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