Diabetes Type 1

Type 1 Diabetes: Causes and Symptoms

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Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

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Diabetes type 1 Share show more. Diabetes is a condition of the endocrine system the system of glands that delivers hormones Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but tends to develop in childhood. Untreated diabetes can severely damage many systems, organs and tissues of the body.

What is type 1 diabetes?

There is no cure, but the disorder can be successfully managed with medication, dietary modifications and exercise. Every day, two more Australian children and as many as six Australians of all ages develop type 1 diabetes, which makes it one of the most common serious diseases among children. Diabetes is a condition of the endocrine system the system of glands that delivers hormones. To use glucose blood sugar for energy, the hormone insulin needs to be secreted by the pancreas, a gland located in the abdomen.

A person with type 1 diabetes is unable to produce insulin.

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Treatment involves closely monitoring blood sugar levels, modifying diet and taking daily injections of insulin. Type 1 diabetes can affect anyone, but is more common in people under 30 years and tends to begin in childhood. Other names for type 1 diabetes have included juvenile diabetes and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus IDDM. Approximately one in every ten Australians with diabetes has type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is much more common in Australia than in other countries.

The pancreas and type 1 diabetes The digestive system breaks down carbohydrates into glucose. This simple sugar is then transported to each cell via the bloodstream. The pancreas secretes the hormone insulin, which allows the glucose to migrate from the blood into the cells.

Without insulin, the glucose remains in the bloodstream at high levels. The body recognises the problem and tries to provide the cells with other sources of fuel, such as stored fats. Extensive fat burning can release by-products called ketones, which are dangerous in high amounts. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes The symptoms of type 1 diabetes include: Cause of type 1 diabetes The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown and there is no cure. It is thought that some kind of environmental factor, perhaps a viral infection, makes the immune system attack the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas in people who have a genetic history of diabetes.

What Does Insulin Do?

Pregnancy and birth services. Nerve damage can also cause digestive problems like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Taking Action on Diabetes. These results suggest an interaction between the 2 factors and provide a possible explanation for the contradictory findings obtained in studies that examined these factors in isolation. How are type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnosed? In particular, clinicians should do the following:. Insulin pumps supply a steady amount of insulin into the body through a small tube.

There is then a long period without symptoms before the insulin-producing cells are destroyed and the blood glucose rises. Complications of untreated type 1 diabetes Untreated diabetes can severely damage many systems, organs and tissues of the body. Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes The main diagnostic test for diabetes is taking a blood test to measure glucose, either when you have been fasting or at other times of the day. Diagnostic tests are also done routinely during pregnancy to identify diabetes in pregnancy gestational diabetes.

Types of diabetes tests Tests to diagnose diabetes include: Fasting blood glucose test most common — blood glucose levels are checked after fasting for between 12 and 14 hours.

Risk Factors and Prevention

Type 1 diabetes happens when your immune system destroys cells in your pancreas called beta cells. They're the ones that make insulin. WebMD offers a primer on type 2 diabetes. What causes this chronic condition, how do you know you have it, and what can you do about it?.

You can drink water during this time, but should strictly avoid any other beverage. People with diabetes may be asked to delay their diabetes medication or insulin dose until the test is completed. Blood samples are checked at regular intervals for two hours. Immediately after the diabetes test The fasting blood glucose test will confirm that the person has diabetes if it shows that the level of glucose in their blood is higher than normal when they are fasting.

Sometimes, the test result of the fasting blood glucose test is borderline. If this is the case, a glucose tolerance test may be performed. Accuracy of diabetes test results Depending on the test used, the level of blood glucose can be affected by many factors including: Treatment of type 1 diabetes There is no cure for type 1 diabetes, but the condition can be successfully managed. Hypoglycaemia If a person with type 1 diabetes skips a meal, exercises heavily or takes too much insulin, their blood sugar levels will fall.

The symptoms include dizziness, sweating, hunger, headache and change in mood. This can be remedied with a quick boost of sugar such as jellybeans or glucose tablets , then something more substantial such as fruit. A person with type 1 diabetes should have lollies on hand at all times, just in case. Type 1 diabetes and ketoacidosis Sometimes, the onset of type 1 diabetes can be sudden, and can lead to a condition called ketoacidosis, which is a medical emergency.

The symptoms of ketoacidosis are: Seek immediate medical advice if these symptoms occur. Helping you prevent diabetes, heart disease and stroke Tel. Send us your feedback. Rate this website Your comments Questions Your details. Excellent Good Average Fair Poor. Next Submit Now Cancel. Please note that we cannot answer personal medical queries. If you are looking for health or medical advice we recommend that you: Enter your comments below optional. Did you find what you were looking for? Your feedback has been successfully sent.

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Diabetes basics Types of diabetes Living with diabetes Complications with diabetes Diabetes basics 10 tips to help prevent type 2 diabetes Lifestyle changes can prevent type 2diabetes Diabetes Diabetes and the build-up of glucose sugar in the blood can cause serious complications if left untreated Diabetes and insulin It may take a while to find the right insulin dose to reduce your blood glucose to acceptable levels Exercise and diabetes Healthy exercise is important for everyone.

Health check This health assessment questionnaire will identify which zones of your lifestyle are contributing to your personal health risk and provide actions you can take to make positive change Managing my diabetes This video from Diabetes Australia — Victoria explores managing your diabetes This causes high blood sugar , which can lead to:. It affects men and women equally.

Although the disease usually starts in people under 20, it can happen at any age. Doctors don't know all the things that lead to type 1 diabetes. But they do know your genes play a role. They also know type 1 diabetes can result when something in the environment, like a virus, tells your immune system to go after your pancreas. Most people with type 1 diabetes have signs of this attack, called autoantibodies. Type 1 diabetes can happen along with other autoimmune diseases , like Grave's disease or vitiligo. Many people with type 1 diabetes live long, healthy lives.

The key to good health is to keep your blood sugar levels within the range your doctor gives you. Your doctor may start you out with two injections a day of two different types of insulin. You may progress to three or four shots a day.

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Most insulin comes in a small glass bottle called a vial. You draw it out with a syringe that has a needle on the end, and give yourself the shot.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

Some now comes in a prefilled pen. One kind is inhaled. You can also get it from a pump -- a device you wear that sends it into your body via a small tube. Exercise is an important part of treating type 1. You have to balance your insulin dose and the food you eat with any activity, even simple tasks around the house or yard. Check your blood sugar before, during, and after an activity to find out how it affects you.

Some things will make your levels go up; others won't. You can lower your insulin or have a snack with carbs to prevent it from dropping too low. If your test is high, test for ketones -- acids that can result from high sugar levels. Once you know the roles that carbs, fats, and protein play, you can build a healthy eating plan that helps keep your levels where they should be. A diabetes educator or registered dietitian can help you get started.

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What Does Insulin Do? This causes high blood sugar , which can lead to: A large amount of water goes out with that urine , causing your body to dry out. The glucose that goes out when you pee takes calories with it. Dehydration also plays a part. If your body can't get enough glucose for fuel, it breaks down fat cells instead.

This creates chemicals called ketones. Your liver releases the sugar it stores to help out.