Diabetes Type 1
Thursday, September 1st, 2011Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, is a type that can develop in the early stages in life. Additionally, it develops in adults as well. It’s available in different names such as childhood-onset diabetes and juvenile diabetes since it usually develops at the young age, as early as 2 or 3. There is no preventive cure for this type of diabetes.
Patients who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, with nutritious diet, exercise and lifestyle, are mainly in better physical condition compared to those who have acquired type 2 diabetes. The reason being patients who develop the condition earlier have had a lengthy time period to adjust and get accustomed using the treatment and diet required for the patients. Patients with type 2 diabetes having developed the disease in later life will often have difficulties adjusting to a new lifestyle.
Type 1 diabetes patients need insulin to outlive. Insulin is normally produced by the pancreas but with this disease the pancreas is not able to do so. Thus, type 1 diabetes patients need to take insulin externally. Insulin intake may be administered through injections or insulin pumps. Insulin pumps are usually preferred especially with children. A proper planned diet is also necessary to maintain glucose levels in the blood in a normal and tolerant level.
Insulin is needed by the body for food to become assimilated into the cells. Without insulin, more than glucose in the bloodstream occurs. Glucose in the basic energy source of the cells in your body but without insulin it could become toxic. The high levels of glucose in the blood stream could cause the damage of many tissues and organs such as the kidneys.
The dose of insulin for intake depends on the doctor’s prescription and assessment in your needs, lifestyle, diet plan and exercise program. It may be taken with flexibility with respect to the rise and fall of the blood glucose level.
If not treated, the high levels of glucose in the blood will lead to blindness, kidney problems, complications in the heart, and nerve damage. However, diabetes type 1 can be managed and will not become a significant problem. Get valuable information at http://diabetes-type-1.org/.