Everything
You Need To Know About Type 1 Diabetes
Though diabetes is already a
treatable disease, it is still considered
one of the chronic conditions. It is characterized by high blood sugar
levels. People with diabetes requires medical diagnosis, long-term
treatment and usually extensive lifestyle changes.
One of the forms of diabetes is the Type
1 diabetes. It is usually
termed as juvenile diabetes, for the reason that most diabetes type 1
cases recorded are with children. However, this type of diabetes may
also affect adults. Statistics show that type 1 diabetes take up 10% of
all the diabetes cases recorded in North America.
Type 1
diabetes is characterized by deficiency in insulin. Insulin is a
hormone that converts glucose or sugar into the much needed energy to
carry out life's daily routines.
Some cases of type 1 diabetes
show evidence of autoimmune destruction.
This means that antibodies have mistakenly attacked insulin-producing
cells which eventually leads to a decrease in insulin production.
Because the body does not have enough insulin, treatment for type 1
diabetic patients consists of artificially pumping in insulin into the
body. Blood sugar levels are
continuously monitored using blood testing
monitors. Insulin can be injected or inhaled. A pump can also be used
which could be programmed to increase insulin dosage at meal times,
when more insulin is needed. Because high technology methods are being
incorporated in the effective treatment of diabetes, diabetic patients
may also suffer from major drainage of monetary funds.
The normal value for insulin levels
is 80-120mg/dl, 4-6mmol/l. However,
physicians may suggest a value which is a little higher (140-160mg/dl,
7-7.5mmol/l) to address those with too low glucose levels or
hypoglycemia. Too low glucose levels may lead to some seizures of
unconsciousness. On the other hand, too high glucose levels could bring
about frequent urination which can lead to dehydration. There is also
an added risk to developing ketoacidosis.
Other serious complications resulting from type 1 diabetes include
cardiovascular diseases, retinopathy or blindness, neuropathy or nerve
damage and nephropathy or kidney damage. Usually, type 1 diabetes may
not be recognized at the onset of the disease. Only when these
complications may have already developed that diabetes has been
diagnosed.
Though diabetes is a chronic disease, diabetic patients can still live
long, happy and healthy lives. Regular exercise and proper diet could
also help improve the health of a diabetic patient. Other things that
you can do to help your body would be to quit smoking and reduce
alcohol consumption. Spending time for your eye care, skin care, heart
and oral health care can delay or even prevent the start of harmful
type 1 diabetes.
Currently, diabetes 1 treatment
will have to go through indefinitely.
However, improvements in these treatments could allow individuals to
join all kinds of activities that may interest him. As long as
medications are responsibly followed and appropriate care is in order,
type 1 diabetes will not impair normal activities. In fact, just
recently, an Austrian mountaineer became the first insulin-dependent
diabetic patient to reach the peak of Mount Everest.
Other forms of diabetes include the Type
2 and Type 3 diabetes. In type
2 diabetes, the body does not effectively secrete and respond to
insulin. Type 3 diabetes or gestational diabetes is similar type 2
diabetes, only that it occurs during pregnancy. Presently, little is
known about how to prevent the onset of diabetes. Researchers are still
doing extensive researches on diabetes preventive measures.
Government efforts are under way to increase public awareness about
diabetes. Several countries such as the United States and United
Kingdom have launched programs to monitor and control the general
public's sugar levels. This leads to a decrease in developing serious
diabetic cases.
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