7 Healthcast: Juvenile diabetes

In tonight's health cast, we look at what's being done to prevent and cure this debilitating disease.

This is 4-year-old Katie Mousseau of Dennis.

She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 16 months of age.

And although she looks like a perfectly healthy and happy little girl, every day is an uphill battle with this disease.

Sally Mousseau, Katie's mom
"We check them probably 8 times because she is so small, and anytime she's exercising we just need to make sure she is getting the right amount of insulin, and that we're checking it frequently and she does very well."

Katie has to check her blood 8 times a day, and uses an insulin pump to control her blood sugar.

Her diabetes affects every aspect of her young life.

Sally Mousseau, Katie's mom
"So the thing we have to be careful of is when we are looking at babysitters or when she started school , we need to train and teach people how to test blood sugars and how to use an insulin pump and how to do it appropriately so that she is managed well."

 And she is not alone, Doctor's say they are seeing an increase in this type of diabetes.

Dr. Lori Laffel, Joslin Diabetes Center
"Type 1 or what used to be called juvenile onset diabetes is a tremendous problem, and the number of new cases is increasing exponentially and epidemically ".

And that's expected to grow.

Dr. Lori Laffel, Joslin Diabetes Center
"The number of new cases has doubled in the past 25 years and data indicates that the number of new cases for childhood type diabetes will double again, but within the next 15 years."

While the disease is treatable, it's not curable, but doctor's hope that by raising awareness, this trend will turn around.

Dr. Lori Laffel, Joslin Diabetes Center
"We really need ongoing research and efforts to better try and understand this condition so that we can prevent and reverse this process and find a cure for type 1 diabetes".

And that is Sally's hope.

Sally Mousseau, Katie's mom
"We don't want her to carry this disease throughout her life, we're hoping for a cure."

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