Type 1 diabetes definition

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease. In people with type 1 diabetes, cells

in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed, and the body is unable to
make insulin.

Insulin is a hormone that helps your body’s cells use glucose for energy.
Your body gets glucose from the food you eat. Insulin allows the glucose to
pass from your blood into your body’s cells.

When the cells have enough, your liver and muscle tissues store the
extra glucose, also called blood sugar, in the form of glycogen. It’s broken
down into blood sugar and released when you need energy between
meals, during exercise, or while you sleep.

In type 1 diabetes, the body is unable to process glucose, due to the lack
of insulin. Glucose from your food can’t make its way into the cells. This
leaves too much glucose circulating in your blood. High blood sugar levels
can lead to both short-term and long-term problems.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes

The following are symptoms of type 1 diabetes:

 excessive hunger
 excessive thirst
 blurred vision
 fatigue
 frequent urination
 dramatic weight loss in a short period of time
A person might also develop ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes.
Symptoms of this condition include:

 rapid breathing
 dry skin and mouth
 flushed face
 fruity breath odor
 nausea
 vomiting or stomach pain

If you have one or more type 1 diabetes symptoms, you should visit your
doctor. But if you have symptoms of ketoacidosis, you should get medical
help right away. Ketoacidosis is a medical emergency. Learn more about
early signs, as well as advanced symptoms, of diabetes.

Type 1 vs. type 2 diabetes

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. They have similar
symptoms, and over time, they can lead to many of the same
complications. However, they are very different diseases.

Type 1 diabetes is the result of the body not producing insulin on its own.
Taking insulin is necessary for survival, to move glucose from the
bloodstream into the body’s cells.

For people with type 2 diabetes, the cells have stopped responding well to
insulin. The body struggles to move glucose from the blood into the cells,
despite adequate levels of the hormone. Eventually, their bodies may stop
making adequate insulin entirely.

Type 1 diabetes develops very quickly, and symptoms are obvious. For
people with type 2 diabetes, the condition can develop over many years. In
fact, a person with type 2 diabetes may not know they have it until they
have a complication.

The two types of diabetes are caused by different things. They also have
unique risk factors. Read about similarities and differences between the
types of diabetes.

Causes type 1 diabetes

The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. However, it’s thought to be
an autoimmune disease. The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks
beta cells in the pancreas. These are the cells that make insulin. Scientists
don’t fully understand why this happens.

Genetic and environmental elements, such as viruses, may play a

role. Read more about each of the factors that may cause some people to
develop type 1 diabetes.

Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed through a series of tests.. Some can
be conducted quickly, while others require hours of preparation or
monitoring.

Type 1 diabetes often develops quickly. People are diagnosed if they meet
one of the following criteria:

 fasting blood sugar > 126 mg/dL on two separate tests

 random blood sugar > 200 mg/dL, along with symptoms of diabetes
 hemoglobin A1c > 6.5 on two separate tests
These criteria are also used to diagnose type 2 diabetes. In fact, people
with type 1 diabetes are sometimes misdiagnosed as having type 2.

A doctor may not realize you’ve been misdiagnosed until you begin
developing complications or worsening symptoms despite treatment.

When blood sugar gets so high that diabetic ketoacidosis occurs, you

become very ill. This is often the reason people end up in the hospital or
their doctor’s office, and type 1 diabetes is then diagnosed.

If you have any of the symptoms of diabetes, your doctor will likely order
tests. Learn how each of these tests is performed and what they show.

Type 1 diabetes treatment

If you receive a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, your body can’t make its own
insulin. You’ll need to take insulin to help your body use the sugar in your
blood. Other treatments may also hold some promise for controlling
symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

Insulin

People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day. You usually take
the insulin through an injection.

Some people use an insulin pump. The pump injects insulin through a port
in the skin. It can be easier for some people than sticking themselves with a
needle. It may also help level out blood sugar highs and lows.

The amount of insulin you need varies throughout the day. People with type
1 diabetes regularly test their blood sugar to figure out how much insulin
they need. Both diet and exercise can affect blood sugar levels.
Several insulin types exist. Your doctor may have you try more than one to
find what works best for you. Read about the differences in insulin and how
it’s administered.

Metformin

Metformin is a type of oral diabetes medication. For many years, it was only
used in people with type 2 diabetes. However, some people with type 1
diabetes can develop insulin resistance. That means the insulin they get
from injections doesn’t work as well as it should.

Metformin helps lower sugar in the blood by reducing sugar production in

the liver. Your doctor may advise you to take Metformin in addition to
insulin.

RECALL OF METFORMIN EXTENDED RELEASE

In May 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted

Source recommended that some makers of metformin extended release
remove some of their tablets from the U.S. market. This is because an
unacceptable level of a probable carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) was
found in some extended-release metformin tablets. If you currently take this
drug, call your healthcare provider. They will advise whether you should
continue to take your medication or if you need a new prescription.

Vaccines

The tuberculosis vaccine may hold promise as a treatment for people with

type 1 diabetes. A very small study found that people with type 1 who
received two injections of the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine saw
their blood sugar levels stabilize for at least five years.

This option isn’t on the market yet. It’s still undergoing testing and doesn’t
have approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Still, it holds
promise for future type 1 diabetes treatment.
Other medications

A new oral medicine may be on the horizon for people with type 1
diabetes. Sotagliflozin (Zynquista) is awaiting FDA approval. If it gets the
green light, this drug will be the first oral medication designed to be used
alongside insulin in people with type 1 diabetes.

This medicine works to lower glucose levels in the blood by forcing the
body to expel it in urine and by reducing glucose absorption in the gut.
Similar medicines exist already for people with type 2 diabetes, but none
are approved for people with type 1.

Diet and exercise

People with type 1 diabetes should eat regular meals and snacks to keep
blood sugar stable. A dietitian who is also a certified diabetes educator can
help to establish an eating plan.

Exercise also helps lower blood sugar levels. Insulin amounts may need to
be adjusted according to your level of exercise.

Type 1 diabetes risk factors

Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are poorly understood. However, some
potential factors have been identified.

Family history

Family history may be important in some cases of type 1 diabetes. If you

have a family member with type 1 diabetes, your risk of developing it
increases.
Several genes have been linked to this condition. However, not everyone
who has these genes develops type 1 diabetes. Many researchers and
doctors believe some type of trigger causes type 1 diabetes to develop in
some people but not others.

Race

Race may be a risk factor for type 1 diabetes. It’s more common in white
people than in people of other races.

Environmental factors

Some viruses may trigger type 1 diabetes. It’s unclear which ones might be

the culprits, however.

Likewise, people from cold climates are more likely to have type 1 diabetes.
Doctors also diagnose more cases of type 1 in winter than they do in
summer.

Several other components may influence who develops type 1

diabetes. Read about these possible risk factors and the research
underway to better understand why some people develop the disease.

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Type 1 diabetes in children

Type 1 diabetes was once known as juvenile diabetes. That is because it’s
frequently diagnosed in children and young adults. By comparison, type 2
diabetes is typically diagnosed in older adults. However, both types can be
diagnosed at almost any age.

Symptoms of diabetes in children include:

 weight loss
 wetting the bed or urinating more often
 feeling weak or fatigued
 being hungry or thirsty more often
 mood changes
 blurred vision

As in adults, children with type 1 diabetes are treated with insulin.

The first generation of an artificial pancreas has been recently approved for

use in children. This device is inserted under the skin. Then, it measures
blood sugar continuously, automatically releasing the right amount of
insulin as needed.

Most children still use manual methods for insulin injections and glucose
monitoring. In young children especially, this requires a lot of work
by parents to keep them safe and healthy.

Children with type 1 diabetes can and do live normal, healthy, fulfilling

lives. Get answers to questions about how children with diabetes can eat,
play, and stay healthy.

Life expectancy and statistics

Currently, more than 1.25 million Americans are living with type 1 diabetes.
Each year, another 40,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with
the condition. Despite these large numbers, type 1 diabetes cases make up
only about 5 percent of all diabetes cases in the country.
Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) is the seventhTrusted Source leading cause of
death in the United States. An Australian study of data from 1997 to 2010
found that the average life expectancy of a person with type 1 diabetes
was 12 years shorter than the average population.

Properly managing the condition can help reduce complications and

prolong life expectancy.

Diabetes is a condition that affects people worldwide. Read more about

where and how often it occurs.

Genetic factors
Researchers don’t understand exactly what causes type 1 diabetes.
However, they believe that a person’s genes may play a role.

People who have type 1 diabetes are born with a predisposition to develop
the disease. It does appear to be passed down through generations of a
family. It’s unclear how the pattern works and why some people in a family
will develop diabetes while others don’t.

Researchers have identified certain gene variants that may increase a

person’s risk. These variants can be shared between parent and child
generation after generation. However, only 5 percent of people with these
gene variants actually develop type 1 diabetes.

That’s why researchers believe genes are only one part of the equation.
They think something triggers the disease in people who have the inherited
genes. A virus is one suspected trigger.

For example, identical twins, who have all the same genes, may not both
develop the condition. If one twin has type 1 diabetes, the other twin
develops the condition half of the time or less. This is an indication that
genes aren’t the only factor.