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Type 1 diabetes is a chronic health condition in which the body can no longer produce insulin — the hormone needed to convert sugar from food into energy for your body.
Type 1
Diabetes
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What Is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the pancreas is not able to produce insulin, and therefore the body cannot manage its blood sugar levels. Given this, people can experience dangerously high blood sugar levels (called hyperglycemia). To manage blood sugar levels, people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin injections or receive insulin through a pump.
Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in children, teens, and adolescents, but it can develop at any age. T1D is less common than type 2, with approximately 5-10% of the total diabetes population being diagnosed with type 1.
Common symptoms of type 1 diabetes include frequent urination, excessive thirst and hunger, extreme fatigue, blurred vision, cuts and bruises slow to heal, weight loss even with prior eating habits. Symptoms can develop in just a few weeks or months, but may be severe once developed.
Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
T1D is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction where the body attacks cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Unfortunately, genetic and environmental triggers for the attack are not well understood, and 80% of people with the condition do not have a family history of type 1.
What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 Prevention and Treatment
Currently, there is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes, although it can be managed by taking insulin daily to help manage blood sugar levels in addition to diet and exercise. Some people with type 1 diabetes also take additional medication to support their diabetes management.
- What is Type 1 Diabetes?
- How to Manage Blood Sugar Levels
- How to Set Blood Sugar Targets
- What Insulin Is, Various Types, and How to Take it
- The Type 1 Honeymoon Phase Explained
Type 1 Diabetes: A Free Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, download this helpful resource for understanding T1D and daily management.
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