Patient education: Type 1 diabetes (The Basics)

What is type 1 diabetes? — 

Type 1 diabetes (sometimes called type 1 "diabetes mellitus") is a disorder that disrupts the way the body uses sugar.

All of the cells in the body need sugar to work normally. Sugar gets into cells with the help of a hormone called insulin. Insulin is made by the pancreas, an organ in the belly. If there is not enough insulin, or if cells in the body don't respond normally to insulin, sugar builds up in the blood. That is what happens to people with diabetes.

There are 2 types of diabetes:

●In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin.

●In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still makes some insulin, but the cells in the body stop responding normally. Eventually, the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to keep up.

What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes? — 

When blood sugar is very high due to type 1 diabetes, the symptoms often include:

●Intense thirst

●Being very tired

●Urinating often

●Losing weight

●Blurred vision

In extreme cases, type 1 diabetes can also cause nausea or vomiting, belly pain, and severe loss of energy.

How do I know if I have type 1 diabetes? — 

Your doctor or nurse can do a blood test to measure the amount of sugar in your blood. The test will show whether you have diabetes. If you do, your doctor or nurse can then decide whether it is type 1 or type 2. They can figure this out based on your age, whether anyone else in your family has diabetes, and other factors. Sometimes, they will need to do blood tests to know whether the diabetes is type 1 or type 2.

How is type 1 diabetes treated? — 

Treatment involves 2 key parts:

●Measuring your blood sugar often to make sure that it does not get too high or too low. Your doctor or nurse will explain how to measure your blood sugar, and how often to do it. You can keep track of your blood sugar using a phone app, online "portal," or paper chart (form 1).

●Using insulin shots or an insulin pump to keep your blood sugar levels in the right range. (An insulin pump is a device that you wear close to your body. Most insulin pumps are connected to a tube that goes under your skin and supplies insulin.)

People with type 1 diabetes also need to carefully plan their meals and activity levels. Eating raises blood sugar. Physical activity can raise or lower it, depending on the type of activity. Despite the need to plan, people with diabetes can have normal diets, be active, eat out, and do all of the things that most other people do.

There are other things you can do to stay healthy, such as not smoking. It's also important to get the flu vaccine every year. Some people need a vaccine to prevent pneumonia, too.

How often should I see my doctor or nurse? — 

You will probably need to see your doctor or nurse at least 3 or 4 times a year. Sometimes, you will need more visits to learn how to manage your diabetes or if your blood sugar is not at goal.

During your visits, your doctor or nurse will measure your blood sugar using a test called "A1C." This tells you your average blood sugar level over the last few months. The results will help your doctor or nurse decide whether to adjust your treatment.

During some of your visits, your doctor or nurse will also check other aspects of your health. For instance, they might measure your blood pressure or cholesterol. It is very important that you go to all of your appointments.

Why is it important to keep my blood sugar at goal? — 

Having high blood sugar can cause serious problems over time. It can lead to:

●Nerve damage

●Kidney disease

●Vision problems (or even blindness)

●Pain or loss of feeling in the hands and feet

●Needing to have fingers, toes, or other body parts removed (amputated)

●Heart disease and strokes

Having low blood sugar can cause problems, too. It can make your heart beat fast, and make you shake and sweat. If blood sugar gets really low, it can cause more serious problems, too. People with very low blood sugar can get headaches, get very sleepy, pass out, or even have seizures.

Why is it important to manage my blood pressure and cholesterol? — 

People with diabetes have a higher risk of heart disease and strokes than people who do not have diabetes. Keeping blood pressure and cholesterol well managed can help lower those risks.

If your doctor or nurse puts you on blood pressure or cholesterol medicines, be sure to take them. Studies show that these medicines can prevent heart attacks, strokes, and even death.

What if I want to get pregnant? — 

Many people with type 1 diabetes have healthy pregnancies. If you want to have a baby, talk with your doctor or nurse. They will help make sure that your blood sugar is managed very well before and during pregnancy. This will protect you and your baby from problems.

More on this topic

Patient education: The ABCs of diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Type 2 diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Hemoglobin A1C tests (The Basics)
Patient education: Diabetes and diet (The Basics)
Patient education: Diabetic retinopathy (The Basics)
Patient education: Nerve damage caused by diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Low blood sugar in people with diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Using insulin (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing blood sugar in children with diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Helping your child manage type 1 diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing diabetes in school (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child insulin (The Basics)
Patient education: Checking your child's blood sugar level (The Basics)
Patient education: Carb counting for children with diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Diabetes and infections (The Basics)
Patient education: Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Should I switch to an insulin pump? (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use an insulin pen (The Basics)
Patient education: How to give an insulin shot (The Basics)
Patient education: Foot care for people with diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Diabetic foot ulcer (The Basics)
Patient education: Blood glucose tests (The Basics)
Patient education: Keeping track of your blood sugar (The Basics)
Patient education: Traveling when you have diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Kidney disease caused by diabetes (The Basics)

Patient education: Type 1 diabetes: Overview (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Type 1 diabetes: Insulin treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Type 1 diabetes and diet (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Glucose monitoring in diabetes (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) in people with diabetes (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Diabetic kidney disease (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Diabetic neuropathy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Preventing complications from diabetes (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Care during pregnancy for patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Foot care for people with diabetes (Beyond the Basics)