As Child Life Specialists the resolution of these issues should be of great importance when working with these children.