Definition:
Juvenile Diabetes (JD), also known as Type 1 Diabetes, is a medical condition in which the pancreas does not make any insulin, a hormone which moves sugar from the bloodstream to the cells after digestion, so that it can be used as energy. Since individuals with JD produce no insulin at all, they need to receive injections of it to keep their blood sugar at appropriate levels. The onset of JD usually comes in childhood, as opposed to Type 2 Diabetes, which ordinarily begins in adulthood -- although with obesity increasing among children, more Type 2 Diabetes is being seen in that age group. In Type 2 Diabetes, some insulin is produced, so individuals may be able to manage their disease with weight loss and diet management.
Also Known As: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes
