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Type
1 Diabetes
| Statistics of type
1 diabetes
> Type 1 diabetes accounts
for 5-10 percent of diagnosed cases of diabetes.
> There are an estimated
500,000 to 1 million people with Type 1 diabetes in the US
today.
> The risk of developing
type 1 diabetes is higher than virtually all other severe
chronic diseases of childhood.
> Peak incidence occurs
during puberty, around 10 to 12 years of age in girls, and
12 to 14 years of age in boys.
> The symptoms for
type 1 diabetes can mimic the flu in children.
> Type 1 diabetes tends
to run in families. Brothers and sisters of children with
type 1 diabetes have about a 10 percent chance of developing
the disease by age 50.
> The identical twin
of a person with type 1 diabetes has a 25 to 50 percent chance
of developing type 1 diabetes.
Sources: National Institute
for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders and American
Diabetes Association
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What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes may also be known by a variety of other
names, including:
- diabetes mellitus
- Type I diabetes
- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)
- juvenile diabetes
- brittle diabetes
- sugar diabetes
There are two forms of type 1 diabetes:
- idiopathic type 1
- refers to rare forms of the disease with no known cause.
- immune-mediated diabetes - an autoimmune
disorder in which the body's immune system destroys, or attempts
to destroy, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
Immune-mediated diabetes is the most common form of type 1 diabetes,
and the one generally referred to as type 1 diabetes. The information
on this page refers to this form of type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all
diagnosed cases of diabetes in the US. Type 1 diabetes usually develops
in children or young adults, but can start at any age.
What causes type 1 diabetes?
The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown,
but it is believed that people inherit a tendency to develop diabetes,
and that viruses may be involved.
This auto-immune disease results from the body's failure
to produce insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter the cells
of the body to provide fuel. This is the result of an autoimmune process
in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin
producing cells of the pancreas.
When glucose cannot enter the cells, it builds up
in the blood and the body's cells literally starve to death. People
with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections and regularly
monitor their blood sugar levels.
What are the signs and
symptoms of type 1 diabetes?
The following are the most common symptoms for type
1 diabetes, however, each individual may experience symptoms differently.
Type 1 diabetes often appears suddenly, and signs
and symptoms may include:
- high levels of sugar
in the blood when tested
- high levels of sugar
in the urine when tested
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- extreme hunger but loss
of weight
- extreme weakness and
tiredness
- irritability and mood
changes
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In children, symptoms may be similar to those of having
the flu.
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes may resemble other conditions or
medical problems. Consult your physician for a diagnosis.
What complications may
be associated with type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes can cause different
problems, but there are three key complications:
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar;
sometimes called an insulin reaction) occurs when blood sugar drops
too low.
- Hyperglycemia
(high blood sugar) occurs when blood sugar is too high, and can
be a sign that diabetes is not well controlled.
- Ketoacidosis
(diabetic coma) is loss of consciousness due to untreated or under-treated
diabetes.
Treatment for type 1 diabetes:
Specific treatment will be determined by your physician(s)
based on:
- your age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the disease
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the disease
- your opinion or preference
People with type 1 diabetes must have daily injections
of insulin to keep the blood sugar level within normal ranges. Other
parts of the treatment protocol may include:
- appropriate foods to manage blood sugar level
- exercise to lower and help the body use blood sugar
- regular blood testing for blood-sugar levels
- regular urine testing for ketone levels
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