What is Type 1 Diabetes?

WHAT CAUSES DIABETES?

We don’t completely understand what causes juvenile onset diabetes, but there is much research being done to answer the question. At present it seems that the body treats the beta cell in the pancreas as something “foreign” that does not belong in the body. The result is the beta cells get “zapped” and killed. We don’t understand why this only happens to certain people. Also, we cannot predict everyone who will get diabetes. We can decrease the damage with certain medicines, but each one of them has side effects and once the destruction occurs we cannot make the beta cells return.

WHY IS THERE A LACK OF INSULIN?

Insulin is secreted in the pancreas along with digestive juices and several other hormones. The pancreatic cells known as beta cells produce insulin. For reasons that are not yet completely explained, the immune system of a person with Type 1 Diabetes tends to cause the destruction and death of beta cells. When a large number of beta cells die your pancreas can no longer make all the insulin that you need. As a result of this destruction, it is necessary to provide your body with insulin made outside the body.

Why do we need Insulin?
When you eat a meal, the carbohydrate (starch, sugar or glucose) is absorbed from your intestines. Sugar enters the blood stream and is delivered to your liver. Normally, the pancreas simultaneously secretes insulin which is also delivered to your liver.

Insulin acts like a key to the gas cap of a car. It opens the cap to most of the cells in your body and allows the glucose to enter, to be stored and to be used as energy. In your liver insulin allows the storage of glucose as glycogen. Insulin also enters the general blood stream and is delivered to the cells in your body where it allows entry of glucose into the cells in your muscle, skin, and fatty tissues. The presence of glucose into the cells is the fuel for their normal function. When glucose enters the cells, your blood glucose concentration decreases. Therefore, insulin makes your blood sugar lower. Insulin also prevents the release of fat from the fat cells and glucose from the liver cells. If you lack insulin, the absorbed carbohydrate from your meal is not stored in your liver, but rather enters your bloodstream producing an abnormally high blood sugar. The cells and organs in the rest of your body are also unable to allow entry of sugar.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DO NOT TAKE ANY INSULIN OR DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INSULIN?
Lack of insulin causes your blood sugar to rise or increase. When the blood sugar exceeds (is more than) 180 mg/dl you begin to urinate frequently and get thirsty. Since no sugar (fuel) is entering your cells, you begin to feel run down and tired. If this continues your body turns to fat for fuel. A large amount of ketone bodies can make you sick to your stomach and cause even more urination. Finally you can get so sick that you begin to breathe heavily and lose you r ability to talk and stay awake. At this point diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is present and can lead to death if untreated or treated long after its onset.

When did you last have a complete health check up done? If you are above the age of 25 years and have a family history of Diabetes, I recommend you get one done immediately. Remember precaution is always better than cure.