Did you know that India has more than 10 lakh cases of Type 1 diabetes every year?
This blog has everything you need to know about type 1 diabetes.
What is type 1 diabetes condition?
Type 1 diabetes or juvenile diabetes is a condition which typically occurs in one's adolescent years. It is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone your body uses to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.
How type 1 diabetes occurs is something researchers are not completely sure about.
Causes of type 1 diabetes: What causes type 1 diabetes?
The exact type 1 diabetes reasons are unknown and so is the prevention. Usually, the body's own immune system turns on itself and destroys the insulin-producing (islet) cells in the pancreas. Other reasons could be your genetics, viruses and other environmental factors.
What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes symptoms can appear suddenly. These can include:
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Feeling thirsty
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Peeing a lot
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Bed-wetting in children
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Always feeling hungry
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Losing weight rapidly without trying
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Feeling irritable or other mood changes
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Tiredness and weakness
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Experiencing blurry vision
Risk factors associated with type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes risk factors can include:
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Family history
If you have a family history where anyone, a parent or a sibling has type 1 diabetes, you might be at a higher risk of developing it too.
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Genetics
Some diseases are genetic in nature. Or if you have certain genes you might be at a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
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Geography
For reasons researchers have been unable to explain, as you move away from the equator the number of people suffering from type 1 diabetes too increases.
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Age
Age is a major factor. There are two peaks during which you might develop type 1 diabetes. The first appears when a child is between 4 and 7 years old. The second is in children between 10 and 14 years old or adolescent years.
What are the complications associated with type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes complications can affect major organs in the body. Keep your blood sugar levels in check to reduce complications.
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Heart and blood vessel disease
With diabetes, your risk of heart attack, stroke, narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and high blood pressure increases drastically.
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Nerve damage (neuropathy)
Too much sugar in the blood can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels (capillaries). Poorly controlled blood sugar can make you lose all sense of feeling in the affected limbs over time.
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Erectile Dysfunction
Men might suffer from erectile dysfunction. You can have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation if nerves of the digestive tract are affected in any way.
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Kidney damage (nephropathy)
Millions of tiny blood vessels in the kid eyes keep the waste from entering the blood. Diabetes can cause severe damage this system. It can lead to kidney failure or end-stage kidney disease that can't be reversed and needs a kidney transplant.
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Eye damage
Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the retina, causing permanent blindness. It also increases the risk of other conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma.
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Foot damage
Diabetes leads to nerve damage which results in poor blood flow to the feet. Cuts and blisters if left untreated can grow into serious infections. These infections might have to be treated with removal or amputation of the leg, foot or toe.
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Skin and mouth conditions
A person with diabetes is more prone to infections of the skin and mouth. These can include bacterial and fungal infections. It affects your overall oral health. You might also face gum diseases and suffer from dry mouth if you have diabetes.
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Pregnancy complications
High blood sugar levels can be dangerous for both the parent and the baby. If your blood sugar levels are not controlled you might run the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and birth defects. Diabetes increases your risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetic eye problems, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and preeclampsia.
What are the treatments for type 1 diabetes?
Even after a lot of research, type 1 diabetes has no cure. Type 1 diabetes treatment is directed towards managing the amount of sugar in the blood using insulin, diet and lifestyle.
You will have to keep visiting your doctor to get your kidneys, liver, heart and other organs checked out for any complications.
This was all from us today! If you have questions or doubts leave them in the comments section below!
