Type 1 diabetes (formerly called juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes), accounts for 5% to 10% of all people with diabetes. Symptoms and diagnosis of type-1 diabetes most often occur in childhood and adolescence, but can strike adults as well.
Cause
With Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose get into your cells to give them energy. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in your blood. Over time, high blood glucose can lead to many serious complications, including:
Heart disease.
Blindness.
Nerve damage.
Kidney damage.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
Being very thirsty.
Urinating often.
Feeling very hungry or tired.
Losing weight without trying.
Having sores that heal slowly.
Having dry, itchy skin.
Losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet.
Having blurry eyesight.
Diagnosis
A blood test can show if you have diabetes. If you do, you will need to take insulin for the rest of your life.
Self-Care
Although it is a life-long condition that requires constant treatment and management, there is a lot you can do to prevent further health complications.
Make a commitment to managing your diabetes
Learn all you can about type-1 diabetes.
Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine.
Establish a relationship with a diabetes educator, and ask your diabetes treatment team for help when you need it.
Identify yourself
Wear a tag or bracelet that says you have diabetes.
Keep a glucagon kit nearby in case of a low blood sugar emergency — and make sure your friends and loved ones know how to use it.
See your doctors often
Your regular diabetes checkups aren't meant to replace yearly physicals or routine eye exams.
Schedule a yearly physical to check for any diabetes-related complications and screen for other medical problems.
Schedule regular eye exams to check for signs of retinal damage, cataracts and glaucoma.
Keep immunizations current
High blood sugar can weaken your immune system.
Get a flu shot every year.
Get a tetanus booster shot every 10 years.
Your doctor may recommend the pneumonia vaccine or other immunizations as well.
Take care of your teeth
Diabetes may leave you prone to gum infections.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Floss your teeth once a day.
Schedule dental exams at least twice a year.
Consult your dentist right away if your gums bleed or look red or swollen.
Pay attention to your feet
Wash your feet daily in lukewarm water.
Dry them gently, especially between the toes, and moisturize with lotion.
Check your feet every day for blisters, cuts, sores, redness or swelling.
Consult your doctor if you have a sore or other foot problem that doesn't start to heal within a few days.
Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control
Eat healthy foods.
Exercise regularly.
Take any prescribed medications.
Don’t smoke
Smoking increases your risk of various diabetes complications, including heart attack, stroke, and nerve damage and kidney disease.
Smokers who have diabetes are three times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than are nonsmokers who have diabetes.
Talk to your doctor about ways to stop smoking or to stop using other types of tobacco.
Drink responsibly
Alcohol can cause either high or low blood sugar, depending on how much you drink and if you eat at the same time. If you choose to drink:
Do so only in moderation.
Make sure a meal is included.
Remember to include the calories from any alcohol you drink in your daily calorie count.
Take stress seriously
If you're stressed, it's easy to abandon your usual diabetes management routine. The hormones your body may produce in response to prolonged stress may prevent insulin from working properly, which only makes matters worse. To take control:
Set limits.
Prioritize your tasks.
Learn relaxation techniques.
Get plenty of sleep.
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