Diabetes type 1 is a chronic illness sometimes referred to as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. The pancreas produces little or no insulin in this situation. Insulin is a hormone that the body utilizes to let glucose (sugar) into cells where it may be used to make energy.
Type 1 diabetes may be brought on by a variety of reasons, including genetics and some viruses. While type 1 diabetes often first manifests in infancy or adolescence, it may also strike adults.
There is still no cure for type 1 diabetes, despite much research. The goal of treatment is to avoid problems by controlling blood sugar levels with the use of insulin, food, and lifestyle changes.
Symptoms
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes may occur abruptly and include:
- I’m thirstier than normal.
- a lot of urination
- toddlers who have never soaked their bed at night developing bedwetting
- I’m quite hungry.
- shedding pounds without trying
- Experiencing irritability or other mood swings
- Being worn out and fragile
- Having vision haze
Causes
It is unclear what specifically causes type 1 diabetes. Normally, the pancreas’ insulin-producing (islet) cells are destroyed by the body’s immune system, which is responsible for battling dangerous germs and viruses. Additional root causes include:
Genetics
infection risk and other environmental variables
function of insulin
When a significant portion of the islet cells are lost, the body produces little or no insulin. A gland (the pancreas)
behind and under the stomach produces the hormone insulin.
Insulin is released into the circulation by the pancreas.
Sugar may enter the cells thanks to insulin’s movement throughout the body.
Sugar levels in the blood are reduced by insulin.
Less insulin is released into the circulation by the pancreas when the blood sugar level falls.
The part glucose plays
A major source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues is glucose, a sugar.
Food and the liver are the two main sources of glucose.
Insulin helps sugar enter cells once it is taken into the circulation.
Glycogen, a type of glucose, is kept in the liver.
The liver converts the glycogen you’ve stored into glucose when your blood sugar levels are low, such as when you haven’t eaten in a while. As a result, glucose levels stay within the normal range.
There is no insulin to let glucose enter the cells in type 1 diabetes. Sugar accumulates in the blood as a result. Life-threatening consequences may result from this.
Risk Elements
Several factors may increase your chance of developing type 1 diabetes, such as:
Family background. A person’s chance of getting type 1 diabetes is marginally increased if they have a parent or sibling who has the disease.
Genetics. Type 1 diabetes is more likely to occur in those who have certain genes.
Geography. The prevalence of type 1 diabetes tends to increase as you go further from the equator.
Age. Although type 1 diabetes may manifest at any age, it does so at two distinct peaks. Between the ages of 4 and 7, youngsters reach their first peak. The second affects kids between the ages of 10 and 14.
Complications
Complications from type 1 diabetes over time may have an impact on the body’s primary organs. The heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes, and kidneys are some of these organs. The risk of several problems may be reduced by maintaining normal blood sugar levels.
Diabetes problems might impair your ability to function or possibly put your life in danger.
Blood vessel and heart disease. Diabetes raises the risk of certain heart and blood vessel issues. These include excessive blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease with chest discomfort (angina), and arterial constriction (atherosclerosis).
Injury to the nerves (neuropathy). The walls of the small blood arteries (capillaries) that supply the nerves may get damaged if there is too much sugar in the blood. In the legs, this is particularly true. Tingling, numbness, burning, or discomfort may result from this. This often spreads upward from the tips of the toes or fingers. Over time, having poorly managed blood sugar may lead you to lose all sensation in the afflicted limbs.
The digestive system’s nerves that control nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation might become damaged. Erectile dysfunction may be a problem for males.
Nephropathy, or kidney damage. Millions of small blood capillaries in the kidneys prevent waste from entering the bloodstream. This system may be harmed by diabetes. renal failure or irreversible end-stage renal disease may result from severe injury. Dialysis or kidney transplantation are the only treatments available for end-stage renal disease.
Eye injury. Diabetes (diabetic retinopathy) may damage the blood vessels in the retina, the area of the eye that detects light. Blindness might result from this. Diabetes also raises the risk of glaucoma and cataracts, two devastating eye diseases.
Foot injury. Some foot issues are more likely to occur if there is nerve damage in the feet or insufficient blood supply to the feet. Blisters and wounds may develop into dangerous illnesses if left untreated. Amputation of the leg, foot, or toe may be required for the treatment of certain infections.
Oral and skin ailments. You can be more susceptible to skin and mouth infections if you have diabetes. Infections caused by bacteria and fungi are among them. Dry mouth and gum problems are also more probable.
Problems during pregnancy. Both parents and babies may be at risk from high blood sugar levels. When diabetes is poorly managed, the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and birth abnormalities rises. Diabetes raises the parent’s chance of developing preeclampsia, diabetic ketoacidosis, retinopathy, high blood pressure brought on by pregnancy, and diabetic ketoacidosis.
Prevention
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented in any known method. However, scientists are striving to protect newly diagnosed patients from developing the illness or from additional harm to their islet cells.
If you think you could qualify for one of these clinical studies, ask your doctor. Any therapy that is offered in a study should be carefully weighed in relation to its risks and advantages.