Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms and Care Information

Type 1 diabetes symptoms are not easy to spot and many people live with diabetes for a long time before they know that they have the disease.

Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin dependant diabetes, mellitus, or juvenile onset diabetes. This is a chronic (lifelong) disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels appropriately.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

Without adequate insulin, the glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells. The body is not able to use this glucose for energy despite the high levels in the blood stream, causing increased hunger and fatigue. Another type 1 diabetes symptom is frequent urination, which in turn leads to excessive thirst.

Over 5 to 10 years, the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas are completely destroyed and no more insulin is produced. Because of this insulin injections, or other forms of insulin are needed in order to help the body function properly.

Other specific type 1 diabetes symptoms are:

• weight loss, despite increased appetite
• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• fatigue
• absence of menstruation in women

Tests that can determine to diagnose diabetes:

• urinalysis shows glucose and ketone bodies in the urine
• fasting blood glucose is 126 mg/dL or higher
• random (non fasting) blood glucose exceeds 200 mg/dL (this has to be confirmed with a fasting test)
• insulin test
• C-peptide test – low or undetectable level of the protein C- peptide, a by-product of insulin production.

Treatment and care

Depending on the case, some newly diagnosed patients may require hospitalization in order to regulate their insulin levels. The long-term treatment goals are to prolong life and reduce the risks of the side effects that can be produced by diabetes, such as kidney failure, blindness or loss of limbs.

The long treatment care goals are achieved only through patient education, the use of regular blood sugar self-testing, weight control, meal planning and self-discipline.

Diabetes may not require drastic life changes in order to treat and control it; however, diabetes is not curable and it is a lifetime disease, so one must take serious notice of it. Take control of diabetes instead of letting it control your life.