Type 1 Diabetes Resource Center

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. This means that your body can’t make insulin, a hormone that helps your cells move the glucose in your bloodstream into your cells for energy. This leads to consistently high blood glucose levels and can cause increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. Managing type 1 diabetes requires lifelong insulin therapy, regular blood sugar monitoring, a healthy diet, and regular exercise.

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FAQ

What are the early signs of type 1 diabetes?

Early signs of type 1 diabetes can include frequent urination and sudden bedwetting in children, increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, extreme hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. Sudden irritability and mood changes can also point to type 1 diabetes.

Health professionals diagnose type 1 diabetes through blood tests, including a fasting blood glucose test, an A1C test, and a glucose tolerance test. They will also request an autoantibody test to confirm the type of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes isn’t curable. However, you can live a full and active life with type 1 diabetes by taking insulin therapy, monitoring your blood glucose, and looking after your health through a controlled diet and regular exercise.

People with type 1 diabetes can live long and healthy lives when sticking to their treatment plans, although the condition does reduce life expectancy. Insulin therapy and glucose monitoring advances have significantly improved type 1 diabetes life expectancy.

Untreated type 1 diabetes can lead to serious complications, including diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), heart disease, and damage to the kidneys, nervous system, feet, and eyes. It can also increase your risk of skin and mouth infections and pregnancy complications.

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