Diabetes type one is a common chronic disorder. But what is it and what can you do about it?
Formerly known as juvenile diabetes, diabetes type one first occurs mainly in children. It occurs when the pancreas’ insulin-producing cells are defective and thus produce little, if any, insulin.
Insulin enables your body’s cells to absorb glucose from the food you eat. If your body doesn’t have enough insulin, the glucose can’t be used and your body is forced to use the energy in stored body fat instead. If this condition continues, you run the risk of falling into a diabetic coma.
Diabetes type one is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. People with this condition must control their diet and take a daily injection of insulin to control their blood glucose levels. While they can live a fairly normal life, they do have to take many precautions.
For example, they must stick to the diet recommended by their doctor and eat regularly meals. They also have to be careful with their activity level. Heavy exertion can burn up glucose too quickly thereby causing the person to become hypoglycemic. While this can be prevented by eating before the activity, it should only be done with a doctor’s okay as each diabetic patient reacts differently.
Those with type one diabetes are at risk for diabetes retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy and chronic kidney failure as the condition progresses. They are also at greater risk for atherosclerosis, which can lead to stroke, heart attack and high blood pressure. They are particularly at risk for foot problems because of the narrowing of the blood vessels in the legs.
Fortunately, there is a lot of research going on with diabetes type one. For example, an insulin pump has been developed so that patients can maintain their insulin levels at a regular rate and not have to submit to regular injections. There is also research being done on pancreas transplants and other measures. New discoveries are being made every day.
Because every person is different, it is important to follow your doctor’s orders. Just because a specific treatment worked for your friend, it doesn’t mean it will work for you and vice versa.
Diabetes type one is a serious condition and careful control is required. However, many people live completely normal lives. There are many people with diabetes who take part in sports. As long as you are careful to follow your doctor’s orders, you can control your diabetes without your diabetes controlling you.
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