Diabetes Information for Teens, 4th Ed.

The teen years are especially important in the battle against diabetes. As young people begin to take more personal responsibility for managing their health, they make their own choices about what to eat and what activities to pursue. These decisions can have consequences that impact well-being throughout the adult years. Knowing the risk factors for diabetes is important for prevention and treatment. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children, teens, and young adults, but it can happen at any age. The prevalence of type 1 diabetes appears to be increasing among children and adolescents in recent times. Researchers suspect that a combination of genetic and environmental factors may be involved in a process that causes the body’s autoimmune system to destroy insulin-producing pancreatic beta-cells. In addition, type 2 diabetes, which used to occur almost exclusively in adults, is now appearing with greater frequency among young people. Evidence suggests the trend is related to a tendency for children and adolescents to be more overweight and less active. However, medical advancements are helping people with diabetes better manage the disease, forestalling its complications. In addition, new insights are leading to more focused prevention efforts. In some cases, these involve lifestyle changes that can help delay—or even prevent—diabetes from developing. For people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes, proper care and health management can help avoid its most serious long-term complications, such as nerve damage, loss of vision, amputation, kidney failure, and even premature death.

Diabetes Information for Teens, Fourth Edition examines the alarming trends in diabetes prevalence, and it provides information about positive steps that can be taken. The book provides facts about the different types of diabetes, the physical complications of diabetes, its medical management, and the roles of nutrition and physical activity in averting its consequences. Suggestions are included for handling problematic situations, such as caring for diabetes at school or dealing with the emotional ups and downs associated with having diabetes, and a special section describes related health concerns and the prevention of complications. For readers seeking more information, the book provides information about diabetes-friendly recipes and a directory of diabetes resources.

Part 1: Understanding Diabetes begins with an overview, facts and statistics about diabetes. It explains how the metabolic processes that fuel the body can sometimes go awry leading to diabetes. It describes the differences between the many forms of diabetes, and myths about diabetes.

Part 2: The Physical Complications of Diabetes explains how the metabolic processes that lead to diabetes can also damage the heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs and systems of the body. Suggestions for preventing—or at least delaying—these health consequences are also included.

Part 3: Medical Management of Diabetes talks about the importance of self-monitoring blood glucose levels and working with a health-care team. It explains commonly used diabetes medications and discusses the different roles played by oral diabetes medications and insulin. Problems related to blood sugar levels that are too high or too low are addressed. It also sheds light on diabetes treatment frauds and unapproved diabetes drugs.

Part 4: Mental Health and Lifestyle Issues looks at the emotional aspects of dealing with diabetes and how disease management practices interact with daily life. It explains how mental health is of special concern to people with diabetes, and it offers tips for dealing with diabetes in particular situations, such as at school, while driving and traveling, when sick, and so on.

Part 5: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Weight Management includes facts about meal planning and dietary strategies that can help keep blood sugar levels within a target range. It also discusses the importance of physical activity as a disease-management tool, and it explains how achieving a healthy body weight can help keep diabetes better controlled.

Part 6: If You Need More Information offers some interesting diabetes-friendly recipes and a directory of resources for more information about diabetes.