by Debbie Kendle Lawson

Created on: May 24, 2010   Last Updated: June 07, 2010

Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependant diabetes or juvenile-onset diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is more common in children and young adults.  Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, though.

Causes of Type 1 Diabetes:
-It may be an autoimmune disease.
An autoimmune disease is a condition where your body's own immune system (defense system) attacks your body's cells.

With type 1 diabetes as an autoimmune disease, when the blood glucose level increases, the pancreas makes insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed.

Signs and Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes:
-More thirsty than usual.
-Frequent urination.
-Blurred vision.
-Losing weight without doing anything to cause this.
-Hungry a lot.

Ways to Diagnose if You Have Type 1 Diabetes:
Casual plasma glucose test: This is usually the first blood test that your doctor will recommend for you, if you are having symptoms of diabetes. If your blood sugar is at 200 mg/dl or higher, then you may have diabetes.

-Fasting plasma glucose test: This is where you fast (no food or liquids taken in) for 8 hours, then your blood sugar is checked by a blood test. If your blood sugar is at 126 mg/dl or higher, you may have diabetes.

-Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): With this test, your blood will be drawn 2 or more times, during this test. First, you will fast (not take in any food or liquids for 8 hours before this test).

Then, your first blood sample will be drawn. Next, you will be given a glucose drink. This drink tastes very, very sweet.

Then, 2 hours after you drink the liquid, a second sample of your blood will be drawn. At this point, a blood sugar result of 200 mg/dl or higher may mean that you have diabetes.

Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes:
Visiting your doctor regularly, following your doctor's recommendations, taking your prescribed medications correctly and on time, checking your blood sugar levels regularly, eating healthy, and getting the right amount of exercise for you, can help you keep your blood sugar at normal levels.

-You will be shown how to check your blood sugar yourself. You may need to check your blood sugar level 3 or more times in 1 day.

How to Check Your Blood Sugar Levels:
-When you are first diagnosed with diabetes, or if you have been recently released from a hospital, you may decide to have a caregiver come to your house. Your caregiver will show you how to correctly check your blood sugar levels yourself. A caregiver will teach you how to use a monitor. 

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