Juvenile diabetes---more commonly referred to as type 1 diabetes---is a chronic medical condition caused by the body's inability to produce normal levels of insulin. As a result, people with juvenile diabetes cannot normally regulate the levels of sugar within the blood. Juvenile diabetes most commonly develops in children, adolescents or young adults. If your child is diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, be sure to discuss the potential side effects of this condition with her pediatrician.
Nerve Damage
If your child has juvenile diabetes, he may experience nerve damage (neuropathy) as a result of this condition. Neuropathy can cause a number of additional symptoms that develop within the hands or feet, such as numbness, weakness or pain. Your child can feel nauseous or bloated after eating, have difficulty urinating or may frequently faint or pass out. You can help limit these side effects by ensuring that your child takes all medications as directed by his physician.
Kidney Damage
Juvenile diabetes can lead to kidney damage in some children, adolescents or young adults. Consistently high levels of sugar in the blood can have a negative effect on the kidneys and cause them to stop working. If this occurs, your child could develop kidney disease---a medical condition referred to as nephropathy, according to the American Diabetes Association. Nephropathy can lead to additional symptoms such as weakness, decreased appetite or difficulty concentrating. If your child has sustained kidney damage, you might notice the presence of blood in his urine. The progression of kidney disease can be inhibited with treatment if your child is diagnosed early.
Heart Disease
This condition significantly increases your child's risk of developing cardiovascular problems later in life. People with juvenile diabetes often develop coronary artery disease, high blood pressure or narrowing of the arteries. These medical conditions can cause certain patients to be more susceptible to experiencing a heart attack or stroke during adulthood.
Eye Damage
High levels of blood sugar can lead to the damage of blood vessels within the retina of the eyes. Therefore, people with juvenile diabetes are at an increased risk of sustaining eye damage or developing cataracts, glaucoma or blindness.
Skin Irritation
A diagnosis of juvenile diabetes could mean that your child develops frequent bacterial or fungal infections of the skin. Such infections can cause irritation, inflammation or itching of the skin. Speak with your child's pediatrician for further treatment if you notice that she is experiencing skin irritation. Additional medication might be prescribed to resolve the bacterial or fungal infection.
