What Is Diabetes Type 1?

It is estimated that 25.8 million people suffer the effects of diabetes in the United States alone. Out of the three forms of diabetes, type 1 diabetes affects 1.3 million people. Most of the affected are children and teens. While there is no cure for diabetes, type 1 diabetes is manageable and, with proper treatment, many with the illness go on to lead regular healthy lives.

Causes of Diabetes Type 1

Diabetes results from an inability of the human body to prevent the buildup of glucose within the blood stream.  Glucose is transported from the blood stream and stored by a hormone called insulin. While exact causes of the onset of diabetes type 1 are unknown, this form of diabetes is caused by the body’s own immune system. For people with this form of diabetes, their immune system has attacked their pancreatic beta cells and destroyed them. These cells are the key producers of insulin. This type of diabetes is most prevalent in children, teens and young adults. This type of diabetes was originally called juvenile onset diabetes. However, as it can occur in people of any age, the name was changed to diabetes type 1.

Symptoms

Early signs of diabetes type 1 may include fatigue, excessive hunger or thirst, unexplained weight loss, blurry vision, frequent urination and numbness or tingling in the feet and lower legs. This is caused by a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis, or an excess of glucose in the bloodstream. More severe symptoms may include flushing of the face, acute nausea and vomiting, stomach pains, rapid breathing and a sweet taste and scent to one’s breath.

Diagnosis

Testing for diabetes type 1 is a quick process. As with other types of diabetes, the first thing checked is the patient’s blood glucose level. This can be done in both fasting and non-fasting methods, though a fasting blood glucose level test is often required for an official diagnosis. Specific to diabetes type 1 is the ketone test. This is can be performed either in a lab or at home with proper testing supplies using a urine sample. Ketones are a byproduct of muscle and fat breaking down. When found in excess within a patient’s urine, it may indicate diabetes type 1.

Treatment

Treatment of type 1 diabetes often requires insulin to be administered via direct injection or an insulin pump. Upon diagnosis, the doctor will discuss general habits and your overall lifestyle to decide what option is best for you. With either option, regular blood glucose testing will need to be performed to monitor the effectiveness of the insulin and your body’s response to treatment. This is especially vital during early stages of diabetes treatment.