Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is diagnosed when a patient (normally a child) is unable to convert glucose/sugar in their blood to useful energy and stored energy. And, that is because the child is unable to produce the insulin needed to break down glucose/sugar. It is believed that their body’s own immune system has destroyed most or all of the beta cells that make insulin inside of the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is usually detected in childhood, because of the severe symptoms caused by the lack of insulin. Therefore, Type 1 diabetes has been called Juvenile Diabetes or Insulin-Dependent Diabetes. About 8% of all diabetics have Type 1 diabetes.
Inside the Pancreas: Beta Cells>>
According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, “Ninety percent of children who develop type 1 diabetes actually have no relative with the disease. Thanks to studies of families, researchers now can identify at birth when a baby carries some of the genes that indicate risk factors for type 1 diabetes. Certain genes called HLA markers are associated with diabetes risk.
If a child is born with such markers, his or her risk of developing type 1 diabetes is about the same as if he or she had a sibling with type 1 diabetes, even though no other family member may have the disease. There are other genes that also create risk for juvenile diabetes that have not yet been identified.
Type 1 diabetes complications are more severe and tend to get worse faster than Type 2 diabetes complications. Part of the reason is that Type 1s will have had diabetes from childhood.
Type 1 diabetics are absolutely insulin dependent, and cannot take oral agents like Type 2s to control their blood glucose levels.
Type 1 diabetics must inject insulin by syringe, or jet injector, or insulin pump, or insulin pen, in order to use up the right amount of sugar in their blood.
- low blood sugar – Hypoglycemia.which can result in lethargy, stupor (feeling weak, dizzy, confused – this can lead to a diabetic coma.
- high blood sugar – Hyperglycemia which can result in feelings of nausea, headache, stomach ache, and more . This is caused by failing to reduce high blood sugar levels. Caused by using too little insulin for the food eaten, or not exercising at all may result in
- Polydipsia – Always thirsty. This is caused by the frequent urination.
- Polyuria – Frequent need to urinate. High blood sugar is causing the kidneys to release urine to get rid of the sugar.
- Polyphagia- Always hungry and overeating – glucose in the blood is not going into the cells to fuel them. The cells are starving.
Nerve Damage Symptoms (Neuropathy)
- Feet, legs, hands, and arms hurt a lot, then loose sensation (go numb). Soon cannot feel injury to feet, hands, etc. Lose strength in feet, legs, hands, and arms.
- Gastroparesis – Delayed emptying of the stomach. Makes it very difficult to control blood sugar levels. Causes gas, stomach ache, nausea, vomiting,
- Urinary Incontinence – Lose control of bladder. Cannot feel bladder is full. Urine leaks from sneezing, and coughing. Cannot urinate at will.
- Loss of Hearing – Delicate nerves in ear are damaged
- Kidney Damage – The very small arteries in the kidneys are damaged reducing the removal of waste and toxins from the blood. The waste begin to poison the blood, and the rest of the body. Finally, this leads to kidney failure and dialysis or kidney transplantation or death.
- Heart Disease – Poor blood flow leads to overworking of the heart. This leads to:
- Chest pain (angina)
- Irregular heart rhythm (arrythmia)
- Heart Attack – Can’t catch your breath, and other symptoms.
- Loss of Vision – Blurred vision begins, get worse, leads to blindness. Damage to small blood vessels and pressure inside the eyes.
- Blood Vessel Damage – High blood sugar cause scaring in the lining of blood vessels, this leads to stiffening (arteriosclerosis) and blockage (atherosclerosis) of arteries. These damages bring about more damage such as:
- Mini-strokes – Brief lapse of mental function. This is an early warning that a major stroke is possible.
- Major Stroke – Brain cell death and loss of mental and physical function.
- Aneurysm – A bulge in a brain artery that burst causing bleeding in the brain.
- Dementia – Impaired thinking, speaking, reasoning, memory, vision, movement – caused by stroke and blocked blood flow.
- Mild Cognitive Impairment –
- Seizure in Pregnant Women –
- Aortic Aneurysm – A weakening in the wall of the aortic artery that lead to a bulge and if untreated a burst and death.
The Type 1 Diabetic must use enough insulin to take the right amount of sugar from the bloodstream to convert to energy, and cell building material. They must also be very focused on their nutrition and levels of exercise.