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Type-1 Diabetes (Diabetes mellitus) Introduction |
Diabetes mellitus is
a condition defining the body's inability to utilize
glucose (sugar) for energy.
Persons suffering from this
condition do not produce, or do not use, insulin effectively. There
are two major categories of diabetes
mellitus:
-
Type 1 diabetes:
Also referenced as
insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
(IDDM),
or juvenile onset diabetes. In type 1 diabetes
the pancreas does not produce enough
insulin. This type of diabetes
usually occurs in people younger
than age 30, and most often in
children and adolescents. Type 1 diabetics are
dependent upon insulin injections
for the control of their blood sugar
levels.
-
Type 2
diabetes: Also known as non-insulin
dependent diabetes (NIDDM), or adult onset
diabetes. Type 2 diabetes
results in the cells of
the body becoming resistant to
insulin.
Although
the exact cause of type 1 diabetes
is unknown, it is thought to be due
to an autoimmune reaction, in which
the immune system destroys the
insulin-producing beta cells in the
pancreas. This abnormal immune
response may be triggered by a viral
infection, a vaccination, a toxic
chemical, or after inflammation of
the pancreas during acute pancreatitis. Genetic factors may
also play a role in susceptibility.
Type 1 diabetes
increases the risk of chronic
conditions including; heart disease,
stroke, kidney disease, loss of
nerve function (peripheral
neuropathies ), retinopathy (a
disease of the retina), blindness, immune system problems
with increased susceptibility to
infections, and circulation problems
that can lead to skin ulcers, poor
wound healing, and amputation.
The main symptoms of
type 1 diabetes are:
In type 1 diabetes,
untreated high blood sugar can lead
to ketoacidosis, a condition where
toxic chemicals called ketones are
produced. Ketoacidosis occurs when
body tissues are unable to take up
glucose due to inadequate insulin, and have to burn fats for energy. Ketoacidosis is a medical emergency
because it can lead to severe
dehydration and coma if not treated
immediately. The symptoms of ketoacidosis include:
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Type-1 Diabetes Statistics |
According to the
National Center for Health
Statistics (1):
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Approximately 13.4
million Americans have diabetes
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About 6.6 percent of
Americans have diabetes
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In 2001, diabetes
accounted for 71,372 deaths in the
US
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Diabetes is the 6th
leading cause of death in the US
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Type 1 diabetes
accounts for 5 to 10 percent of
diagnosed diabetes in the US
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Learn More About
Type-1 Diabetes |
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