Type 1 Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Diabetes type 1 affects your body's ability to control blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is your body's main source of energy, but in order to enter your cells, it needs insulin. An insulin-producing gland lies behind and below the stomach, the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas makes little to no insulin, or when the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells. Glucose builds up in the bloodstream, causing high blood sugar levels and other health problems.
A person with type 1 diabetes is different from someone with type 2, which occurs when they become resistant to insulin or do not make enough insulin. It is also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes since it usually develops in children or young adults and requires insulin therapy throughout their lives. It can, however, occur at any age and affects about 5-10% of diabetics.
Throughout this blog post, we will discuss the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of type 1 diabetes.
Causes of Type 1 Diabetes
The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, but it is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some of the possible causes are:
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Autoimmune reaction: This is when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This may be triggered by a virus, a bacterial infection, or other unknown factors.
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Genetics: Some people have certain genes that make them more likely to develop type 1 diabetes. However, having these genes does not guarantee that you will get type 1 diabetes, as other factors are also involved.
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Pancreatic disease: Some conditions that affect the pancreas, such as pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, or cancer, can damage the insulin-producing cells and cause type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar, being overweight, or having an unhealthy lifestyle. These factors may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, but not type 1 diabetes.
Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes symptoms can appear suddenly and may include:
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As glucose builds up in the bloodstream, it pulls water from the tissues, causing dehydration and frequent urination. You feel thirsty and drink more fluids as a result.
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When insulin is absent, glucose cannot enter the cells to be used as energy. This makes you feel hungry and eat more, but also results in weight loss as you break down muscle and fat to use as fuel.
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Fatigue and weakness: As the cells are starved of energy, you feel tired and weak and have difficulty performing daily activities.
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Blurred vision: High blood sugar levels can affect the eyes and cause blurry vision or other vision problems.
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Irritability and mood changes: High blood sugar levels can also affect the brain and cause mood swings, anxiety, depression, or irritability.
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Other symptoms: Some people may also experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fruity-smelling breath, dry mouth, skin infections, slow-healing wounds, or tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.
Diabetes type 1 can lead to life-threatening conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) if it is not diagnosed and treated promptly. As a result of burning fat for energy, the body produces acids called ketones. This can make the blood acidic and cause the following symptoms:
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Rapid breathing
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Confusion
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Drowsiness
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Abdominal pain
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Nausea and vomiting
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Dehydration
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Coma
DKA is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment with insulin and fluids.
Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes
In order to diagnose type 1 diabetes, your doctor will perform a blood test to measure your blood sugar level. The following blood tests can be used to diagnose type 1 diabetes:
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Test for glycated hemoglobin (A1C): This test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. An A1C level of 6.5% or higher on two separate tests indicates diabetes.
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Having a fasting blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher on two separate tests indicates diabetes.
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In addition to symptoms of diabetes, a random blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher is indicative of diabetes.
There are also other tests your doctor may perform to check for antibodies attacking insulin-producing cells, determine the type of diabetes you have, and rule out other causes of high blood sugar.
Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes
In order to prevent or delay the complications of diabetes, you must keep your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible. The main components of type 1 diabetes treatment are:
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Type 1 diabetes is treated primarily with insulin, which replaces the insulin your body is unable to produce. Insulin can be administered by injections or by insulin pumps, which deliver insulin through a small tube under the skin. Different types of insulin have different onsets and durations of action, including rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting insulins. Depending on your lifestyle and needs, your doctor will prescribe the most appropriate type and dose of insulin. Depending on factors such as your food intake, physical activity, stress, illness, or other medications, you will need to monitor your blood sugar level regularly and adjust your insulin dose accordingly.
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In order to manage type 1 diabetes, you need to check your blood sugar level several times a day. This can be done using a blood glucose meter, which measures blood sugar levels by pricking your finger and measuring them. You can also use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), a device that measures your blood sugar level every few minutes from a sensor inserted under your skin. The goal of blood sugar monitoring is to be able to determine how food, insulin, exercise, and other factors affect your blood sugar level, and to prevent it from going too high or too low.
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In order to manage type 1 diabetes, you should eat a variety of foods from each food group, and limit the amount of sugar, saturated fat, and salt you consume. You should also pay attention to the amount and type of carbohydrates you eat, as they have the greatest impact on your blood sugar level. Bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, and sweets are all carbohydrates. Carbohydrates with high fiber and low glycemic index will digest less quickly and cause a smaller rise in blood sugar, so choose them wisely. To keep your blood sugar level in your target range, you should also count your carbohydrate intake and match it to your insulin dose. This is called carbohydrate counting. You can plan a meal plan based on your nutritional needs and preferences with the help of your doctor or a dietitian.
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Type 1 diabetes can be managed effectively by being physically active. Exercise helps you lower your blood sugar level, improve your insulin sensitivity, reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, and enhance your quality of life. You should aim for 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, or playing sports. You should also do some strength training exercises at least twice a week, such as lifting weights, doing push-ups, or using resistance bands. Check your blood sugar level before starting any physical activity. Depending on your blood sugar level and how intense and prolonged your activity is, you may need to adjust your insulin dose, eat a snack, or drink some water. As well as checking your blood sugar level during and after the activity, you should treat any signs of low or high blood sugar as soon as possible.
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Diabetes education and support: Understanding type 1 diabetes and learning how to manage it is essential to your health and well-being. You should attend a diabetes education program that covers topics such as what is diabetes, how to use insulin and monitor blood sugar, how to count carbohydrates and plan meals, how to prevent and treat low and high blood sugar, how to cope with stress and emotions, as well as how to prevent and detect complications. Additionally, you should seek advice, support, and encouragement from your health care team, your family and friends, and other diabetics. In order to learn from others and share your experiences, you can join a diabetes support group, an online community, or a peer-mentoring program.
Prevention of Type 1 Diabetes
Currently, there is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes. However, researchers are working on finding ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, such as:
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Identifying and screening people who are at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes, based on their genetic and immune markers.
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Developing and testing vaccines or drugs that can prevent or stop the autoimmune attack on the insulin-producing cells.
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Developing and testing methods to regenerate or transplant the insulin-producing cells.
Until these methods are proven to be safe and effective, the best way to prevent the complications of type 1 diabetes is to keep your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible, by following your treatment plan and taking good care of yourself.
Complications of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes can cause serious and long-term complications, if it is not well controlled. High blood sugar levels can damage various organs and tissues in the body, leading to:
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Blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, brain, and limbs are affected by cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, strokes, angina, and peripheral artery disease. When blood sugar levels rise, inflammation, narrowing, and hardening of the blood vessels can occur, reducing blood flow and increasing the risk of blood clots.
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Nerve damage (neuropathy): It affects the nerves that control sensation and movement in the body, especially in the feet and legs. Symptoms of high blood sugar can include numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, or loss of balance due to impaired nerve function and structure. Additionally, nerve damage can affect the nerves that control the digestive system, bladder, and sexual organs, resulting in problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, or vaginal dryness.
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Damage to the kidneys, which filter waste and excess fluid from the blood, is known as kidney damage (nephropathy). When blood sugar levels are high, kidney blood vessels can be damaged, resulting in a reduction in their ability to filter blood and a leak of protein into the urine, which can lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis or kidney transplantation.
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A high blood sugar level can damage the blood vessels in the retina, which can cause them to leak fluid or bleed, which can result in vision loss or blindness. Retinopathy is an eye condition that affects the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye.
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The feet and legs suffer from nerve damage and poor blood flow. High blood sugar levels can cause the skin to dry and crack, increasing infection and ulcer risk. Nerve damage can reduce the sensation of pain, making any injuries or wounds harder to notice and treat. In addition to slowing down healing, poor blood flow can increase the risk of gangrene, which occurs when tissues die due to a lack of blood supply. The toe, foot, or leg may need to be amputated in severe cases.
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Several types of skin infections occur, including boils, carbuncles, styes, ringworm, athlete's foot, and candidiasis. High blood sugar levels can weaken the immune system and make the skin more susceptible to infection and inflammation.
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High blood sugar levels can interfere with the formation and maintenance of bone tissue, reducing bone density and strength in people with osteoporosis.
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It affects women with type 1 diabetes who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant with complications during pregnancy. In addition to miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, preterm delivery, preeclampsia, and neonatal hypoglycemia, high blood sugar levels can increase the risk of these conditions. To ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery, women with type 1 diabetes must control their blood sugar carefully prior to and during pregnancy.
By keeping your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible, and by seeing your doctor regularly, you can reduce the risk and severity of these complications. Additionally, you should avoid smoking and excessive drinking, and monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight.
Conclusion
The cause of type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune reaction that destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in little or no insulin production. Diabetes type 1 symptoms include increased thirst and urination, extreme hunger and weight loss, fatigue and weakness, blurred vision, and mood swings as well as irritability and agitation. Blood tests that measure blood sugar levels and antibodies are used to diagnose type 1 diabetes. A person with type 1 diabetes receives insulin therapy, blood sugar monitoring, diet, physical activity, diabetes education, and support during treatment. There are a number of serious and long-term complications associated with type 1 diabetes, including cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, foot problems, skin problems, osteoporosis, and pregnancy complications. By maintaining a normal blood sugar level and taking good care of yourself, you can prevent or delay these complications.
