- By Bornika Das
- Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:07 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Nick Jonas Type 1 Diabetes: Recently, American singer and actor Nick Jonas has opened up about being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 13 years old and how it affected his life. He took to Instagram and shared a post featuring AI-generated images of how his journey has been. He shared his diabetes journey as a part of an ad for a diabetes monitoring device. Nick, in his post, wrote, “After my type 1 diabetes diagnosis at 13, it felt like someone was shutting the door on my dreams. Now, stepping back on the Broadway stage, I wish that I could go back and tell my younger self that everything turns out better than I could ever imagine.” By highlighting both the challenges and possibilities of living with diabetes since his teen years, he has shown how important it is to know details about type 1 diabetes, its symptoms, causes and treatment in teens.
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What Is Type 1 Diabetes In Teens?
Previously called juvenile diabetes, teens who have type 1 diabetes can’t use glucose, which is the body’s main type of sugar for energy. This happens because their body has stopped making the hormone insulin. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t make insulin. Without insulin, glucose can’t get into the cells. It stays in the blood, which raises the blood sugar level in the body. Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, from early childhood to adulthood. However, the average age of diagnosis is 13 years. According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, type 1 diagnoses take place in people aged under 20 years.
Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children, teenagers and adults are similar. The symptoms of type 1 diabetes in teens tend to develop rapidly over a few weeks. Some of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes in adolescents are:
Increased thirst and urination
Hunger
Weight loss
Fatigue
Irritability
A fruity smell on the breath
Blurred vision
Causes Of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas that make insulin. This destruction can happen over months or years, ultimately resulting in a total lack (deficiency) of insulin. Health experts don’t know the actual cause of type 1 diabetes, but believe that there’s a strong genetic component. Moreover, other factors like a virus or environmental toxins can trigger the immune system to attack cells in the pancreas if there is a genetic predisposition for developing Type 1 diabetes.
Treatment Of Type 1 Diabetes
Teens with type 1 diabetes have to pay extra care to what they eat and do that those with no diabetes. They and their guardians need to follow the steps:
Check blood sugar levels as prescribed
Give themselves insulin injections or use an insulin pump as prescribed
Eat a healthy, balanced diet with accurate carbohydrate counts
Get regular exercise
Have regular checkups with doctors and other diabetes experts.
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(Disclaimer: This content, including suggestions and advice, provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information before making any drastic changes in your lifestyle.)
