What is type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition. In this condition, the pancreas makes little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone the body uses to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.

Different factors, such as genetics and some viruses, may cause type 1 diabetes. Although type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, it can develop in adults.

Treatment is directed toward managing the amount of sugar in the blood using insulin, diet and lifestyle to prevent complications.

Symptoms

Type 1 diabetes symptoms can appear suddenly and may include:

• ✅ Feeling more thirsty than usual
• ✅ Urinating a lot
• ✅ Bed-wetting in children who have never wet the bed during the night
• ✅ Feeling very hungry
• ✅ Losing weight without trying
• ✅ Feeling irritable or having other mood changes
• ✅ Feeling tired and weak
• ✅ Having blurry vision

Causes

The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Usually, the body's own immune system — which normally fights harmful bacteria and viruses — destroys the insulin-producing (islet) cells in the pancreas. Other possible causes include:

• ✅ Genetics
• ✅ Exposure to viruses and other environmental factors

The role of insulin

Once a large number of islet cells are destroyed, the body will produce little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone that comes from a gland behind and below the stomach (pancreas).

• ✅ The pancreas puts insulin into the bloodstream.
• ✅ Insulin travels through the body, allowing sugar to enter the cells.
• ✅ Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in the bloodstream.
• ✅ As the blood sugar level drops, the pancreas puts less insulin into the bloodstream.

The role of glucose

Glucose — a sugar — is a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues.

• ✅ Glucose comes from two major sources: food and the liver.
• ✅ Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it enters cells with the help of insulin.
• ✅ The liver stores glucose in the form of glycogen.
• ✅ When glucose levels are low, such as when you haven't eaten in a while, the liver breaks down the stored glycogen into glucose. This keeps glucose levels within a typical range.

In type 1 diabetes, there's no insulin to let glucose into the cells. Because of this, sugar builds up in the bloodstream. This can cause life-threatening complications.

Risk factors

Some factors that can raise your risk for type 1 diabetes include:

• ✅ Family history. Anyone with a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes has a slightly higher risk of developing the condition.
• ✅ Genetics. Having certain genes increases the risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
• ✅ Geography. The number of people who have type 1 diabetes tends to be higher as you travel away from the equator.
• ✅ Age. Type 1 diabetes can appear at any age, but it appears at two noticeable peaks. The first peak occurs in children between 4 and 7 years old. The second is in children between 10 and 14 years old.