Live Life Team
The cause lies in lack of insulin production by pancreas, hormone that controls blood glucose levels in the body. Once digested food reaches the bloodstream, insulin serves to move sugar out of the blood to the body cells to produce energy. Absence of insulin leads to high glucose levels in the blood.
The exact cause is not fully understood, however, it is believed to be an auto-immune condition wherein the body’s immune system, triggered by an infection or virus, attacks the cells in pancreas which then fail to produce insulin.
Type 1 diabetes is seen to be hereditary and so genetics could also trigger auto immune system to stop insulin production. People with type 1 diabetes in their family history have 6% chances of being affected as against 0.4% of people without it.
In seldom cases, type 1 diabetes can be caused by pancreatitis, an inflammation of pancreas, causing damage to insulin producing cells.
Diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes
Early diagnosis of the condition is important to start treatment accordingly. If one feels the symptoms exist, GP should be consulted.
The condition can be detected in urine and blood samples. In type 1 affected people, urine samples show existence of glucose. A positive urine test for glucose will be followed by blood testing to confirm diagnosis. Blood samples are taken in fasting state, that is, without eating anything in the morning. If these samples do not show high glucose levels, GP would advise a GTT (glucose tolerance test), wherein the blood is tested after taking a glucose drink, after every half an hour for 2 hours to see body;s reaction to glucose intake. If tests are positive, further blood and urine tests are done to determine the type of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes shows presence of antibodies which attack the insulin producing cells.
Complications
If left untreated, diabetes can lead to damaged blood vessels, nerves and organs which further causes health problems at a larger scale. These include
Heart disease and stroke – chances are 5 times higher in diabetics. Prolonged and poorly controlled glucose levels can cause atherosclerosis (furring up or thinning of blood vessels) increasing chances of developing angina, heart attack or stroke.
Nerve damage – tiny blood vessels of nerves get damaged due to diabetes and cause tingling sensation in the limbs. It can affect nerves of digestive system hence causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation
Retinopathy – damage to the blood vessels in the retina reduce the light passing through it and affect vision.
Kidney diseases – due to blocked blood vessels of the kidneys, the work efficience of the organ reduces and can lead to kidney failure in severe cases
Foot problems – damaged nerves of the feet leave the small nicks and cuts unnoticed, increasing chances of foot ulcers.
Impotence in men (erectile dysfunction)
Miscarriage and stillbirth
