Diabetes mellitus type 1

Diabetes mellitus type 1 generally called as type 1 diabetes is a chronic medical condition which mainly occurs when the pancreas, a organ present in abdomen produces very little quantity of insulin or in some cases no insulin. This is usually developed when the immune system destroys insulin producing cells in pancreas which is commonly called autoimmune response. Diabetes mellitus type 1 requires frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels and should be treated with insulin.  It usually begins in childhood or in young adult hood, but can develop at any stage.

More information on diabetes mellitus type 1

Diabetes mellitus type 1 often called juvenile or insulin dependent diabetes can develop in people with a family history of type 1 diabetes and in some cases it also develops in people with no family history of diabetes. Genetic testing is more helpful to determine if a family member is at a risk of developing diabetes, but these tests are limited to people who participate in clinical research trail.

The most common symptom seen in people with diabetes mellitus type 1 is that they have high blood sugar levels also called hyperglycemia which includes feeling tired, excessive thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision and losing weight of the body. People with diabetes mellitus type 1 may even experience a symptom of problem called diabetic ketoacidosis which is a medical emergency and must be treated promptly. People with diabetic ketoacidosis exhibit symptoms like high blood sugar, belly pain, nausea and vomiting, feeling sluggish, breathing rapidly and sometimes they have trouble in paying attention. Women with diabetes mellitus type 1 are advised to control blood sugar levels before and during pregnancy under supervision of a doctor to minimize the risk of complications so that they can have a healthy baby.

Some of the tests used to diagnose diabetes mellitus type 1 are urinalysis test to show glucose and ketone bodies in the urine, fasting blood glucose test, random blood glucose test, insulin test, C-peptide test. Some of the emergency complications with diabetes mellitus type 1 include diabetic ketoacidosis, hypoglycemia. There are even long term complications like vascular disease, micro vascular disease, eye complications, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic foot problems, skin and mucus membrane problems which can be minimized but not entirely eliminated with proper diabetic management.

The immediate goals of treatment for diabetes mellitus type 1 are to treat diabetic ketoacidosis and high blood glucose levels. The long term goal of treatment is to prolong life, reduce symptoms and prevent diabetes related complications such as kidney failure, blindness and amputation of limbs. The short term and long term goals of diabetes mellitus type 1 treatment are accomplished through education, meal planning and weight control, insulin use, exercise, foot care and careful self testing of blood glucose levels. Recent studies in diabetes mellitus type 1 patients have shown hat in intensively treated patients, kidney disease is decreased by 54%, diabetic eye disease decreased by 76% and nerve disease decreased by 60%.