Do You Know What Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Is?

What is Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?

This is generally just called diabetes - a sickness that resulted to the body not processing or using food that is the source of energy.

This is how a normal body works: when one eats, food is broken down into components like fats, simple sugars from carbohydrates, amino acids from proteins. All these will pass by means of the liver into glucose, one type of simple sugar, and next it will enter the blood stream. The top source of energy, glucose enters the body cells with the help of insulin, one type of hormone. Without insulin, glucose cannot pass through the cell.

With those diabetics: the body does not have adequate insulin to move glucose into the cells. There are 2 factors why there is a shortage of insulin in our body: one is that not much insulin is made or the cells are no longer reacting to insulin. This is the reason why individuals with diabetes has high blood sugar, the glucose are unable to enter the cells, thus it just stays in the blood. As a consequence of this, the body has to work two times as hard and the bodily systems and eventually the organs will suffer damage.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease. Our body has its own immune system which attacks outside invaders. With this disorder, the body's auto immune system attacks and destroys beta cells in the pancreas. These cells are the ones producing insulin. When left neglected, the number of insulin produced will dangerously decrease and the blood sugar level gets so high.

It is still a great mystery why our own body is fighting the beta cells. This is positively not only because of the amount of sugar the person has taken before the disease started off. It was said to be hereditary factor (hereditary), environmental, viral or diet. This disease generally commences before the age of 35. But it can also develop on children ages 1 to 4, but will be identified between 10 to 16. Males and females are affected by Type 1 diabetes mellitus in equal amounts.

What are the Symptoms?

For young children, weight loss but no loss in appetite and may begin to wet the bed. For adults, extreme thrist, frequent urination and even vomiting. If left without treatment, this may cause weakness, confusion, coma and even death.

What are the Complications?

Complications are the toughest enemy of Type 1 diabetes mellitus because this has an effect on the whole body systems and organs, like:

Kidney disease (nephropathy) that can cause kidney failure if the sugar continues to be very high. High blood sugar will damage the kidneys.

Heart and artery disease (atherosclerosis) is a common for type 1 diabetes mellitus because of poor blood circulation.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is lead when ketones, an acidic substance are being made by the body because of lack of glucose.

Eye damage (retinopathy) that might lead to loss of sight. This is cause by the damage induced by high blood sugar in our tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye.

Nerve Damage (neuropathy) is generally brought about by high blood sugar. This will lead to pain or numbness of the body. The most typical affected nerves are that in the feet, legs and hands.

Foot problems that if left untreated may lead to gangrene (death of tissue because of lack of blood flow) and even amputation (surgically removal of foot). This will frequently start as only foot sore or blister.

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. This is a result if too much insulin is taken or there is no enough carbohydrates to balance the insulin. This can be corrected by eating or drinking carbohydrates or injection of a substance that makes the glucose released into the bloodstream.

How to Diagnose?

Diabetes is diagnosed by identifying the sugar levels of the blood. There are two ways:

Fasting Blood Sugar test (FPG) - Blood is taken in the morning after not eating for 8 to 10 hours (or overnight). The normal range is between 70 to 100 miligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) - The blood sugar level will be tested after 2 hours after drinking 75 grams of glucose. The person is diabetic if the 2-hour blood sugar level is 200 mg/dl or higher.

Between the 2, the American Diabetes Association recommends FPB because it is faster, easier and less costly to perform.

What is the Remedy?

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a life time disease and cannot be cured - but can certainly be controlled. People with this type of diabetes need careful monitoring of blood sugar levels, visits of doctor and insulin treatment for life.

In order to keep track of the blood sugar levels several times a day, a blood sample is needed by pricking the finger. A small drop of blood is placed on a test strip and within seconds, a reading will be returned.

Treatment requires insulin injection to make up for the insufficient insulin production of the body. Commonly, it will require 2 to 4 injections per day using the traditional method - using a syringe. But there are also other methods that are being used such as semiautomatic injector pens and insulin pumps.

Together with the remedy, proper diet and exercise are also necessary to help the heart and blood vessels to be healthy. Consultation with a dietitian is often advised.

The author, Dee is a mother and wife and she has a Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - but is enjoying a regular diabetic life. She is continually exploring anything about diabetes and would love to share what she learns with other people who also has diabetes.