January 31, 2000
Complications
Question from Grand Prairie, Texas, USA:
What documentation do you have about survival rates and health issues when the child is diagnosed before one year of age?
Answer:
A very good question — We do not know for sure what the child’s life expectancy will be, but with good blood glucose control and seeing his diabetes team for regular visits, his life expectancy should be almost the same as someone without diabetes.
Keep in mind that the world of diabetes is changing so rapidly that there may be a cure or new medications to prevent complications from diabetes just around the bend, so these are exciting times. I know of many folks with diabetes of over 30 years duration and several who have had the disease for over 50 years (all of whom developed the disease at a young age) and they have no problems from the diabetes.
HVS
