Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes usually begins in childhood or young adulthood, but it can develop at any age. In the U.S., Canada and Europe, Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5 to 10% of all cases of diabetes.

At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, we’ll help you find the best care and treatment for your diabetes.

What is Type 1 diabetes?

When you have diabetes, your levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood are too high. This happens because of a lack of insulin – a hormone that helps glucose move from your blood into your cells to give them energy. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in your blood. Over time, high blood glucose can lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys and feet.

Type 1 diabetes vs. Type 2 diabetes

Both Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes have similar symptoms. But Type 1 diabetes almost always starts before you become an adult, and it happens because your body stops making insulin or makes very little insulin. Type 2 diabetes usually starts in adulthood and occurs because your body either doesn't use insulin well or doesn't produce enough insulin.

What causes Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes usually develops when the immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells (called the beta cells) in the pancreas where insulin is made. The cause of this abnormal immune response is being studied.

High blood sugar and its associated symptoms, such as frequent urination and thirst, do not usually occur until more than 90% of the cells that make insulin have been destroyed.

What are the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes?

Some common symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are:

• Urinating often
• Feeling very thirsty and hungry
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
• Weight loss – even though you are eating more
• Having dry, itchy skin
• Losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet

Less commonly, there are symptoms of a problem called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). People with DKA have symptoms of high blood sugar, as well as nausea and vomiting, belly pain, breathing rapidly, feeling sluggish, having trouble paying attention and sometimes coma. DKA is a medical emergency and must be treated promptly.

Risk factors for Type 1 diabetes

Some known risk factors for Type 1 diabetes include:

• Family history: Anyone with a parent or sibling with Type 1 diabetes has a slightly increased risk of developing the condition.
• Certain genes: The presence of specific genes indicates an increased risk of developing Type 1 diabetes.
• Geography: The incidence of Type 1 diabetes tends to increase as you travel away from the equator. People living in Finland and Sweden have the highest incidence of Type 1 diabetes.

Genetic testing can help to determine if a family member is at risk of developing diabetes.

Diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes

The diagnosis of diabetes is based on your symptoms and blood tests. Most people with Type 1 diabetes have symptoms of high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia).

A blood test can show if you have diabetes. A blood test called the A1C can check to see how well you are managing your diabetes over time.

Treatment for Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes requires regular blood sugar monitoring and treatment with insulin. Treatment, lifestyle adjustments and self-care can control blood sugar levels and minimize the risk of disease-related complications.

Insulin treatment replaces or supplements your body's insulin levels, restoring normal or near-normal blood sugar levels. Many different types of insulin treatment can successfully control blood sugar levels. With a little extra planning, people with Type 1 diabetes who take insulin can lead a full life and keep their blood sugar under control.