by Jane Allyson

Created on: October 21, 2008   Last Updated: October 22, 2008

Type 1diabetes used to be commonly known as "childhood", "juvenile" or "insulin-dependent" diabetes and is caused by a lack of insulin due to auto-immune damage to the pancreas gland. Insulin controls the flow of glucose (sugar), an essential ingredient which gives our body its energy, which flows in and out of the cells of the body.

If there is a problem with the production of insulin, then the patient will suffer, as the blood sugar level rises and glucose starts show up in the urine.

Symptoms are varied and will be consistent with the severity of the insulin deficiency. Some people may not even realize that they are suffering from the condition and will often be diagnosed for the first time as an adult, often after exhibiting one of the more severe of symptoms such as unexplained sudden unconsciousness or whilst undergoing tests for Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

If you have a family history of diabetes, you may well be advised to have your blood sugar levels checked on a regular basis.

Symptoms include:

1. Feeling the need to drink all of the time.

2. Feeling tired and lethargic.

3. Feeling the need to pop to the loo more often than normal. (At night time too)

4. Unexplained weight loss, especially as your appetite seems to have increased.

5. Irritation around the genital area caused by thrush due to an accumulation of yeast on the skin.

6. You appear to be prone to boils and other types of infection of the skin.

Famous people such as Mary Tyler Moore, James Cagney, Spencer Tracy, Mae West , George C Scott, and Halle Berry, (to name but a few) all live or have lived with type 1 diabetes, yet they have all showed great resilience to this potentially debilitating condition and have shown to a great extent just how this disease can be overcome and managed quite successfully.

Of course it all depends upon the individual and how they cope with that first time insulin injection. Children will need a hand from their parents with the initial treatment, but it is surprising how resilient they can become and how quickly they develop a matter of fact attitude towards their condition.

A good friend of mine has diabetes and also a son who was diagnosed with the condition when he was just ten years old. I was heartbroken when he was eventually diagnosed, but my friend considered it to be a relief. She immediately devised an effective exercise regime for him and introduced a healthy, well-balanced diet that was low in fat (such as plain chicken breast and boiled

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