Juvenile onset diabetes is also known as Type 1 diabetes, or insulin resistance. This disease is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when an individual’s pancreas has defective beta cells and therefore cannot produce insulin. Insulin is the hormone that is responsible for removing glucose from the blood and converting it into fuel for uptake into the muscle, tissues, and other cells. Without insulin, the glucose remains in the blood, the body has no fuel, and the blood sugar remains elevated, which causes a multitude of other issues.

Physicians are still unclear what causes the beta cells to attack its own pancreas, but they do know that this disease runs in families and that in addition to family history and genetics, geography, viral exposure, low levels of Vitamin D, and lack of Omega 3 fatty acids may play a role. Individuals who have a parent or sibling with juvenile diabetes are …