Diabetes Type 1 Is Not Just A Childhood Disease

Diabetes type 1 use to be known as childhood or juvenile-onset diabetes.  However, this is no longer the case.  This type of diabetes often first appears in children over the age of 4.  It is especially seen with the arrival of early adolescence.  Plus, it can also appear in adults, especially those who are in their late 30s and early 40s.

What Causes Diabetes Type 1

Diabetes type 1 is caused by the body's inability to produce sufficient insulin.  Unfortunately, nobody really knows why this happens but there is more than likely an underlying genetic cause that is triggered by a combination of different environmental factors.  Nonetheless, you need to understand that the body needs insulin for normal metabolism and uses it to transfer glucose, which forms one of the body's main sources of energy.  This is produced during the process of food digestion, when the food moves from your bloodstream into your body's cells.  In healthy people insulin is produced by cells that are called beta-cells and are located within your pancreas.  However, if you have diabetes type 1, these cells become damaged and production either ceases or is reduced.

Who Suffers From Diabetes Type 1

There are 1 million Americans that suffer from diabetes type 1  and around 10,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.  This form of  diabetes is more common in men than in women and it is also more prevalent among non-Hispanic whites, Hispanic Americans and African Americans.

Symptoms Seen In Diabetes Type 1

There are numerous symptoms that can accompany the onset of diabetes type 1.  The most common early symptoms result from a buildup of glucose in the blood.  They include excessive urination, thirst and hunger as well as tiredness and a lack of energy.  Sometimes excessive blood sugar can also lead to nausea and blurred vision.  It is also common that diabetes type 1 dis diagnosed as the result of an emergency condition that is known as ketoacidosis.  This condition arises whenever blood sugar levels reach an especially high level and the body begins to break down fat in order to get the energy that it needs.  This leads to a build-up of chemicals in the blood  that are known as ketones.  It results in nausea, vomiting and stomach pains.  If this condition is left untreated it will progress and breathing can become increasingly rapid, followed by coma and death.

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