Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Description Symptoms Causes Diagnostics Treatment

Description

Type 1 diabetes is a life-long condition (chronic) that prevents the pancreas from generating insulin. Insulin is an essential hormone that controls sugar (glucose) levels in the blood by helping the blood sugar enter the body’s cells for use as energy. Without insulin, blood sugar can’t enter the cells and accumulates in the bloodstream leading to high blood sugar levels. Increasing blood sugar levels causes many symptoms and complications of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2 and represents up to 10% of all diabetes cases. Though it typically appears in kids, teens, and young adults, it can occur at any age. The chance of having T1DM without any family history is about 0.4%, whereas the risk for children of mothers with the disease is between 1% and 4%, for children of fathers with the disease is between 3% and 8%, and the risk for children of parents with the disease is between 3% and 30%. 

Symptoms

Type 1 diabetes symptoms can appear suddenly and may include: 

Feeling very thirsty 
Urinating a lot 
Bed-wetting in children who have never wet the bed during the night 
Feeling very hungry 
Losing weight without trying 
Feeling tired and weak 
Having blurry vision 
Fruity-smelling breath 
If you or your child experience any of these symptoms, visit a General Practitioner (General Practice doctor), who might refer you to a Diabetes and Endocrinology doctor, for proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent further complications. 

Causes

The exact cause of diabetes type 1 is unknown.  



It is believed that an autoimmune reaction is what causes type 1 diabetes (the body attacks itself by mistake). The beta cells, which produce insulin in the pancreas, are destroyed by this process. Before any symptoms show, this process can continue for months or even years. Some persons are more likely to acquire type 1 diabetes due to specific genes passed down from parent to kid. Even if they carry the genes, many of them won't get type 1 diabetes. A virus or other environmental cause may potentially contribute to the onset of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes cannot be brought on by diet or lifestyle choices

Diagnostics

Blood glucose test: your general practitioner may ask you to do both a fasting test and a random test (no food or drink for at least eight hours before the test). If the test results reveal that you have extremely high blood sugar, Type 1 diabetes is likely the cause. 
Glycosylated hemoglobin test (A1c): your doctor may request an A1c test if your blood glucose test results show that you have diabetes. This calculates your three-month average blood sugar levels. 
Antibody test: to identify whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, a blood test is performed to look for autoantibodies. Proteins called autoantibodies mistakenly attack the tissue in your body. You have Type 1 diabetes if certain autoantibodies are present. People with Type 2 diabetes typically do not have autoantibodies. 
Other tests: your doctor may ask for more tests to evaluate your overall health and to check if you have any complications. 

Treatment

Adding to the endocrinologist (a healthcare provider who specializes in treating hormone-related disorders and diabetes), patients with type 1 diabetes may need support from: 

Podiatrist (foot doctor) 
Ophthalmologist (eye doctor) 
Dentist  
Nutritionist 
Insulin must be taken by everyone with type 1 diabetes every day. Some will inject it, while others would use a pump. Insulin cannot be taken orally as a tablet. This is because it would be destroyed by the acid in your stomach before it could enter your bloodstream. Together with you, your doctor will determine the insulin kind and dosage that will work best for you. 

Healthy habits and regular check-ups are crucial to managing your type 1 diabetes: 

Following a healthy diet 
Being physically active 
Controlling the blood pressure 
Controlling the cholesterol level 
Getting enough sleep 
Doing regular blood glucose checks  
Keeping your blood glucose levels close to the target helps prevent or delay the complications 
Doing an annual eye exam by an eye specialist  

Everything You Need To Know Regarding Your Health!

Get the answers you need, all in one place. Explore expert-written blogs, browse our extensive FAQs for quick answers to common concerns, or use our Symptom Checker for preliminary insights.
Need in-depth details? Our Disease Directory provides comprehensive information to help you understand conditions better.
Whatever you're looking for, we’re here to support your health journey, seamlessly and effortlessly.

Check Our Medical Library! →

100+ Expert

Reviewed Blogs & Medical Guidelines

80+ Symptoms

and Diseases Explained