What Is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes affects millions of people worldwide. It’s an autoimmune disease where the body mistakenly attacks its own cells that produce insulin in the pancreas.
“Insulin is a hormone that lets sugar from food get into cells, where it’s used for energy. Without insulin, sugar builds up in the bloodstream and causes high blood sugar, which can be dangerous,” explains Ruth Pickett, a certified diabetes care and education specialist with Carilion’s Diabetes Management and Prevention Program who also lives with T1D.
Since people with T1D can’t make insulin on their own, they have to take insulin every day to keep their blood sugar in check and feel their best.
Who Can Get T1D?
Anyone can get T1D, but it’s most often diagnosed in children, teens and young adults. Doctors aren’t exactly sure what causes T1D, but it’s thought to involve genetics and some environmental triggers, like viral infections. Right now, there’s no known way to prevent it.
Common Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
T1D symptoms tend to come on fast. Here’s what to look for:
- Frequent urination: When blood sugar is high, the kidneys work extra hard to get rid of it, which means more trips to the bathroom. This may also cause frequent full diapers in infants or bedwetting in kids.
- Feeling thirsty and hungry all the time: Dehydration from frequent urination causes thirst, while cells that aren’t getting glucose signal hunger.
- Fatigue: Since cells can’t get the energy they need, you may feel wiped out all the time.
- Blurry vision: High blood sugar affects the fluid in your eyes, which can make things look fuzzy.
- Unexplained weight loss: When the body can’t use sugar, it starts breaking down muscle and fat for energy, leading to weight loss.
It’s important to note that T1D warning signs overlap with those of Type 2 diabetes. If you have one or more of these symptoms, talk to your doctor. They’ll likely run several tests to screen for diabetes, including:
- Blood glucose test to check your blood sugar levels.
- Hemoglobin A1c test to show your average blood sugar over the last few months.
- Antibody test to look for antibodies that attack the pancreas.
Managing T1D
Living with T1D involves many daily decisions to help manage blood sugar. That includes the following:
1. Insulin
- Injections: Multiple daily injections of both long-acting and fast-acting insulin with a pen or syringe.
- Insulin pump: A wearable device that delivers insulin throughout the day, making blood sugar management a little more convenient. Newer technology also allows for automatic insulin adjustments to help minimize highs and lows.
2. Glucose Monitoring
- Continuous glucose monitor (CGM): A small wearable device that tracks your blood sugar 24/7, so you can see if your levels are too high or low. Many CGMs connect to an app, giving you a heads-up if your blood sugar needs attention.
- Blood glucose meter: A handheld device that reads your glucose levels from a drop of blood, usually taken from your fingertip.
3. Balanced Diet and Exercise
- While diet doesn’t cause T1D, what you eat affects your blood sugar. Counting carbs to help with precise insulin dosing and pairing them with protein or fat can help stabilize levels.
- Exercise is also an important part of a healthy lifestyle with T1D. Just be sure to keep a snack handy—activity makes insulin work better, which can lower blood sugar to dangerous levels.
4. Learning and Self-Monitoring
Knowing how to count carbs, recognize high and low blood sugar symptoms and manage stress (which can affect blood sugar) is key. Checking your levels regularly gives you a better sense of how your body’s responding to different foods, activities and stressors.
Potential Complications
- Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar can cause dizziness, confusion and, if severe, fainting or seizures.
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): This happens when blood sugar gets too high and the body produces acids called ketones. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and confusion. DKA is an emergency and needs to be treated right away.
- Long-term complications: High blood sugar over time can damage nerves and blood vessels, increasing the risk for heart problems, kidney disease and vision loss.
There’s no cure for T1D yet, but treatments are getting better all the time. With the right tools and support, those living with this disease can still live healthy, active lives. The earlier you detect and start treating T1D the better, so reach out to your doctor right away if you experience symptoms.
