16 year old "slim" son diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes?!


Question: 16 year old "slim" son diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes!?
The doctors are kind of stump but my son is Type 1 diabetic!. He is 6ft weights 180 slim and fit plays football and basketball!. His life was changed drastically 10/17/08 when diagnosed, hospitalized and put on insulin!. His father and I both have Diabetes in our families but both sides we're age appropriate!.

The doctors have sent for genetic testing!. I want to know if this scenario is similar to anyone else regarding a non-over weight child with Type 1 Diabetes!? Thanks in advanceWww@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
Type 1 diabetes usually strikes in childhood or early adulthood ((although it can happen at anytime))!. People when diagnosed with type 1 are usually thin, and not overweight!. Www@Answer-Health@Com

Type 1 peoples are always slim before diagnosis as the pancreas is failing and not putting out sufficient of the fat producing enzyme insulin!. Your doctors are stupid if they are stumped!. Anyone of any age can be diagnosed with type 1 as it is a death of the pancreas!. It is most usual in small children, but others do get diagnosed with it!.

Your son has been in a "honeymoon" period of this disease for quite a while evidently!. No one knows just why it happens, and it isn't at all hereditary as type 2 almost always is!.

http://diabetes!.niddk!.nih!.gov/treatments!.!.!.
http://www!.endocrineweb!.com/diabetes/dia!.!.!.
http://www!.bloodsugar101!.com/
http://www!.alt-support-diabetes!.org/Newl!.!.!.

These sites are a beginning of your and your son's education!. They have good info in them!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Why are the docs stumped!? They should know that Type 1 is not associated with being overweight!. In fact, the vast majority of us are healthy weights!. We don't yet know what causes it, there might be a genetic predisposition aggravated by a virus or other trauma to the body!. Type 2 diabetes is very genetic, and often weight-related but not always!.

The fact that your docs are stumped indicates to me that they have little experience with Type 1 kids!. You need to get hooked up with an endocrinologist and make that his diabetes doctor!. They specialize in gland disorders like Type 1 and they are critical to your child's care!. Don't trust your son's health to a general practitioner or even an internist!. Gotta see an endocrinologist!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Type 1 Diabetes, although usually diagnosed in young children, can occur to anyone of any age!. Your son is certainly within the "target" range of ages, though!.

Type 1 diabetics are usually normal-to-thin height-to-weight ratio!.

Other than curiosity, I don't know why the doctor would need genetic testing!. What is important is that your son HAS been diagnosed, and is now on his way to management of the disease!.

Diabetes is not curable, only manageable!. if your son follows the doctors orders EXACTLY, there is no reason why he can't live a long and otherwise normal life -- including marriage and bringing you some grandchildren!

Www@Answer-Health@Com

type 1 has nothing whatsoever to do with weight!. in fact most people diagnosed experience a rapid drop of weight before its discovered!. 16 is also a very common age for type 1 to develop!. you should read up about the difference between type 1 and type 2 before you worry, they are very different!. talk with a doctor or a diabetes nurse!.

its totally normal!. well, as normal as diabetes can be!!!!

i was 16 when i was diagnosed and had dropped to just over 100lbs (i'm 5'4")!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

I can relate!. My son was diagnosed with type 1 at age 7 and was thin and active and we thought quite healthy!. The only folks in either family who had diabetes were type 2 who got diagnosed when they were in their 50's or older!. No one could think of any family member even remotely with type 1!. My son is 16 now and doing fine!.

A great place for you son to meet other diabetics is through Setebaid!. They host teen weekends and camps!. Check out www!.setebaid!.com!. Also, he's a teen but www!.childrenwithdiabetes!.com has great info!.

If you want to talk about what's going on in your life feel free to email me!Www@Answer-Health@Com

i have a friend who is 4'9" and weighs 95 pounds, she was diagnose with type 1 diabetes at age 23!. her doctor told her for some reason, her pancreas just stopped producing insulin!. sometimes people get diseases for no apparent reason!. just makes sure he follows the doctors instructions!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

While type 1 diabetes can run in a family- hence the genetic testing, the fact is nobody really has a good answer why some children will just develop it!. Current theory is it is probably related to a viral illness that causes the Isle of Langerhans to die off!. While diabetes Type 2 is related to weight, age, diet, lifestyle and family history- Type 1 isn't necessarily!. In his case, he will never produce insulin!. In the Type 2, you produce insulin, but the body cells are not very efficient at using it!. Most of the kids we have seen in the ER for a diabetic emergency were not little tubbies either, and there was not any clue previous to that there was a problem!. About the only thing with genetics is that if you have a sibling with Diabetes Type 1, you are at higher risk for it!. If you have other children, then they will also need to be tested as well!. Your son may also have a higher chance of having children who develop the problem as well!. Meantime, don't go blaming yourself for anything!. It's nothing you could predict or prevent, and isn't related to your family history of Type 2 diabetes!.Www@Answer-Health@Com





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