Type I Diabetes

What Is Type I Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus or Type I diabetes is a chronic (long-term) condition where the body is unable to control the amount of glucose in the blood due to an insufficient amount of the natural hormone insulin.

There are an estimated 1.4 million people in the UK who are known to have diabetes. Around 15% of these have type 1 diabetes.

What Happens To My Child If He Or She Is Diabetic?

After eating a meal glucose enters the blood from the intestines during digestion. It is also produced by the liver, which acts as a store of energy.

Blood carries glucose around the body to the muscles where it is converted into energy. The precise concentration of glucose in the blood is automatically regulated by a hormone called insulin, which is secreted into the blood by the pancreas and coverts glucose into energy. A shortage of insulin causes glucose to build up in the blood, leading to the symptoms of diabetes.

Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes

There are two main types of diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes (insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus or IDDM)

• can develop at any age, although it usually develops in children and young adults and is also referred to as juvenile onset diabetes.
• Body does not produce any insulin and needs to take it by injection every day. Once it has developed, it is a life-long disease.

Type 2 Diabetes

• occurs later in life and is sometimes known as late-onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM)

There are about 1.4 million people in the UK who are known to have diabetes – and possibly nearly as many again who have not yet been diagnosed. Around 15% of these have type 1 diabetes, making it much less common than type 2.

What Causes Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is caused by the destruction of insulin-producing cells called the islets of Langerhans within the pancreas. It is believed that the immune system is responsible for this destruction.

What Are The Symptoms?

• excessive thirst,
• lots of trips to the toilet to pass urine
• weight loss.
• fatigue
• feeling sick
• blurred vision
• increased appetite
• Iong term symptoms include heart disease and strokes, nerve damage and blindness.

If type 1 diabetes is not treated at this stage, the body will produce chemicals called ketones. When ketones build up in the blood the condition is called diabetic ketoacidosis. It can cause additional symptoms and these might include:-

• stomach ache
• rapid breathing,
• increased pulse rate,
• drowsiness
• vomiting and nausea

Undiagnose diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to coma or death.

Diagnosis

A blood test measuring the level of glucose in the blood will diagnose diabetes. It may be necessary to fast before the blood is taken.

How do I control blood sugar?

Controlling blood sugar is imperative to remain healthy and to avoid hypo and hyperglycaemia.

What Is Hypoglycaemia?

Hypoglycaemia is an inadequate amount of blood glucose. This can result form taking too much insulin or form not eating enough. Symptoms include:-

• faintness
• sweating and a
• increased heart rate
• can lead to collapse and coma
• diabetics will experience a "hypo", or near-hypo, at some time and for this reasong often carry a sugary snack or glucose tablets with them.

What Is Hyperglycaemia?

Hyperglycaemia is too much blood glucose. If undetected over time, hyperglycaemia can over time lead to complications including irreversible damage to the eyes, kidneys and nerves. Uncontrolled diabetes also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Damage to the circulation system may result in foot ulcers, gangrene and limb amputation.

How Do I Monitor Blood Sugar?

Diabetics use a blood sugar monitor. They take a pin-prick of blood and analyse it with either colour-coded paper strips or an electronic monitor. Diet and insulin can be adjusted to keep the level within the normal range.

Diabetologists and specialist nurses are available to provide the necessary guidance and support.

What Treatment Is Available?

Type 1 diabetes is incurable but it can be controlled by insulin injections, usually self-administered into the abdomen two to four times a day. Different kinds of insulin work at different rates over different time periods. A hypodermic needle or a "pen" type syringe.

How Do I Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle For My Child?

Lifestyle is a key part of managing diabetes.

A healthy diet is essential. This is the same as the normal, balanced diet recommended for good health – low in fat, sugar and salt; high in fibre, vegetables and fruit necessary to enable your child to eat regularly and remain healthy. Special diabetic foods should not be necessary.

Physical activity is recommended to improve the circulation and keep weight off.

Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation and with food.

Smoking damages the circulation and, like diabetes, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. It is extremely important for smokers with diabetes to stop smoking.