Type 1 diabetes is a very serious disease that is most often found in young people, but can still happen in adults that are older on occasion. Being diagnosed with diabetes can be a very scary thing, especially if you do not have the information you need to understand it. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, here is a bit of information to help you better understand it and learn to live a fuller life.
Type 1 diabetes means that you are unable to balance out your blood sugar levels properly because your pancreas no longer produces enough insulin, and in some cases none at all. The reason for this is that your immune system has malfunctioned and begins to attack the cells that produce insulin in your pancreas. And although the medical community does not know exactly what causes it to happen in the first place, the common theory is that either through a genetic predisposition for the disease or because of some form of viral infection, your immune system will become confused.
And the only treatment for this is insulin injections to help balance out your blood sugar levels. For type 2 diabetes, insulin injections are only used when all other forms of treatment have failed. But other than the treatment, both types share many of the same symptoms, and your doctor will have to do tests to see which type it is. In addition, below is a list of information about specific treatment requirements, complications from type 1 diabetes, and preventative measures.
The first thing that needs to be understood about treatment is that it is very important to control your blood glucose levels. And most treatment plans will make certain that the insulin dosages and times schedules will ensure that your blood glucose readings will be as balanced as possible. Talking to your doctor about your target range is very important. What’s more, you will want to discuss what your over all goal is for the tests that figure out how well you have kept your diabetes under control over a two to three month period.
These tests are a great way to see the bigger picture and to help you keep focused on your treatment. Because this disease can be hard to live with for some, just having a goal in mind can make a big difference in their attitude towards their treatment. And if you are unable to keep your treatment under control, there are many complications that can arise as a result.
When you are unable to keep your insulin levels under control, you can experience the following complications; heart attack, blindness, stroke, kidney failure, and a blood vessel disease that can result in amputation of the infected part, nerve damage, and even impotence in men. The reason behind this is that your body will have too high of a blood sugar count, and that can reek havoc on your internal organ systems causing many to not work properly. However, with proper treatment you will be able to prevent these complications.
Although there is no way to prevent getting type 1 diabetes, there are ways to prevent your body from being ravaged from the disease. With the proper treatment schedule and constant monitoring of your blood glucose levels, you will be able to help your body work properly and live a more normal life. Having diabetes does not mean that you have to stop living your life. For more information, contact your doctor or treatment team.