Childhood diabetes : Type 1 diabetes
A Majority of children under 16 with diabetes have Type 1 diabetes or childhood diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes (childhood diabetes) is an autoimmune disease, a condition in which the body's immune 
system attacks one of the body's own tissues or organs. It is mainly caused by genetics, viruses, diet or stress. In childhood diabetes, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed. No measure, even diet and exercise, can prevent or reverse childhood diabetes.
The main symptoms of childhood diabetes are increased thirst, increased appetite and polyuria. A toilet-trained child may 
develop nocturnal incontinence or many visits to the toilet during the night. The child may appear increasingly tired and irritable. Other complaints include abdominal pain, frequent infections (including fungal infections), vomiting and visual disturbances. Many patients with childhood diabetes present with ketoacidosis and some even with diabetic coma. Most people affected by childhood diabetes are otherwise healthy and of a healthy weight when onset occurs.
According to the American Diabetes Association, childhood diabetes (Type 1 diabetes) comprises up to ten percent of total diabetes cases in the United States. Though type 1 diabetes (childhood diabetes) can occur in adults but was traditionally termed "juvenile diabetes", since type 1 diabetes occurs more commonly in children.
The principal treatment of childhood diabetes is insulin with monitoring of blood glucose levels. The doctor ideally offers advice, education and support to the child and family. Childhood diabetes needs to be managed for all of the child’s life, but diabetes need not prevent a child from living a full and active life.
