Type 1 diabetes is a health condition that is caused by the immune system destroying the insulin-making cells that should be present in the pancreas. These cells, called beta cells, are important to your body’s ability to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes is most often diagnosed in young people and children, which is why it used to be called juvenile diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes needs to be managed to help protect the other organs and the long-term well-being of those diagnosed with it. This condition is different from type 2 diabetes which occurs because the body does not respond to insulin properly.
Early signs of type 1 diabetes can be subtle. Because of this, many children and young people are not correctly diagnosed at the onset of symptoms. Symptoms include:
Signs of an emergency related to type 1 diabetes are:
Type 1 diabetes happens when the insulin hormone is not present in the cells of the body. Damaged beta cells in the body make it impossible for insulin to help move sugar (glucose) into the body’s tissues. The glucose in the body instead builds up in the blood, and the cells of the body starve. This leads to high blood sugar, which is connected with a variety of other health risks. High blood sugar can cause:
Weight Loss – This is because the glucose in the body is being removed in the urine without being utilized.
Dehydration- When there is too much sugar in the blood, you tend to urinate more. This is how the body rids itself of excess sugars most effectively.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis – DKA happens when the body looks to its fat stores to create energy since there is not enough insulin in the body. This leads to the creation of ketones, which can cause a life-threatening condition related to acid buildup and dehydration.
Damage to Body Systems – High glucose levels in the blood can lead to damage to the internal organs, the kidneys, the eyes, and the heart.
Type 1 diabetes impacts males and females in equal numbers. You will be at more risk for this type of diabetes if you are younger than 20, are white, and have a parent or a sibling with type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed with a blood sugar test. Doctors might also test your urine for glucose or chemicals that are related to the imbalance in the body caused by too little insulin. This is all that is usually needed for an accurate diagnosis of this condition.
Type 1 diabetes is easily managed in nearly every case. This condition cannot be prevented from happening, but thankfully management is very straightforward. Those who are affected will need to check their blood sugar regularly, and they will have to make some adjustments to their diet, activities, and insulin levels from time to time.
Type 1 diabetes is managed with insulin shots that help to stabilize blood sugar. There are four kinds of insulin that are used for the treatment of this condition. You might be given different types to take during different times of the day. Rapid-acting, regular or short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting insulins are given to type 1 diabetics and the use of these insulins might be altered over time as needed.
Exercise is critical to managing type 1 diabetes because exercise impacts blood sugar levels. Diet can also help to manage type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetics will need to eat lots of fruits and vegetables and avoid excess fat or sugar in their diet.