Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that requires insulin injections or treatment because the body cannot make this hormone naturally.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that means people cannot make insulin in their bodies naturally. As a result, they can’t regulate blood sugar levels as well as those without the condition.
This means they must inject insulin to keep their blood sugar levels in target range and manage other aspects of life, including diet, exercise, sleep, and mental health.
People with T1D may develop complications over time, which can lead to other challenges in managing this condition and life in general.
The following are
- excessive hunger
- excessive thirst
- blurred vision
- fatigue
- frequent urination
- dramatic weight loss in a short period of time
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes may not always be clear, especially for parents who may not immediately recognize these symptoms in their children. T1D can resemble the flu, and they can misunderstand it as a typical effect related to busy school or sports activities.
With adults, they can mistake T1D for the same effects from everyday stress, work, and life situations.
But T1D can develop suddenly and become life threatening in a short amount of time, becoming a medical emergency that might lead to coma or worse.
You can watch for these common symptoms as warning signs for type 1 diabetes. You may need to seek emergency medical care.
Researchers don’t know the exact cause of type 1 diabetes.
What they know is that T1D involves an
Genetics plays a role in that process.
T1D may be passed down through generations of a family, though it’s unclear how the pattern works and why some people in a family will develop diabetes while others will not.
Researchers have identified certain gene variants that may increase a person’s risk. A parent and child may share these variants between them, generation after generation. However, not everyone who has these genes develops the condition.
For example, identical twins with the same genes may or may not develop the condition. If one twin has T1D, the other twin develops the condition half the time or less. This suggests that genes aren’t the only factor.
Researchers also believe there may be environmental causes that play a part in this T1D development. This might include traumatic experiences, including the flu or other viruses and illnesses (including COVID-19), which appear to tip the scales over that line toward T1D development.
Whatever the reasons, this leads to the body not being able to make insulin itself.
What is insulin?
Insulin is a hormone that helps your body’s cells use glucose (sugar) for energy. Your body gets glucose from the food you eat. Insulin allows glucose to pass from your blood into your body’s cells.
When the cells have enough, your liver and muscle tissues store the extra glucose in the form of glycogen. It’s broken down into blood sugar and released when you need energy between meals, during exercise, or while you sleep.
With T1D, your body is unable to process glucose due to the lack of insulin.
Glucose from your food can’t make its way into your cells. This leaves too much glucose circulating in your blood. High blood sugar levels can lead to both short- and long-term complications.
Healthcare professionals usually diagnose through a series of tests. Some may be quick in a doctor’s office, while others may require bloodwork at a separate lab or even hours of preparation or monitoring in a hospital.
A healthcare professional can
- fasting blood sugar is greater than 126 mg/dL on two separate tests
- random blood sugar is greater than 200 mg/dL, along with symptoms of diabetes
- hemoglobin A1C is greater than 6.5% on two separate tests
When blood sugar gets so high that diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs, a person can become very ill. This is often the reason people end up in the hospital or their doctor’s office and they receive a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.
If you have any of the symptoms of diabetes, your doctor will likely order tests.
Misdiagnosis of T1D
Doctors also use the same criteria to diagnose type 2 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes sometimes receive a misdiagnosis as having type 2 diabetes. This may be more common in adults, who could have T1D that sometimes develops more gradually.
A doctor may not realize that you’ve received a misdiagnosis until you begin developing complications or worsening symptoms despite treatment.
Type 1 diabetes is not the same as type 2 diabetes or other types, though they can mirror each other in many ways — from the symptoms to insulin treatment and daily blood sugar checks to certain diabetes complications that may develop over time.
There are a handful of diabetes types, but the main types are type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Here are some of the key differences between T1D and T2D, in particular:
| Type 1 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes | |
|---|---|---|
| Age of onset | any age | any age, but more risk with aging |
| Symptoms | commonly appear suddenly, from days to weeks | may develop more gradually |
| Tied to lifestyle | No | Yes, but not solely |
| Linked to genetics | Yes | Yes |
| Can be prevented | No | Yes |
| Requires insulin | Yes | Not always |
| Managed without other meds | No | Yes |
| Longterm complications | eyes, heart, kidneys, nerve damage, and more | eyes, heart, kidneys, nerve damage, and more |
| Can be reversed | No | Yes |
Experts historically viewed T1D as “juvenile diabetes” because it most often affected children. It is an outdated term and doesn’t reflect the reality that T1D can occur at any age. Just because someone is an adult displaying diabetes symptoms does not mean they have T2D.
For people with type 2 diabetes, their body stops responding and using insulin as well as it should to move glucose from the blood into the cells despite having adequate levels of the hormone. Eventually, their bodies may stop making adequate insulin entirely.
Type 1 diabetes develops very quickly, and symptoms are obvious. For people with type 2 diabetes, the condition can develop over many years. A person with type 2 diabetes may not know they have it until they have a complication.
Another type of diabetes called Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) is sometimes referred to as type 1.5 diabetes. People may receive a misdiagnosis of type 1 diabetes instead of LADA, which may develop more gradually.
A qualified medical professional can help correctly diagnose the type of diabetes, along with your input if you feel that you may be experiencing T1D or LADA.
If you receive a T1D diagnosis, your body can’t make its own insulin. You’ll need to take insulin to help your body use the sugar in your blood.
This may mean taking insulin through injections with a syringe and glass vial, a prefilled plastic insulin pen, or using a fast-acting inhaled insulin called Afrezza.
Some people may also choose to use a device known as an insulin pump, which attaches to your body and delivers insulin more constantly throughout the day and night through a small cannula inserted through the top layer of skin.
Some people find using an insulin pump more convenient than sticking themselves with a needle, and this device may also provide more flexibility and the ability to adjust insulin doses at different times to balance out blood sugar levels.
Affording insulin and diabetes supplies
Insulin itself can be expensive, no matter how you choose to administer it.
The same applies to insulin pens, pumps, and other diabetes supplies needed to take insulin and manage your condition.
People with insurance may check their healthcare coverage and plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, to determine what types of insulin are best covered and how much they may cost.
The amount of insulin someone with T1D needs varies throughout the day and night.
Managing blood sugars and tracking how much different foods and drinks affect your blood sugar levels, along with exercise and other factors, can help you and your diabetes care team determine how much insulin you may need.
Several types of insulin exist. Your doctor may have you try more than one to find what works best for you.
Managing type 1 diabetes
Diabetes management has many parts, beyond just taking insulin.
This condition means constant management of blood sugar levels, which can rise or fall as a result of many factors. Just some of those reasons can include:
- eating patterns and carbohydrate amounts
- exercise habits
- sleep schedules
- mental health and stress levels
- other non-diabetes conditions (comorbidities)
- different medications for diabetes and other health reasons
Type 1 diabetes can lead to low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) and high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). People can manage both, but these can also become more severe and require immediate treatment.
Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar is too low, usually when the body has too much insulin. It can happen if you wait too long to eat or have a snack, or if you exercise too much.
Some of the most common low blood sugar
- shakiness
- blurry vision
- inability to focus or think clearly
- sweating
- shivers no matter the temperature
- unexplained and sudden mood changes
- loss of consciousness
Conversely, hyperglycemia is high blood sugar. Depending on the level of hyperglycemia, it can cause you to feel sluggish, unfocused, or even sick.
If blood sugars get too high and you don’t have enough insulin in the system, this can lead to potentially dangerous DKA.
- rapid breathing
- dry skin and mouth
- flushed face
- fruity breath odor
- nausea
- vomiting or stomach pain
Pregnancy presents unique challenges for people who have type 1 diabetes. However, it’s possible to have a healthy pregnancy and baby despite having this condition.
The most important thing to remember if you are expecting or trying to become pregnant and have type 1 diabetes is that everything you do for yourself, you do for your baby. People who have high blood sugar levels have babies with high blood sugar.
According to the
- a high birth weight
- complicated cesarean delivery, commonly referred to as a C-section
- preterm birth
- low blood sugar
- high blood pressure
- stillbirth
If you have type 1 diabetes and want to become pregnant or find out that you’re pregnant, talk with your doctor immediately. They can discuss any changes you may need to make to guarantee your blood sugar levels remain stable and safe for you and your baby.
It’s best to plan ahead for pregnancy and discuss your diabetes and blood sugar goals with your doctor.
During your pregnancy, you will likely need to see a healthcare professional more frequently. You may also need to adjust medication and insulin throughout the pregnancy.
Yes, you can drink alcohol if you live with type 1 diabetes.
However, it’s important to know that alcohol can affect your blood sugar levels in a big way in the short term. Over time, excessive alcohol use can contribute to diabetes complications.
The liver processes and removes alcohol from the body. The liver also helps manage blood sugar levels. If you have T1D and drink alcohol, your liver slows down how it manages blood sugar in order to address the alcohol in your system.
This can lead to low blood sugar immediately and for several hours after drinking. It’s important to test your blood sugar before drinking alcohol and to continue to monitor it afterward.
Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause damage to various parts of the body. Symptoms can include:
- increased heart attack risk
- eye problems, including blindness
- nerve damage
- infections on the skin, especially the feet, that could require amputation in serious cases
- kidney damage
Diabetes can also damage your nerves and lead to a condition called diabetic neuropathy. This is common in the feet.
Small cuts, especially on the bottom of your feet, can quickly turn into severe ulcers and infections, especially if blood sugar levels aren’t controlled. This is because you can’t feel or see the cuts, so you don’t treat them.
That is why it’s important to check your feet regularly if you have diabetes. If you happen to notice any foot injuries, let your doctor know right away.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which a person’s body is unable to process glucose due to a lack of insulin. Experts believe it is influenced by genetics, environmental factors, and possibly by viral infections.
This condition requires insulin and daily blood sugar management, including balanced eating and an exercise routine. When monitoring blood sugars and overall management, you may also want to consider your mental health, sleeping patterns, and medications.
You can lower your risk of long-term diabetes complications by keeping blood sugars and A1C levels in the target range. It’s important to consult with your doctor and healthcare team on managing diabetes and glucose levels regularly.
