Type 1 Diabetes

Juvenile diabetes can occur out of nowhere without any warning signs. Type 1 diabetes affects the individual the entire life.  Also commonly known as Juvenile diabetes it usually is diagnosed during childhood or early adolescence. While juveniles are most commonly struck, and people under 30 are most at risk, adults and senior citizens run the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes as well if the pancreas has been destroyed or removed..

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t produce insulin, or doesn’t produce enough to regulate blood glucose levels. The beta cells that are located inside one’s pancreas begin to be attacked by the rest of the body, causing them to stop production of insulin.  Insulin is a crucial compound that our body produces. It helps to transport the sugars we eat to the cells of our body, which in turn uses that sugar as fuel. If not enough insulin is produced by the body, sugar can not be used as fuel by the body’s cells, and it instead remains in the bloodstream. This can cause abnormal and dangerously high blood sugar levels. People with Type 1 diabetes have to have insulin injections often to help their body process sugar.

After having diabetes for 5 years to 10 years, the beta cells that create insulin may be completely damaged beyond repair. The body stops producing insulin, and the person suffering from the disease is forced to rely completely on an outside insulin source. While we know much of the way diabetes functions, we are still left in the dark as to what causes it to occur. Type 1 diabetes is the least common form of diabetes, accounting for around 3 percent of all new cases. 1 in 7,000 children are affected every year by this chronic illness.

About ten percent of diabetics in the United States have Type 1 diabetes while ninety percent of diabetics have Type 2 Diabetes.

If diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, there are a lot of different factors that a person needs to address. Blood glucose levels need to be monitoredas often as 6 times per day with a prick of the finger or another source of blood. If the levels are too high, diabetes patients face the problem of a hyperglycemic reaction. Consequently, if blood glucose levels are too low, the patient runs the risk of a hypoglycemic reaction. For this reason, in addition to monitoring the levels, diabetes sufferers need to maintain their glucose through injections of insulin, a proper diet, and exercise. Low blood glucose levels can be heightened by eating something with sugar. Soda and fruit juice are two commonly used remedies for a low glucose level. If the glucose in the bloodstream is too high, more specific actions need to be taken that involve a trip to the hospital. High glucose levels can cause a poisoning of the blood that can be fatal if unaddressed.

All in all, people that are afflicted with Type 1 diabetes have a lot of responsibilities to take on when taking care of their condition. Monitoring glucose levels is of utmost importance, and taking proper insulin doses as well as altering your diet and exercise to fit your body’s need are important steps to living with this chronic illness.

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