Are you Type 1 Diabetes aware?

Type 1 Diabetes develops when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas, which is central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. The pancreas is an organ in the Digestive system. No one yet knows how and why the body rejects the pancreas and it is still waiting to be un-covered. The cells are killed off and the body is un-able to control its glucose blood levels and the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes begin to appear.

Without treatment, Type 1 Diabetes can be deadly even fatal; you could end up in hospital seriously ill and on a drip or even end up having a blood transfusion.

Symptoms may include:

• ·         Above average thirst
• ·         Feeling tired or run down
• ·         Sleeping for a long period of time often
• ·         Needing to use the bathroom regularly
• ·         Losing weight very rapidly
• ·         Skin infections

Type 1 Diabetes is a serious condition, and if within doubt, see the local GP and they will test your blood glucose. If you are then experiencing some of these symptoms, and your blood glucose results come back as high (the average for non-diabetics is between 6mmols and 8mmols) they will begin to investigate why and hopefully find they answer to your problems.

Type 1 diabetics can occur at any age and any gender; it can also be family heredity, or you may not have any family members with the medical condition. Type 1 diabetics have to manage their own blood glucose and take a replacement for the insulin cells which have been destroyed. They have to prick their fingers and produce a small amount of blood which they then put on to a strip attached to a blood meter which in turn reads how much glucose is in the blood. After doing that, the diabetic then counts how much insulin they need to take for the amount of food they are going to eat. The diabetic then either self-injects a formula that acts like insulin or has a machine called a pump which is attached to the body and delivers the insulin formula via a tube. The diabetic person takes a blood glucose reading before every meal and before bedtime alongside with a dose of insulin. Blood glucose readings need to be within 4mmols and 8mmols if they aren’t there can be serious consequences.

Hypoglycaemia, or also knows as low blood glucose or low blood sugar occurs when blood glucose drops below normal levels (below 4mmols). Glucose, an important source of energy for the body, comes from the food you eat. Carbohydrates are the main dietary source of glucose.  A hypo can be caused if you take too much insulin. It can also be caused if you miss a meal, don’t eat enough foods containing carbohydrate or if you take part in physical activity without eating enough to compensate for it. Another cause can be drinking too much alcohol or drinking alcohol without eating beforehand. There are some symptoms of a hypo these are; sweating, going pale compared to your normal skin tone, feeling your heart pounding, being confused, feeling sick, feeling irritable, being shaky. Some people also suffer with hypo-unawareness, this is life threatening and very dangerous, but sadly nothing can be done about this. If you have a hypo, you must eat or drink something sugary straight away. Then eat something containing longer-lasting carbohydrates such as a sandwich, toast or a piece of fruit. Test your blood glucose level to see whether it's returning to normal. If it's not, and you can't seem to come out of the hypo, call for emergency help immediately.

A hyperglycaemia is where your blood glucose levels can become too high, this can occur if you’re stressed or unwell, your insulin dose is too low, you miss doses, or if you eat too much carbohydrate. Hyperglycaemia can cause you to be more thirsty than usual, feel tired and have headaches. Rarely, glucose can build up in your blood and reach dangerous levels. This is called diabetic ketoacidosis. It can cause you to vomit, breathe faster than usual and have breath that smells of ketones (like pear drops or nail varnish). Diabetic ketoacidosis is a medical emergency and can be fatal if you aren't treated in hospital immediately. In the long-term, hyperglycaemia can increase your risk of: kidney failure, nerve damage, blindness, heart disease, and strokes.

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. About two million people in the UK have diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is the rarer form, affecting between five and 10 of every 100 people with diabetes. If you think you or someone you know might have either type of diabetes don’t hesitate to see your GP.

If within doubt, use this Website and find out about more about Diabetes. 

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/ 

The art of managing diabetes is one half science and one half voodoo.