What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose (a form of sugar) out of the bloodstream and into the cells.
When you eat, your body absorbs the sugars and other nutrients from the food. These then get transported by the blood stream to all the cells in the body. The cells can absorb many of the things they need on their own, but not glucose, their main source of energy. In order for glucose to enter the cells, insulin must be present.
In diabetics, since most of their insulin producing cells has been destroyed, this mechanism doesn’t work. Your cells starve even as you eat, and high levels of unused sugar circulating through the body damage the organs.
What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes usually has an onset during childhood or young adulthood. In rare cases, however, it can occur later in life. Women and men are about equally affected. Certain races and ethnicities are more prone to developing type 1 Diabetes. For example, rates in Scandinavia, Sweden and Finland in particular, are three times higher than in the United States.
The causes of type 1 diabetes are poorly understood. There seems to be a strong genetic component, as evidenced by the uneven distributions in different countries and ethnicities. However, just what brings about the disease expression is unknown. The onset of the disease is usually preceded by exposure to an environmental trigger. Certain viruses have been linked to type 1 Diabetes, and contact with some toxins may also increase the risk of developing the disease. Type 1 diabetes also occurs in conjunction with other autoimmune diseases.
Diabetes Type 1: Symptoms
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes are many and varied. They include:
- Increased thirst and frequent urination
- Increased appetite and eating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Inexplicable weight loss
- Pain in the abdominal area
- Poor Circulation
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Dry mouth
- Increase in vaginal or urinary tract infections
Fruity smelling breath or unconsciousness can be indications of grave danger, and the diabetic should be immediately rushed to the hospital.
Diagnosis
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed by a symptoms history and a random or fasting blood glucose level test.
Treatment
All type 1 diabetics require insulin injections to manage their blood sugar levels. These injections should be administered to the fatty tissue under the skin, so that it is released into the bloodstream gradually. The thighs, abdomen, and back of the arms are all good places. It is good to rotate injection sites so as to cause the least possible amount of irritation to any one area of the body.
It is important that type 1 diabetics monitor their blood sugar at all times. If it’s too high, more insulin may be required. Conversely, if it’s too low, it’s important to eat some food to bring it back up.
Planning meals so as to keep blood sugar levels controlled is also crucial when dealing with type 1 diabetes. A good diet is a great way to keep diabetes under control. Exercise is also very helpful and should be considered integral to any treatment plan.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-1-diabetes
http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/type-1-diabetes
