Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that leads to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, hindering the body's ability to prodeuce sufficient insulin for proper blood glucose regulation.
The term "juvenile diabetes" is sometimes used to refer to Type 1 diabetes; however, this label is largely considered obsolete since the disease can manifest at any age, despite its frequent diagnosis in children.
Another phrase occasionally used to describe Type 1 diabetes is "insulin-dependent diabetes." Due to the cessation of insulin production in Type 1 diabetes, consistent insulin administration, whether through injections or an insulin pump, is necessary.
Type 1 diabetes symptoms
Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes requires immediate action, as the condition can be fatal without treatment.
Symptoms include:
Above average thirst
Tiredness during the day
Needing to pee regularly
Unexplained weight loss
Genital itchiness
Type 1 diabetes often develops more gradually in adults than in children, and it may sometimes be misidentified as type 2 diabetes in adults. In individuals over 35 years old, type 1 diabetes is occasionally known as Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adulthood (LADA).
Type 1 causes
Type 1 diabetes arises from a malfunction in the body's immune response, leading to the immune system erroneously attacking and destroying the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
As the pancreas loses more insulin-producing cells, the body becomes incapable of regulating blood glucose levels, prompting the onset of diabetes symptoms.
The exact cause of this immune system error remains unknown, but it is believed to stem from a mix of genetic susceptibility and an environmental factor.
The specific environmental trigger that prompts the immune system to act in this manner has not been definitively pinpointed, although current evidence strongly suggests a viral infection as the primary catalyst.
Diagnosis
If you exhibit symptoms of diabetes, your doctor might employ blood or urine tests for diagnosis. It's crucial for your doctor to determine the specific type of diabetes you have, as it influences the treatment approach. In cases where the diabetes type is uncertain, your doctor may conduct one or more of the following tests:
Due to the rapid onset of type 1 diabetes in children and young adults, it is imperative that a diagnosis be accompanied by an immediate referral to a multidisciplinary pediatric diabetes care team.
Treatment for type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas's inability to produce insulin necessitates insulin treatment.
Most individuals administer insulin using insulin pens, but insulin pump are also an option. Those interested and meeting specific criteria may consider insulin pump therapy.
Education on balancing insulin with diet and exercise, alongside blood glucose monitoring, is crucial for diabetes management.
Regular physically active and exercising and a nutritious healthy diet are vital for maintaining blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of long-term complications from diabetes. While beneficial, diet and exercise alone cannot reverse type 1 diabetes or replace the need for insulin.
If you have recently been diagnosed, see our newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes guide.
Type 1 diabetes and complications
Type 1 diabetes is a severe condition that poses significant risks of both short-term and long-term complications.
Short term complications
Short-term complications may arise if blood glucose levels drop too low or if insulin injections are not administered. These short-term complications include:
- Hypoglycemia – too low blood sugar levels
- Ketoacidosis – which can occur if insulin doses are missed or blood glucose levels become too high
Long term complications
Type 1 diabetes may result in several long-term complications:
While the potential complications may seem daunting, the risk of developing them can be greatly reduced through diligent management of your blood glucose levels and by attending all scheduled diabetic complication screening appointments.
Prevention
Future research might discover methods to stop the progression of type 1 diabetes; however, as of now, no known intervention has effectively prevented it in humans.
Type 1 diabetes research
- Researchers worldwide are exploring methods to enhance type 1 diabetes treatments and examine potential cures. Key areas of research encompass:
- Genetics and immunology of type 1 diabetes
- Interventions to alter the disease's progression and preserve β cell function
- Beta cell regeneration
- Closed-loop, pump, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology
- C-peptide and glucose variability in residual insulin production
- The role of glucagon in type 1 diabetes
- Hormones related to type 1 diabetes
- Insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes
- Mental health impacts associated with type 1 diabetes.
As well as:
Type 1 diabetes facts
The risk of developing type 1 diabetes can be influenced by genetics; for instance, if your parents or siblings have type 1 diabetes.
- Regarding the inheritance of type 1 diabetes, there is a 2% risk if the mother has it, an 8% risk if the father has it, and a 30% risk if both parents have type 1 diabetes.
- Within 20 years of diagnosis, nearly all individuals with type 1 diabetes will develop some degree of retinopathy (Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can lead to vision loss and blindness in individuals with diabetes, as it damages the blood vessels in the retina—the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye).
Brittle diabetes is a sub-type of type 1 diabetes that is particularly difficult to manage.
