Type 1 Diabetes

Diabetes is a common disease, characterized by higher blood sugar (glucose) level. Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which human body either doesn’t produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone secreted by pancreas and is required for the breakdown of sugar, starches and other carbohydrate forms for release of energy. This insulin induces the body’s cells to take up glucose from the blood to be used as a source of energy. In another words, insulin controls the blood sugar level of the body. When human body doesn’t produce or use insulin properly, body’s cells start utilizing fats for energy production. Overall, body metabolism gets disturbed, resulting into various symptoms.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease, caused due to failure of insulin production by the body. In Type 1 diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas (responsible for the production of insulin hormone) are damaged. In such cases, the beta cells are not functioning properly and subsequently, the body either secretes little or no insulin. Type 1 diabetes has been classified into two types - immune-mediated and idiopathic. In immune-mediated type, the body’s immune system destroys or attempts to destroy the beta cells of the pancreas. In case of idiopathic type, the cause is not known and this type of diabetes is very rare. Majority of the Type 1 diabetes cases are reported to be immune-mediated type. Type 1 diabetes is formerly referred to as "childhood" or "juvenile" or "insulin-dependent" diabetes. Previously, it was thought that Type 1 diabetes occur only in childhood stages, however it is proved to be wrong, since it can affect in any stages of life.

The cause of Type 1 diabetes is not confirmed as yet. However, many people are of the opinion that both genetic and environmental factors are responsible for causing Type 1 diabetes.

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

People with Type 1 diabetes experience different diabetes symptoms. It is a fact that people with Type 1 diabetes show high sugar level in the blood. Let’s see some of the common symptoms observed in Type 1 diabetes.

Increased Urination (Polyuria): A patient with Type 1 diabetes suffers from frequent urination or production of an abnormally large volume of urine, along with the presence of high level of sugar in the urine. Usually, it is the first sign of undiagnosed diabetes. The volume of urine output for an adult person suffering from polyuria would be at least 2.5 liters over 24 hours.

Increased Thirst (Polydipsia): Type 1 diabetes patient drinks abnormally large amount of fluids. Since the blood contains excess sugar and draws fluid from the surrounding tissues due to osmosis phenomena, the patient feels thirstier. In addition, polydipsia is directly related to polyuria. The person suffering from polyuria loses large volume of fluid resulting in dehydration. The patient feels thirsty and in order to compensate the lost fluid, drinks large volume of fluid.

Increased hunger (Polyphagia): Due to absence of insulin, body cells can’t take up sugar from blood. Hence, energy of the body cells and tissues gets depleted. Thus, body cells of a diabetes Type 1 patient utilize body fats as a source of energy, again depriving the body from energy. This triggers extreme hunger in the patient, so as to balance the energy level of the body cells and tissues.

Increased Fatigue: Since patients of Type 1 diabetes suffer from polyuria, they get dehydrated and feel tired all the time. Also, due to the absence of insulin, most of the sugar is excreted in the urine, leaving the body cells without energy source. Thus, patient suffers from extreme fatigue.

Weight Loss: Type 1 patients lose weight than other types of diabetes. This is due to lose of abnormally large volume of fluid along with sugar in the urine. So, even if regular diet is taken, the patient suffers from weight loss.

Blurred Vision: Excess glucose level in the blood affects all the body cells including the eye lenses, due to osmosis. Thus, the focus of the retina gets disturbed, leading to blurred vision.

Other notable symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include nausea, vomiting, slow healing and increased infection.

Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes

Diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes is very difficult. In fact, many people suffer from Type 1 diabetes, but are not aware of their condition. The symptoms of diabetes are similar to many other disease conditions and very often, lead to confusion. Several tests and routine examination are to be taken for diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosis is confirmed, if the test results show higher sugar level in comparison to normal sugar level. In general, glucose level of 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is considered normal.

Urine analysis: Analysis of urine is one of the several tests for diagnosis of diabetes, in which the physical, chemical and microscopic examination of urine is carried out. The urine sample is tested for the presence of ketones and glucose resulting from the breakdown of fats. If there is presence of high glucose in the urine sample, it indicates the risk of Type 1 diabetes. However, analysis of urine alone can’t diagnose diabetes.

Random Blood Glucose Level: Random blood glucose test is done at any time of the day, without fasting to measure the amount of glucose in a sample of blood. Results may vary depending upon the intake of foods and fluids before the test. The normal results would be 70 - 130 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) before meals and less than 180 mg/dL after meals. However, diabetes is suspected if the blood sugar level is higher than 200 mg/dL. Type 1 diabetes can be confirmed by comparing random blood glucose level with the fasting blood glucose level.

Fasting Blood Glucose Level: This test is carried out with fasting (one should not eat or drink for 6 hours before the test) to examine the blood glucose level. Diabetes is diagnosed if the fasting blood glucose level is 126 mg/dL or higher on two occasions.

It is to be noted that the test results may vary slightly for different laboratories. For any confusion, discuss with you physician or a qualified specialist.

Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is treated by giving external or artificial insulin to the body, along with diet management and regular monitoring blood sugar levels. Insulin can be provided externally by injecting with insulin or by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy (insulin pump). It is advisable to check sugar level of the blood on a regular basis. Nowadays, glucose meter or glucometer (a medical instrument for determining blood glucose levels) are available, with which one can monitor blood glucose at home without going to a physician or a clinic.

If Type 1 diabetes remains untreated, it can lead to health complications such as diabetic coma and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is a serious complication caused due to insulin deficiency and increase in the production of stress hormones such as cortisol. Some of the other diabetes related health complications include blindness, kidney failure, limb amputation and heart diseases. Recent studies have revealed that diabetes is one of the most significant causes of adult blindness.

Type 1 diabetes treatment may vary from one person to another, depending upon the age, health condition and any other related problems, medical history and severity of the disease.

Though treatment is available, there is no permanent cure for Type 1 diabetes. At present, insulin treatment is recommended and may be continued for a longer duration, until a better treatment or a cure is discovered. However, a person with Type 1 diabetes can stay healthy by following a diabetic diet, regular exercise and controlling blood sugar level. A person who is obese and have a family history of diabetes should be more careful.