Diabetes Type 1
Diabetes Type 1 can occur at any age. However, it is most often diagnosed in children, adolescents or young adults.
Insulin is a hormone produced by special cells, called beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas is located behind your stomach. Insulin is needed to move blood sugar (glucose) into cells, where it is stored and used later for energy. In diabetes type 1, the insulin-producing beta cells or very little.
Without enough insulin, glucose accumulates in the blood instead of going into cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy. This leads to symptoms of type 1 diabetes.
The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Most likely, this is an autoimmune disorder. Infection or other trigger causes the body to mistakenly attack the pancreas cells that make insulin. This type of disorder can be transmitted through families.
Symptoms
These symptoms may be early signs of diabetes type 1 or can occur when blood sugar is high
- Being very thirsty
- Feeling hungry
- Tiredness or fatigue
- With blurred vision
- Losing feeling or tingling sensation in your feet
- Losing weight without trying
- Urinate more often
- Deep rapid breathing
- Dry skin and mouth
- Flushing
- Fruity breath odor
- Nausea or vomiting, inability to reduce fluid
- Stomach pain
Blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can develop quickly in people with diabetes who take insulin. Symptoms usually appear when the level of blood sugar falls below 70 mg / dL. Look for:
- Headaches
- Hunger
- Nervousness
- Rapid heart beat (palpitations)
- Shaking
- Sweating
- The weakness
Examinations and tests
Diabetes is diagnosed with blood tests include:
- Fasting glucose - diabetes is diagnosed if it is greater than 126 mg / dl twice
- Random (not fasting) glucose levels in the blood - you may have diabetes, if it is greater than 200 mg / dL, and you have symptoms such as increased thirst, urination, and fatigue (which must be confirmed by a fasting test)
- Test oral glucose tolerance - diabetes is diagnosed if glucose exceeds 200 mg / dL after 2 hours
- A hemoglobin A1c test
- Normal: Less than 5.7%
- Pre-diabetes: between 5.7% and 6.4%
- Diabetes: 6.5% or more
- When blood glucose exceeds 240 mg / dL
- In a disease such as pneumonia, heart attack or stroke
- When nausea or vomiting
- During pregnancy
The following tests or examinations help you and your doctor to monitor your diabetes and prevent problems caused by diabetes:
- Check the skin and bones on your feet and legs.
- Make sure your feet are numb get.
- Take your blood pressure checked at least every two years (goal blood pressure should be 130/80 mm / Hg or lower).
- Have your hemoglobin A1c test (HbA1c) is every 6 months if your diabetes is well controlled, otherwise every three months.
- Have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked yearly (aim for LDL levels below 70-100 mg / dL).
- Get annual tests to make sure your kidneys are working well (microalbuminuria and serum creatinine).
- Visit your eye doctor at least once a year, or more often if you have signs of diabetic eye disease.
- See the dentist every six months for a thorough cleaning and a dental examination. Make sure your dentist and hygienist know that you have diabetes.
Treatment
Because type 1 diabetes can start quickly and the symptoms can be severe, people newly diagnosed may need to stay in the hospital.
If you have just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you should probably do a check-up every week until you have good control of blood glucose. Your health care provider will review results of monitoring of home blood sugar and urine. Your provider will also look at your schedule for meals, snacks and insulin injections.
As the disease is more stable, you will have less follow-up visits. Visit your health care provider is very important so that you can follow all the long-term problems of diabetes.
You are the most important person in managing your diabetes. You should know the basic steps to diabetes management:
- How to recognize and treat blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- How to recognize and treat high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
- Meal planning for diabetes
- How to give insulin
- How to check blood sugar and urine ketones
- How to adjust insulin and food when you exercise
- How to handle sick days
- Where to buy diabetes supplies and how to store
INSULIN
Insulin lowers blood sugar by allowing it to leave the bloodstream and enter cells. Everyone with diabetes type 1 must inject insulin every day.
Insulin is usually injected under the skin. In some cases, a pump delivers insulin every time. Insulin is not in pill form.
Types of insulin differ in how fast you start working and how long they last. The health care provider will choose the best type of insulin for you and tell you at what time of day to use it. More than one type of insulin can be mixed in one injection to achieve the best glycemic control. You may need insulin injections from one to four times a day.
Your health care provider or diabetes nurse educator will teach you how to inject insulin. Initially, the injections can be given a child by a parent or another adult. At 14, most children can give their own injections.
People with diabetes need to know how to adjust the amount of insulin they take:
- When they exercise
- When they are sick
- When they are eating more calories or less and
- When traveling
Diet and exercise
People with diabetes type 1 should eat about the same time each day and try to eat the same food types. This prevents blood sugar from rising too high or low. See also:
- Diabetes diet
- Snacking when you have diabetes
The American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association have information for planning healthy, balanced meals. It can help to talk to a dietitian or nutrition counselor.
Regular exercise helps control the amount of sugar in the blood. It also helps to burn extra calories and fat to achieve a healthy weight.
Ask your health care provider before beginning any exercise program. People with type 1 diabetes must take special measures before, during and after intense physical activity or exercise. See also: Diabetes and exercise
MANAGING YOUR BLOOD SUGAR
Checking your blood sugar in the blood at home and write the results will tell you how you manage your diabetes. Talk to your doctor and diabetes educator about how often to check.
A device called a glucometer can read blood sugar levels. There are different types of devices. Usually, you prick your finger with a small needle called a lancet to get a small drop of blood. You place the blood on a test strip and put the tape in the camera. You should have results in from 30 to 45 seconds.
Keep track of your blood sugar for you and your doctor or nurse. This will help if you have difficulty managing your diabetes. You and your doctor should set a target of your blood sugar in the blood at different times during the day. You should also plan what to do when your blood sugar is too low or high.
For more information see: Managing your blood sugar
Low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia. Blood sugar levels below 70 mg / dL are too low and can hurt you.
FOOT CARE
Diabetes damages blood vessels and nerves. This may make you less able to feel the pressure on the foot. You may not notice a foot injury until you have a severe infection.
Diabetes can also damage blood vessels. Small wounds or cuts in the skin can become deep wounds of the skin (ulcers). The affected limb may need to be amputated if skin ulcers do not heal or become larger or deeper.
To avoid problems with your feet:
- Stop smoking if you smoke.
- Improve control of blood glucose.
- Get a foot exam by your health care provider at least twice a year, and whether you have nerve damage.
- Check and take care of your feet daily, especially if you have had the nerves or blood vessel damage or current foot problems.
- Make sure you wear the right kind of shoes.
Preventing Complications
Your doctor may prescribe medications or other treatments to reduce your chances of developing eye disease, kidney disease and other conditions that are more common in people with diabetes.