Juvenile Diabetes Life Expectancy
It is difficult to imagine that a child can be diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Even though the disease has the ability to ravage the child's body, it is still quite manageable when proper attention is focused on it. But does having the disease lower the child's life expectancy?
In the past, there was a significant difference in the life expectancy for those suffering from juvenile diabetes and those of the same age who were not diabetic. This occurred despite the proper management of their disease. However, in recent years, the advancements of treatment options for the disease have allowed these diabetics to enjoy virtually the same life expectancy as their non-diabetic counterparts.
Up until the last year of the baby boomer phase, which was 1964, a child diagnosed with juvenile diabetes could only expect to live an average of a little over 54 years. That was with the individual taking good care of themselves and maintaining their disease as well as could be expected.
Starting in 1965, children diagnosed with type 2 can expect their life span to be increased to almost 69 years- signifying an incredible jump. This is close to the average life expectancy for the general public. Children who are non-diabetic and born during the same span of time have a life span of just over 72 years. The difference of just over three years is a dramatic difference from before.
What are the reasons for the increase? The development of portable blood glucose meters, for one. These weren't around before so their existence allows a much easier time managing levels. In the past, long-term blood sugar levels could not be tested as they can be today.
Dispensing insulin was also a problem. There was no such device like an insulin pump and even the different choices of insulin were yet to be created.
Photo: Pixabay
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...