What is Type 1 Diabetes?

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is also commonly referred to as the juvenile diabetes, childhood diabetes, insulin-dependent diabetes or mellitus, as well as ketosis prone diabetes. It has been reported that at least 10 percent of all active cases of diabetes in America are composed of type 1 diabetes.

In general, the type 1 diabetes usually develops within children; in fact statistics often show that there is usually at least one childhood case that develops in every 400 to 600 school age children. Male and female affliction is about equal with neither sex having the most affected patients. However, an interesting fact concerning this disease is that the type 1 is actually more noticeable in the Caucasian race then within the Latino or African American population.

Type 1 diabetes is in reality an autoimmune type of disease which occurs when the insulin producing cells of the body are completely destroyed and the pancreas begins to shut down and fail in its efforts to produce adequate insulin. As mentioned this type of diabetes is frequently found in children it is just the same very capable of effecting the adult population as well.

When the type 1 diabetes is first discovered in the patient it is extremely important that it be properly managed in order to prevent the occurrence of some of the more serious conditions which are usually associated with diabetes patients in general such as possible heart disease, eventual strokes, sudden blindness, rapid kidney failure and potential nerve damage. Patients with this disease should be encouraged to follow a very strict exercise program and to consume healthy and balanced meals. All the individuals who have this type 1 diabetes will be required to receive regular injections of diabetes insulin.

The specific cause of the type 1 diabetes is still unknown and doctors and research scientists are just starting to unravel the mysteries which surround it. They are slowly beginning to understand the complications that are involved in this disease to the point where they can begin making intelligent tests for a cure.

It has been suggested that perhaps the root cause for diabetes in general is centered upon a special genetic trait which is handed down from one generation to the next. It has also been suggested that there is a possibility that this gene can remain in a dormant state for many years until it is activated by some external stimulus.

Physicians have established several different sub types of this particular diabetes and have broken them down according to the severity of the disease. These predominant types are the type 1A diabetes, the type 1B diabetes and the latent autoimmune diabetes which generally makes its appearance in the adult population. In either case the treatment for the entire sub types is the same. They all require the injection of insulin.

For more information about type 1 diabetes visit our previous post.