Introduction

When the body does not produce insulin, type 1 diabetes (or insulin-dependent diabetes) develops. Although type 1 is most often diagnosed in children or young adults, the disease can strike at any age. With type 1 diabetes, there is an autoimmune disease action where the body attacks insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and destroys them. When the pancreas no longer makes insulin, blood glucose (blood sugar) cannot enter the cells to be used for energy, leaving high levels in the blood. People with type 1 diabetes must take exogenous insulin (from outside the body) to stay alive.

Diet, exercise and medications enable a person to maintain good blood glucose control and avoid complications. But first, you need to know your numbers by testing your blood sugar. Modern medicine has advanced the care of people with type 1 diabetes with various insulins and other medicines, devices to test blood glucose (glucose meters), insulin pumps, and continuous glucose monitoring systems.

What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?

It is suspected that some kind of infection or virus triggers the autoimmune response that attacks the beta cells of the pancreas. The anti-body GAD (glutamic acid decarboxylase) is found in 70-80 percent of type 1 diabetes patients. The environment may also be a factor. More cases of diabetes are diagnosed in the winter months, in northern climates, and in Caucasians. For instance, Canada has 60 percent more cases diagnosed per year than the U.S. Other factors that have been explored are childhood feeding practices, childhood viruses, and genetic susceptibility.

Read more: http://www.diabetescare.net/education/type-1#ixzz3HW55ZeUU