• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Patient Education

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes
• Risk Factors
• Symptoms
• Life-Threatening Complications
• Diagnosis
• Dietary Goals and Exercise
• Treatment
• Monitoring Tests
• Long-Term Complications
• Transplantation Procedures
• Prevention
• Resources
• References

Diabetes - type 1

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of type 1 diabetes.

Alternative Names

Type 1 diabetes; Insulin-dependent diabetes; Juvenile diabetes

Symptoms

The process that destroys the insulin-producing beta cells can be a long and insidious one. At the point when insulin production bottoms out, however, type 1 diabetes usually appears suddenly and progresses quickly. Warning signs of type 1 diabetes include:

• Frequent urination (in children, a recurrence of bed-wetting after toilet training has been completed)
• Unusual thirst, especially for sweet, cold drinks
• Extreme hunger
• Sudden, sometimes dramatic, weight loss
• Weakness
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurred vision or other changes in eyesight
• Irritability
• Nausea and vomiting (acute symptoms)

Children with type 1 diabetes may also be restless, apathetic, and have trouble functioning at school. In severe cases, diabetic coma may be the first sign of type 1 diabetes.

• Review Date: 7/18/2006
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.