In the United States, an estimated 0.55 percent of adults have type 1 diabetes. This makes up around 5 percent of people with diabetes.
While no full cure for this type is available, the range of management options means that a person with the disorder can lead a full and active life.
In this article, we explore what causes type 1 diabetes, how to manage it, and ways to recognize the symptoms.
What is type 1 diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when the glucose, or sugar, in the blood is poorly controlled and consistently high.
Type 1 occurs when the body does not produce enough of the hormone that allows cells to absorb and use glucose. This hormone is called insulin.
While a person can prevent type 2 by avoiding a sugar-rich diet and inactive lifestyle, preventing type 1 is not possible. The immune system attacks clusters of cells in the pancreas that would normally produce insulin, called islets, stopping or slowing insulin production.
Without enough insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells and remains in the bloodstream.
A person with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin for the rest of their life. Not doing so can result in ever-increasing blood sugar levels and dangerous complications.
Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, although it is more common in children and young adults.
The timing of an insulin shot is important, and a doctor will work out a schedule with a person who has diabetes to best manage their glucose levels.
Different types of insulin work for different periods. Click here to learn about the different options.
With the advent of continuous blood sugar monitors, integration is now possible with an insulin pump as part of a hybrid closed-loop system, which serves as an artificial pancreas.
The patient wears a continuous blood sugar monitor and an insulin pump. The two communicate with each other.
However, even with this technology, the individual is still responsible for manually checking their blood sugar and taking insulin before mealtime. A fully automated system without patient input is not yet available.
To learn more about the different medications and options for treating diabetes, click here.
Takeaway
Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2. It is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks and destroys healthy tissue in the pancreas which would otherwise be producing insulin.
As a result, insulin is insufficient or non-existent in the body, and a person with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin on a life-long basis. Symptoms include weight loss, increased hunger and thirst, and problems with eyesight.
Without treatment, these symptoms can develop into nerve damage, heart complications, and blindness.
Daily injections of insulin are vital for a person with type 1 diabetes. In recent years, a hybrid closed-loop system can serve as an artificial pancreas to detect blood glucose levels and provide timely doses of insulin.
However, these have not yet completely replaced manual insulin shots, and people with type 1 diabetes will still require insulin injections at meal-times.
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