According to the International Diabetes Federation, there are approximately 425 million people in the world who have diabetes. But, not all diabetes is the same. Most people have diagnosed or undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes but among children and adolescents, Type 1 diabetes is more prevalent. It is estimated that there are 1 million children and adolescents who are afflicted with this form of diabetes.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas is a crucial organ in digesting and regulating sugar. When the immune system attacks the beta cells or the B cells of the pancreas, it strips away the pancreas’s ability to produce insulin. Without insulin, glucose cannot be used by the body for cellular activity. Essentially, the loss of insulin means losing the energy supply our cells need to function. The onset of T1D usually happens when most of the beta cells have been destroyed. Thus, when patients are diagnosed, they will often need to start using insulin pumps and insulin injections right away.
While adults can still be diagnosed with T1D, it is often more common in children and adolescents. This is why it was formerly known as juvenile-onset diabetes with the age of diagnosis usually during 10-14 years old. When someone is diagnosed with T1D, doctors often educate patients to look out for:
- Hypoglycemia. When blood sugar plunges down, the body also shuts down. Common symptoms include tremors, heart palpitations, weakness, dizziness, and hunger. Very low blood sugar can also lead to loss of consciousness. If the body gets used to hypoglycemia, the patient can develop hypoglycemia unawareness where no symptoms are detected. Eventually, the condition can lead to death.
- Hyperglycemia. Excessive amounts of glucose in the bloodstream is also not good for you. Unlike hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia does not present any symptoms until when the blood sugar is very high. Symptoms to look out are thirstiness, frequent urination, fatigue, headache, and blurred vision. High blood sugar can cause several complications.
People with T1D are also at risk to suffer from several complications. Those diagnosed with T1D are ten times more likely to suffer from the cardiovascular diseases like myocardial infarction, stroke, or angina. Other complications include nephropathy, damage to the kidneys, and sometimes end-stage renal disease; neuropathy, nerve disorders that lead to problems in detecting temperature, touch, muscle movement, and heart rate; and retinopathy, problems in the blood vessels in the retina which lead to blindness.
T1D is a costly disease which one study estimates to be $14 billion annually in the United States. The management of T1D is all-encompassing and involves a whole community of doctors, dietitians, nutritionists, and physical fitness trainers.
References:
https://www.jdrf.org.au/what-is-type-1-diabetes
http://columbiasurgery.org/pancreas/pancreas-and-its-functions
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/117739-overview?src=refgatesrc1#a2
https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/hypoglycemia/hypoglycemia-symptoms
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyperglycemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373631
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