Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Description
Type 1 diabetes is a life-long condition (chronic) that prevents the pancreas from generating insulin. Insulin is an essential hormone that controls sugar (glucose) levels in the blood by helping the blood sugar enter the body’s cells for use as energy. Without insulin, blood sugar can’t enter the cells and accumulates in the bloodstream leading to high blood sugar levels. Increasing blood sugar levels causes many symptoms and complications of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2 and represents up to 10% of all diabetes cases. Though it typically appears in kids, teens, and young adults, it can occur at any age. The chance of having T1DM without any family history is about 0.4%, whereas the risk for children of mothers with the disease is between 1% and 4%, for children of fathers with the disease is between 3% and 8%, and the risk for children of parents with the disease is between 3% and 30%.
Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes symptoms can appear suddenly and may include:
- Feeling very thirsty
- Urinating a lot
- Bed-wetting in children who have never wet the bed during the night
- Feeling very hungry
- Losing weight without trying
- Feeling tired and weak
- Having blurry vision
- Fruity-smelling breath
If you or your child experience any of these symptoms, visit a General Practitioner (General Practice doctor), who might refer you to a Diabetes and Endocrinology doctor, for proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent further complications.
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View MoreCauses
The exact cause of diabetes type 1 is unknown.
It is believed that an autoimmune reaction is what causes type 1 diabetes (the body attacks itself by mistake). The beta cells, which produce insulin in the pancreas, are destroyed by this process. Before any symptoms show, this process can continue for months or even years. Some persons are more likely to acquire type 1 diabetes due to specific genes passed down from parent to kid. Even if they carry the genes, many of them won't get type 1 diabetes. A virus or other environmental cause may potentially contribute to the onset of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes cannot be brought on by diet or lifestyle choices.
Diagnostics
- Blood glucose test: your general practitioner may ask you to do both a fasting test and a random test (no food or drink for at least eight hours before the test). If the test results reveal that you have extremely high blood sugar, Type 1 diabetes is likely the cause.
- Glycosylated hemoglobin test (A1c): your doctor may request an A1c test if your blood glucose test results show that you have diabetes. This calculates your three-month average blood sugar levels.
- Antibody test: to identify whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, a blood test is performed to look for autoantibodies. Proteins called autoantibodies mistakenly attack the tissue in your body. You have Type 1 diabetes if certain autoantibodies are present. People with Type 2 diabetes typically do not have autoantibodies.
- Other tests: your doctor may ask for more tests to evaluate your overall health and to check if you have any complications.
Treatment
Adding to the endocrinologist (a healthcare provider who specializes in treating hormone-related disorders and diabetes), patients with type 1 diabetes may need support from:
- Podiatrist (foot doctor)
- Ophthalmologist (eye doctor)
- Dentist
- Nutritionist
Insulin must be taken by everyone with type 1 diabetes every day. Some will inject it, while others would use a pump. Insulin cannot be taken orally as a tablet. This is because it would be destroyed by the acid in your stomach before it could enter your bloodstream. Together with you, your doctor will determine the insulin kind and dosage that will work best for you.
Healthy habits and regular check-ups are crucial to managing your type 1 diabetes:
- Following a healthy diet
- Being physically active
- Controlling the blood pressure
- Controlling the cholesterol level
- Getting enough sleep
- Doing regular blood glucose checks
- Keeping your blood glucose levels close to the target helps prevent or delay the complications
- Doing an annual eye exam by an eye specialist
