People with type 1 are insulin-dependent for life. Roughly 8.7 million people live with T1D around the world. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an incurable, autoimmune disease, not a lifestyle disease.These calculations are rarely perfect resulting in a tremendous emotional and mental burden for both patients and caregivers. Insulin doses must then be carefully calculated based upon activity and stress levels, food intake, illness and additional factors. Blood sugar levels must be monitored either with finger pricks or a continuous glucose monitor. Living with T1D is a full-time balancing act requiring constant attention to avoid acute, life-threatening hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or the long-term damage done by hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is neither preventable nor curable and while its cause is unknown, studies suggest that T1D results from a genetic predisposition, typically combined with an environmental trigger. DKA occurs when there is an overload of glucose in the bloodstream because there is no regulating insulin. Another, potentially fatal, consequence for people with type 1 diabetes who aren’t on insulin therapy is diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. Converting blood glucose is the body’s main way that it gets energy, so without insulin, it has to resort to breaking down bodily tissue such as muscle and fat stores. Insulin is the hormone that allows the body to use the glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream as energy-it kind of acts as a key that unlocks the body’s cells, allowing glucose to enter and be absorbed. Over time, people with type 1 diabetes are left with none of these beta cells, also known as islet cells, and therefore cannot produce their own insulin. These are the cells in the body that produce insulin. In the case of type 1 diabetes, the body attacks the insulin-producing beta cells. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, which means that the body’s immune system attacks itself, much like celiac disease. How does type 1 diabetes affect the body? Seek emergency medical care if you are experiencing: Untreated type 1 diabetes can be life-threatening. Here are the symptoms:Īsk your healthcare provider for a blood sugar or urine test immediately. ![]() ![]() There are many signs or symptoms that can be present when someone has undiagnosed or untreated diabetes. What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes? Without insulin, our bodies cannot use the sugar in our bloodstream as energy, causing people to experience diabetic ketoacidosis ( DKA). Type 1 diabetes, which was formerly known as juvenile diabetes but is diagnosed in adults as frequently as it is in children, is a chronic autoimmune condition that makes the body unable to produce insulin, which is the hormone that regulates blood sugar. Note: This article is part of our library of resources for Forms of Diabetes.
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