Endocrinology Health Guide

Type 1 Diabetes

What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease, which, if not controlled, can be life threatening. It is often associated with long-term complications that can affect every system and part of the body. Diabetes can contribute to eye disorders and blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputation, and nerve damage. It can affect pregnancy and cause birth defects, as well.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the American Diabetes Association, diabetes affects an estimated 15.7 million people in the United States.

There are three main main types of diabetes that require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional:

type 1 diabetes
type 2 diabetes
gestational diabetes

What is type 1 diabetes (diabetes mellitus)?
Type 1 diabetes is also known as diabetes mellitus, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), juvenile diabetes, brittle diabetes, or sugar diabetes. There are two forms of type 1 diabetes:

idiopathic type 1 - refers to rare forms of the disease with no known cause.
immune-mediated diabetes - an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system destroys, or attempts to destroy, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Immune-mediated diabetes is the most common form of type 1 diabetes.

What causes type 1 diabetes (diabetes mellitus)?
The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, but it is believed that people inherit a tendency to develop diabetes, and that viruses may be involved.

This auto-immune disease results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter the cells of the body to provide fuel. This is the result of an autoimmune process in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing cells of the pancreas.

When glucose cannot enter the cells, it builds up in the blood and the body's cells literally starve to death. People with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections and regularly monitor their blood sugar levels.

What are the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes?
The following are the most common symptoms for type 1 diabetes, however, each individual may experience symptoms differently.

Type 1 diabetes often appears suddenly, and signs and symptoms may include:

high levels of sugar in the blood when tested
high levels of sugar in the urine when tested
unusual thirst
frequent urination
extreme hunger but loss of weight
blurred vision
nausea and vomiting
extreme weakness and tiredness
irritability and mood changes

In children, symptoms may be similar to those of having the flu.

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult your physician for a diagnosis.

A diagnosis of diabetes:
A diagnosis of diabetes is made when any three of these tests is positive, followed by a second positive test on a different day:

Fasting plasma glucose of greater than or equal to 126 mg/dl with symptoms of diabetes.
Casual plasma glucose (taken at any time of the day) of greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl with the symptoms of diabetes.
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) value of greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl measured at a two-hour interval. The OGTT is given over a three-hour timespan.

What complications may be associated with type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes can cause different problems, but there are three key complications:

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar; sometimes called an insulin reaction) occurs when blood sugar drops too low.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) occurs when blood sugar is too high, and can be a sign that diabetes is not well controlled.
Ketoacidosis (diabetic coma) is loss of consciousness due to untreated or under-treated diabetes.

Treatment for type 1 diabetes:
Specific treatment will be determined by your physician(s) based on:

your age, overall health, and medical history
extent of the disease
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference

People with type 1 diabetes must have daily injections of insulin to keep the blood sugar level within normal ranges. Other parts of the treatment protocol may include:

appropriate foods to manage blood sugar level.
exercise to lower and help the body use blood sugar.
regular blood testing for blood-sugar levels.
regular urine testing for ketone levels.

This page was last updated on: May 23, 2006.

For patient inquiries, call 1-800-492-5538 or click here to make an appointment.