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 fish) and high in fiber and carbohydrates such as rice, pasta and potatoes. She kept a strict eye on his food intake, making sure that not only did get three meals a day, but also at least three healthy snacks at regular times of the day too.
Sufferers have to have insulin injections one to two times a day, which are used to control the amount of insulin in the bloodstream, so that glucose levels are kept as near normal as possible.
It is vital that you keep an eye open for signs of fluctuating glucose levels, which can be measured by using a home glucose meter.
Learning how to self inject the insulin can be a liberating experience. Many people get understandably stressed about it the first time that they have to do it (my friend had a rough time with her son) but eventually you DO get used to it and if you can sort out your own injections it means that when the time comes for your insulin, you can make your own mind up about how you want to do it and it can be done in a matter of moments.
It is important to carry glucose with you if your blood sugar levels drop to a dangerous low. You must also make sure that you keep to the regular appointments with your doctor, who will check your eyes, kidneys, and feet to rule out any underlying medical problems that could be caused by the condition and give you prompt treatment if you become ill so that your diabetes does not become destabilized.
Complications your doctor will check for:
* Low blood sugar levels. This can lead to unconsciousness and is caused by not administering enough insulin, leading to an over accumulation of blood sugar levels and the potentially serious problem called ketoacidosis.
* Hardening of the arteries can lead to poor circulation in the legs, stroke, and problems with the heart. If you also smoke it may well increase the risk of you developing this condition.
* Diabetic Neuropathy is the result of nerve damage due to high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) This commonly leads to foot ulcers and infection.
* Diabetic eye diseases such as the Diabetic Retinopathy, a very common ailment that is caused by changes to the retinal blood vessels. Other problems include cataracts, which can be brought on at a much more early age than it normally occurs and also glaucoma, which is when the fluid inside the eye doesn't drain normally and pressure builds up and damages the nerves and vessels in the eye.
Sadly there is no cure for this type of diabetes; however, with prompt treatment, a positive attitude and proper management of the condition, you can reduce the risk of developing further complications.
The answer to keeping healthy, is to keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as you can, and keep an eye on your blood pressure. Your doctor will be able to check this for you but you can also use a home blood pressure kit.
Although you may find the regime of eating a carefully planned diet a little invasive to your life, in time you will learn to adapt and incorporate it into everyday situations without even thinking about it.
In the case of my friend and her son I was very touched to see that instead of begrudging the change that diabetes had made to their lives, she encouraged her son to believe that he was a very special person and at the same time she began to get "on top" of her own diabetes, which she had tried to ignore over a number of years. As she put it: "We got healthier together".