What is diabetes type 1?

Type 1 diabetes is a disease that starts when the pancreas stops making enough of a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps the body use sugar from food as energy or store it for later use. If there isn't any insulin, too much sugar stays in the blood. Over time, high blood sugar can harm many parts of the body. These include the eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys.

Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it usually starts in children or young adults. It's a lifelong disease. But with treatment and a healthy lifestyle, people can live a long and healthy life.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes are caused by high blood sugar. They usually develop quickly, over a few days to weeks. At first, symptoms may be overlooked or mistaken for another illness, like the flu.

Symptoms include:

• Urinating often. This may be more noticeable at night.
• Being very thirsty. This happens if a person urinates so often that they get dehydrated.
• Losing weight without trying. This happens because the body isn't able to get energy from sugar. Instead, the body uses muscle and fat for energy.
• Increased hunger. The body isn't using all the calories that it can. Many calories leave the body through urine.
• Blurry vision. When sugar builds up in the lens of the eye, it sucks extra water into the eye. This changes the shape of the lens and blurs vision.
• Feeling very tired. The body isn't using the calories it takes in, and it isn't getting the energy it needs.

The doctor will ask about past health issues and do a physical exam. Blood tests are done to measure how much sugar is in the blood. The doctor will use those test results and the American Diabetes Association criteria to diagnose diabetes.

Some people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes because they have symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis.

It may be hard to tell what type of diabetes a person has. If so, the doctor may do a C-peptide test or test for autoantibodies to diagnose type 1 diabetes or a slowly developing form of type 1 diabetes called latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Some rare forms of diabetes are caused by a genetic problem. Genetic testing may be done to diagnose them. This includes maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY). There are many types of MODY, depending on the gene that is affected.

Treatment for type 1 diabetes focuses on keeping blood sugar levels within a target range. This will help prevent problems from diabetes such as eye, kidney, heart, and nerve disease.

To manage type 1 diabetes, a person will:

• Take insulin every day. This may be done through an insulin pump or a syringe (needle).
• Check blood sugar levels often.
• Make healthy food choices.
• Get regular physical activity. Exercise helps the body to use insulin in a more efficient way.
• Get routine screening tests and exams. These are done to watch for signs of problems.
• Avoid smoking.

Blood sugar levels are easier to manage when mealtimes, amount of food, and exercise are similar every day.

Medicine to treat other health problems, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, may be needed. This may help prevent problems from diabetes.

Here are some things you can do to care for yourself:

• Take your insulin on time and in the right dose.
• Check and record your blood sugar as often as directed by your doctor. Keep track of any symptoms you have.
• Follow your meal plan to know how much carbohydrate to eat at each meal and snack.
• Check your feet daily for blisters, cracks, and sores.
• Get a checkup every 3 to 6 months. Your doctor will tell you how often to come in.
• Aim for 30 minutes of exercise on most, preferably all, days of the week.
• Control your cholesterol and blood pressure. Exercise and healthy eating can help. If you have medicine for cholesterol or high blood pressure, take it as directed.
• If your doctor say it's okay, take a low-dose aspirin every day to help prevent heart attack and stroke.
• If you smoke, quit. Ask your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines.