Type 1 Diabetes Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

What Is Type 1 Diabetes ?

Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy. The far more common type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t make enough insulin.

Various factors may contribute to type 1 diabetes, including genetics and exposure to certain viruses. Although type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, it also can begin in adults.

Causes Of Type 1 Diabetes

The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is not yet known, but we do know it has a strong family link and cannot be prevented. We also know that it has nothing to do with lifestyle, although maintaining a healthy lifestyle is very important in helping to manage type 1 diabetes.
At this stage nothing can be done to prevent or cure type 1 diabetes.

Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes happens most often in children and young adults but can appear at any age. Symptoms may include

•     Being very thirsty
•     Urinating often
•     Feeling very hungry or tired
•     Losing weight without trying
•     Having sores that heal slowly
•     Having dry, itchy skin
•     Losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet
•     Having blurry eyesight

Diagnosis Of Type 1 Diabetes

Diagnoses of Type 1 Diabetes are as follows:

•     Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test
•     Random blood sugar test.
•     Fasting blood sugar test

Further  blood tests, to check for autoantibodies that are common in type 1 diabetes. These tests help to distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The presence of ketones byproducts from the breakdown of fat in your urine also suggests type 1 diabetes, rather than type 2.

Treatment Of Type 1 Diabetes

Treatment for type 1 diabetes includes:

•     Taking insulin
•     Carbohydrate counting
•     Frequent blood sugar monitoring
•     Eating healthy foods
•     Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight

Insulin and other medications

Types of insulin are many and include:

•     Rapid-acting insulin
•     Long-acting insulin
•     Intermediate options

Examples are regular insulin (Humulin 70/30, Novolin 70/30, others), insulin isophane (Humulin N, Novolin N), insulin glulisine (Apidra), insulin lispro (Humalog) and insulin aspart (Novolog). Long-acting insulins include glargine (Lantus) and detemir (Levemir).

Insulin administration

•     Injections.
•     An insulin pump

Artificial pancreas

Additional medications also may be prescribed for people with type 1 diabetes, such as:

•     Pramlintide (Symlin).
•     High blood pressure medications.
•     Aspirin.
•     Cholesterol-lowering drugs.

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By : Natural Health News