Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes affects the body such that it can no longer produce insulin
Often referred to as juvenile diabetes, type 1 diabetes is a less common form of diabetes mellitus.
- Also see: Type 1 diabetes symptoms
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that permanently destroys beta cells in the pancreas, meaning that the body can longer produce insulin, type 1 can be deadly without regular insulin injections.
Type 1 causes
The causes of Type 1 diabetes are different than those for type 2 diabetes, though the exact mechanisms for development of both diseases are unknown.
Type 1 diabetes, which is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is not always diagnosed in childhood.
Sometimes, type 1 diabetics are mis-diagnosed as being type 2.
Type 1: insidious
Type 1 is an insidious disease, for which no prevention is currently possible (unlike type 2 diabetes).
Those people affected by type 1 diabetes are often healthy before diagnosis. Although diet and exercise have a role to play in type 1 diabetes management, they cannot reverse the disease or eliminate the need for insulin.
Environmental triggers
The appearance of type 1 diabetes is suspected to follow exposure to an "environmental trigger," such as an unidentified virus, stimulating an immune attack against the beta cells of the pancreas (that produce insulin) in some genetically predisposed people.
The pancreas, to the rear of the abdomen, produces a hormone called insulin, which itself controls the flow of blood sugar throughout the cells of the body. An autoimmune attack on the pancreas, in which the body turns on itself for an unknown reason, causes type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes symptoms should be acted upon immediately, as without treatment this type of diabetes can be deadly.
Above average thirst, feeling tired, needing to pee regularly, losing weight, skin infections and itchiness can all be signs of type 1 diabetes.
- Please see Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes signs & symptoms for more information.
Type 1 Diabetes Facts
- Within 20 years of diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, nearly all of those diagnosed have some degree of retinopathy [1]
- In terms of inheritance of type 1 diabetes - there is a 2% risk if the mother has type 1 diabetes, 8% risk if the father has type 1 diabetes; and a 30% risk of the child developing type 1 diabetes if both parents are type 1 [1]
Treatment
- Lack of insulin production by the pancreas makes Type 1 diabetes particularly difficult to control.
- Treatment requires a strict regimen that typically includes a carefully calculated diet, planned physical activity, home blood glucose testing several times a day, and multiple daily insulin injections.
- Staying physically active and exercising regularly, maintaining a constant weight and eating a healthy diet are all invaluable in type 1 diabetes treatment.
