Type 1 diabetes

the basic introduction guide

Type 1 diabetes is referred to by a few names over the years, early onset diabetes, juvenile diabetes and insulin dependent diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) occurs when a substantial part of the pancreatic beta cells have been destroyed.

Scientist has no idea why this happens or how to prevent it happening. What is known is that the destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas is usually caused by an autoimmune reaction.

This autoimmune reaction causes the body, the cells or an organ of the body to be attacked by the body’s own immune system.

The immune system’s purpose is to fight against infection and foreign matter (viruses, germs and harmful bacteria) but for some reason the immune system misread and attack this vital endocrine organ.

After the attack the islets cells in the pancreas produces little or no insulin. The lack of insulin production by the pancreas causes the body’s blood glucose level rise higher and higher.

The more the pancreas is destroyed the higher the blood glucose levels and the less insulin will be produced until insulin production stop. This extremely high rise in the blood glucose level causes severe nerves damage and other complications.

Type 1 diabetes symptoms usually occurs quickly over days or week and account for between five percent (5 %) to ten percent (10 %) of all cases of diabetes.

Is there any subcategory of this type of diabetes?

Yes there is. Actually there are two main subcategory of type1 diabetes. These types are simply called type 1A and of course type 1B.

Type 1A diabetes (autoimmune) is where the body’s own immune cells don’t recognise the beta cells of the pancreas as part of the body and instead attack them as if they were foreign invaders.

Type 1B diabetes (idiopathic diabetes) is much less common than the autoimmune type 1A. Researchers have not found a cause for this subcategory. However, this type is mainly suffered by people with African or Asian ancestry.

In this subcategory the pancreas seems to sometimes produce insulin and other times is does not. As a result there may be periods when insulin injections are needed and other times when is it not needed as the body produces its own insulin.

There are a few conditions and factors that have been responsible for type1 diabetes cause. You can read about it in the article on diabetes type 1 cause.

Knowing if you or your loved one is unknowing suffering from diabetes symptoms is critical to safeguard your health. Therefore it is beneficial to know all about type 1 diabetes.

Read Diabetes type 1 diet goal for reasons why diets are so important to diabetics and non diabetics alike.

Halle Berry, famous bond girl, suffers from type 1 diabetes. See who else you know that is on the list of famous diabetics.