Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. It is also known as juvenile
diabetes. When a person has type 1 diabetes, their pancreas is unable to produce insulin. Insulin is a
hormone which is necessary to turn glucose (sugar), starch, and other foods into energy needed for daily
life.
It may be scary when a person is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, however, these people live long and healthy
lives.
Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin dependant diabetes is often seen in children and young
adults. It usually begins in people who are less than thirty years old. Although it occurs early in
life, it is a life long disease.
When the body does not produce enough insulin, there are certain effects that has to the body. If there is no
insulin at all or not enough insulin being produced, there is no way for the glucose in the blood to be turned into
energy. All of this glucose is left in the blood. This can cause increased hunger. Also, the high
levels of glucose in the body can cause excessive urination. This can lead to increased thirst.
Within five to ten years, the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are completely destroyed. When
this happens, the body is no longer able to produce any insulin at all. When a person develops diabetes they
will also notice marked fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. A person who has developed type 1
diabetes will notice weight loss even though they are eating more than ususal. When a girl or young woman
develops diabetes, one symptom is the absence of menstruation. This is a disease where the symptoms are very
severe and usually come on very rapidly.
Diagnosing Type 1 Diabetes
There are several tests which doctors use to diagnose type 1 diabetes. It is very important to have these
tests done when a person thinks that they may have diabetes.
One test which is done is a urinalysis. A urinalysis will show glucose and ketone bodies in the urine.
This is the way of detecting diabetes but it will take a blood test to actually diagnose it.
Another test which can be performed to diagnose type 1 diabetes is a fasting blood glucose. This test will
measure the amount of glucose in the blood stream. When a person is having a fasting blood glucose test, it
is necessary for them to fast for at least six hours.
Levels of a glucose tolerance test of up to 100 mg/dl is considered normal. If a person’s levels are between
100 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl it is considered pre-diabetes. These levels are a risk of type 2 diabetes.
Anything of 126 mg/dl or higher is considered type 1 diabetes.
Another test used for a person with type 1 diabetes is a random non-fasting glucose test. This test is not used to
determine if a person has diabetes, it is a test to determine if a diabetic is in need of any type of
medication. This test can be done on a portable machine. This is a self test for a person with
diabetes.
If this test is taken before a meal, the normal levels are between 90 and 130 mg/dl. If it is taken after a
meal, levels below 180 mg/dl are normal.
Type 1 Diabetes Treatment
It is not possible to have type 1 diabetes and not get treatment. Anyone who tried to go without
treatment would not survive. Eventually, without treatment, any of the secondary conditions could
develop.
The primary treatment for type 1 diabetes is insulin injections. These injections are necessary in breaking
down glucose in the blood stream. Insulin injections are given in the skin, injected into the fat.
Insulin can be given only as an injection. If it were given as a pill, the insulin would be destroyed by the
stomach acids. Insulin is just a hormone, and like all other hormones, insulin is a protein. Even if
insulin were to make it into the stomach, the pancreatic juices would destroy it before it could be of any use.
Although doctors and scientists are looking for ways to administer insulin that are more simple than injections,
they still have yet to find one. Right now insulin pumps are being developed and tested. As things
stand right now however, insulin injections are the only way to go.
Another way to control type 1 diabetes is through diet. Diet is very important when it comes to diabetes
control. The American Diabetes Association has outlined a diet plan which is set to control diabetes.
It is suggested that a person with type 1 diabetes should make about fifty to sixty percent of your diet
carbohydrates. Around twenty percent of a diabetic’s diet should be protein. It is imperative that no
more than twenty to thirty percent of a diabetic’s diet be sugars and starches. More than the recommended
amount of sugar and starch can cause a secondary diabetic condition.
Knowing as much as possible if you have a diabetic condition is important. It is the best way of
controlling your diabetes.
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