According to JDRF, formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation:
As many as 3 million Americans may have type 1 diabetes.
Each year, more than 15,000 children and 15,000 adults — approximately 80 people per day — are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the U.S.
85 percent of people living with type 1 diabetes are adults.
The rate of type 1 diabetes incidence among children under the age of 14 is estimated to increase by 3 percent annually worldwide.
Type 1 vs. Type 2
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. Type 1 usually strikes in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood, and lasts a lifetime. Just to survive, people with the disease must take multiple injections of insulin daily or continually infuse insulin through a pump.
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which a person's body still produces insulin but is unable to use it effectively. Type 2 usually is diagnosed in adulthood and does not always require insulin injections. However, increased obesity has led to a recent rise in cases of type 2 diabetes in children and young adults.
Warning signs of type 1 diabetes may occur suddenly and include:
>> Extreme thirst
>> Frequent urination
>> Drowsiness or lethargy
>> Increased appetite
>> Sudden weight loss
>> Sudden vision changes
>> Sugar in the urine
>> Fruity odor on the breath
>> Heavy or labored breathing
>> Stupor or unconsciousness
Source: JDRF
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