Type 1 diabetes: symptoms, causes, and treatment

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Definition

What is type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is diabetes experienced by young people, such as children or adolescents. This type of diabetes is characterized by damage to the pancreas due to autoimmune conditions, so that the body produces little or no insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.

This condition is different from type 2 diabetes. Generally, people who have type 2 diabetes continue to produce insulin. It's just that the body's cells are not able to respond properly, so insulin cannot work optimally.

Insulin is a glucose regulating hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin is very important for its role to process blood sugar into energy.

When the body doesn't have enough insulin, very little glucose is absorbed by the body's cells. As a result, glucose that is not absorbed will continue to accumulate in the bloodstream and can cause complications if left untreated.

How common is this condition?

Diabetes mellitus type 1 is less common than type 2 diabetes.

This diabetes is more often experienced by boys than girls, especially those born with pancreatic problems.

The risk of a child getting this disease is higher if you have family members who have also had diabetes mellitus.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes can usually be experienced by children at the age of 4-7 years or 10-14 years. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes in this child can also appear quickly within a few weeks.

The following are symptoms that are a warning to seek medical help immediately.

• Quick thirsty and urinate frequently
• Hungry quickly but lose weight dramatically
• The wound is difficult to heal and easy to infection
• The body gets tired quickly
• Myopia or blindness
• Numbness in the hands or feet
• Kidney failure

The appearance of these symptoms indicates that diabetes has caused more damage, namely to nerves and organs.

Basically, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes almost cause the same symptoms. However, it is still a priority to undergo further tests to confirm the type of diabetes you are experiencing.

When should I see a doctor?

If you begin to feel the symptoms mentioned above or have other questions, please consult your doctor immediately.

Everyone's body is different, so the symptoms of diabetes that can be caused can also differ from one person to another.

Discuss with your doctor to find the best solution to treat diabetes while improving your health.

Cause

What causes type 1 diabetes?

The cause of type 1 diabetes mellitus is not clearly known but it is an autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by immune system problems that actually attack and destroy healthy cells.

In type 1 diabetes mellitus, the child's immune system destroys healthy pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin. As a result, the pancreas of a child with diabetes does not produce enough insulin. In certain cases, the pancreas cells cannot produce insulin at all.

This condition causes glucose to be unable to enter the cells to help the body absorb energy, resulting in high blood glucose levels and hyperglycemia.

Other causes can be based on other diseases and conditions, such as cystic fibrosis which affects the pancreas, surgical removal, and severe inflammation of the pancreas.

Risk factors

What increases my risk of getting this disease?

There are several risk factors that can cause type 1 diabetes, including:

Family history factors

Type 1 diabetes is a hereditary disease. This means that if you have a grandfather, grandmother, parent or sibling who has diabetes mellitus, you are at greater risk of developing this disease.

Apart from family history, there are also several other risk factors that may cause type 1 diabetes, namely:

1. Certain viral infections such as the Epstein-Barr virus, virus coxsackie, mumps virus, and cytomegalovirus
2. Drinking cow's milk at an early age
3. Vitamin D deficiency
4. Drink water that contains sodium nitrate
5. Introduction of cereal and gluten foods that are too fast (before 4 months) or too slow (after 7 months)
6. Having a mother who had preeclampsia (increased blood pressure) during pregnancy
7. At birth he has jaundice

Complications

What are the complications of type 1 diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a chronic disease that generally occurs in childhood and cannot be cured. However, this disease can still be controlled so as not to cause serious complications.

The threat of diabetes complications makes diabetics (the term people who have diabetes) get worse. Not infrequently, his downturn triggers various other health problems.

According to the American Diabetes Association, here are some complications of type 1 diabetes that you need to be aware of.

• Nervous disorders or diabetic neuropathy: occurs when the capillaries of the nerves in the body are damaged causing tingling, pain, numbness.
• Diabetic retinopathy: serious visual disturbances (glaucoma, cataracts) caused by swelling and leakage of blood vessels in the retina.
• Diabetic foot: condition which is also known as diabetic foot this occurs as a complication of nervous system damage and serious infections due to diabetes.
• Chronic infection: infections that people with diabetes are prone to include urinary tract infections, teeth and mouth, skin, ears, vagina, and so on.
• Diabetic ketoacidosis: a condition when ketones are produced in excess amounts that poison and damage various organs of the body due to a lack of insulin.
• Kidney failure: disruption of kidney function due to damage to blood vessels.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the tests to diagnose this condition?

Blood sugar test is an effective way to diagnose type 1 diabetes mellitus. You can check your blood sugar in hospitals, clinics, laboratories with the help of medical personnel.

The doctor will perform the following series of tests to find out the level of glucose in your blood.

• Fasting blood glucose level test
• Random (no fasting) or random blood glucose level test
• Test oral glucose tolerance
• Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) test

If you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you should see your doctor every three months so that you can:

• Examine the skin and bones in your legs and feet
• Check if the instep of your foot feels stiff (diabetic nerve attack)
• Check your blood pressure
• Examine the back of your eye using a special light
• Have an HbA1C test or average blood sugar level test for 3 months (foam test is done every 6 months if diabetes is well controlled)

This test can help you and your doctor to control diabetes and prevent other problems caused by diabetes. In addition, you will have to undergo several other tests once a year, such as:

• Check cholesterol and triglyceride levels
• Have a test once a year to ensure that your kidneys are working properly
• See a dentist every 6 months to check all of your teeth. Make sure your dentist knows you have diabetes

What are the treatments for type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes mellitus cannot be cured. Existing treatments aim to reduce or alleviate symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

Here are some types of type 1 diabetes treatment that doctors often do.

1. Insulin therapy

Diabetes mellitus type 1 occurs because the body lacks or cannot produce insulin at all. That is why, this diabetic patient will be very dependent on insulin injections.

Insulin therapy can be given as an injection, an insulin pen, or an insulin pump.

2. Certain drugs

Apart from insulin, people with type 1 diabetes may also take certain types of drugs to help control blood sugar and prevent complications.

Some diabetes drugs that are often prescribed by doctors, namely:

• Metformin
• Pramlintide
• Aspirin
• High blood pressure medications, such as ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs

Before using other drugs, make sure you discuss it with your doctor first. Some drugs may interact and affect the action of the diabetes drugs you are taking.

Home remedies

What should be done to prevent this condition from worsening?

Even though it cannot be cured, people who have this type of diabetes can also live happily and carry out various daily routines like normal healthy people.

The key is to keep blood sugar normal by taking proper care

The following are lifestyle changes and home remedies for type 1 diabetes:

1. Healthy diet

Make sure you choose foods with a balanced diet that includes fiber, protein, carbohydrates and good fats. Avoid consuming too many foods that are high in sugar, fat and salt.

Don't forget, also pay attention to your meal portions every day so that symptoms of diabetes don't recur. It is better to eat small amounts of food often rather than having to eat large amounts at one time.

2. Exercise regularly

Increase physical activity and start exercising regularly every day is very good for controlling blood sugar. No need to do strenuous diabetes exercise, just do light physical activity such as walking, cycling, swimming or brisk walking.

Before doing sports, it is important to consult a doctor first. In some cases, your doctor may not allow you to do certain sports related to your condition.

3. Avoid stress

Avoid stress and make sure you get adequate, quality sleep every night. Remember, stress can cause a rise in blood sugar and worsen diabetes symptoms.

4. Diligently check blood sugar levels

It is important to check blood sugar levels before and after eating. You can check yourself at home with a blood sugar check tool that can be purchased at the nearest pharmacy or drug store.

5. Inject insulin and take medication regularly

Follow your doctor's rules as carefully as possible regarding the use of insulin and other diabetes medications. Do not stop or change insulin doses arbitrarily.

Immediately consult a doctor when you experience symptoms of diabetes, such as dizziness, blurred vision, weakness, lethargy, lack of energy to just get out of bed.