Understanding Type 1 Diabetes

Understanding Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. Testing, coupled with education about diabetes symptoms and close follow-up, has been shown to enable earlier diagnosis and to prevent diabetes ketoacidosis.

What is type 1 diabetes?

When you have type 1 diabetes, your immune system mistakenly treats the beta cells in your pancreas that create insulin as foreign invaders and destroys them. When enough beta cells are destroyed, your pancreas can’t make insulin or makes so little of it that you need to take insulin to live. 
Insulin is a hormone that helps blood glucose (blood sugar) enter your body’s cells so that it can be used as energy. If you have diabetes, blood glucose can’t enter your cells so it builds up in your bloodstream. This causes high blood glucose (hyperglycemia). Over time, high blood glucose harms your body and can lead to diabetes-related complications if not treated.
Most of the time, type 1 diabetes is diagnosed in young people, but it can develop in anyone at any age. Scientists and researchers today aren’t sure how to prevent type 1 diabetes or what triggers it.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you can live a long, healthy life by having a strong support system and managing it with your diabetes care team. The treatment plan you develop with your diabetes care team will include insulin, physical activity, and an eating plan to reach your health goals.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

If you or your child have the following symptoms of diabetes, let your health care provider know. Symptoms include:

• Urinating often
• Feeling very thirsty
• Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
• Weight loss—even though you are eating more

It’s important to know when you first develop type 1 diabetes, you may not have any symptoms at all.

• Children with Type 1 Diabetes
• Adults with Type 1 Diabetes
• Learning Your Risk for Type 1 Diabetes
• Why Learning Your Risk Helps

Children with type 1 diabetes will usually have the symptoms listed above. If your child is potty-trained without issues at night starts having accidents and wetting the bed again, diabetes might be the reason.
Even though it’s easy to diagnose a child with diabetes by checking their blood glucose at the doctor’s office or emergency room, the tricky part is recognizing the symptoms and knowing to take your child to get checked. If you’re a parent, it’s important to know that young children, including infants, can develop type 1 diabetes.
Sometimes children can be in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) when they are diagnosed with diabetes. When there is a lack of insulin in the body, high levels of an acid called ketones can build up. DKA is a medical emergency that usually requires hospitalization and immediate care with insulin and IV fluids.

Calling All Professionals

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) convened leading experts, including endocrinologists, researchers, primary care professionals, certified diabetes care and education specialists, and mental health professionals, to understand opportunities and roadblocks to type 1 diabetes screening and awareness. The outcome of this roundtable is a report that outlines the discussion and potential opportunities for future direction. The report does not necessarily reflect official guidelines or recommendations from the American Diabetes Association or other participating organizations. The Honeymoon Phase

Some people with type 1 diabetes have a "honeymoon" period, a brief period of time where your body is producing enough insulin to lower blood glucose levels. The honeymoon phase usually happens after you start taking insulin and you may not need as much to manage your blood glucose. Work with your diabetes care team for treatment and care to avoid complications like hypoglycemia. A honeymoon period can last as little as a week or even up to a year. It’s important to know that the absence of symptoms doesn't mean the diabetes is gone. The pancreas will eventually be unable to make enough insulin, and, if untreated, the symptoms will return.

Is it Possible You Don't Have Type 2 Diabetes

If you or someone you know is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but isn’t able to manage it with the typical treatments for type 2 diabetes, it may be worth a visit to an endocrinologist to verify what type of diabetes you have. Generally, this requires antibody tests and possibly the measurement of a C-peptide level. It is important to be sure that your diagnosis is correct because that will determine your treatment plan, allowing you manage your diabetes and prevent its complications.

Screening Acceleration Summit

Type 1 Diabetes - Dr. Fran Cogen

Type 1 Diabetes - Dr. Nuha El Sayed

Resources for Type 1 Diabetes

Browse these resources for type 1 diabetes.

People with Diabetes

Resources for Living with Type 1 Diabetes

Whether you’ve lived with diabetes for a long time, are newly diagnosed, or a caregiver, we have the resources to help you learn about how to navigate life with type 1. Learn More

People with Diabetes

Nutrition

Having diabetes doesn’t mean giving up all your favorite foods, it’s about modifying what you love to fit your new lifestyle and help you manage diabetes.  Learn More

People with Diabetes

Physical Activity

Staying physically active will help you manage your diabetes, improve your mood, and lower your risk for complications. Learn More

People with Diabetes

Diabetes Food Hub®

Access thousands of free diabetes-friendly recipes for all meals, occasions, and dietary restrictions—plus nutrition articles that answer common questions people have about eating with diabetes. Learn More

Advocacy

Safe at School®

This program helps to ensure children with diabetes receive the care they need at school. Learn More

People with Diabetes

Healthy Living e-newsletter

Sign up to receive diabetes-friendly recipes, articles, and more resources delivered directly to your email inbox every month. Learn More

Health Care Professionals

Mental Health Resource

Screening for diabetes has a significant emotional and mental health toll. These resources can help you offer support to people you treat and their families. Learn More

Health Care Professionals

Diagnosis and Classification of Type 1 Diabetes

Read our Standards of Care in Diabetes—2024 recommendations on type 1 diabetes screening and diagnosis. Learn More

health care professionals

Prevention or Delay of Diabetes

Read Standards of Care in Diabetes recommendations on interventions to delay type 1 diabetes.  Learn More

health care professionals

Infographics

These documents provide at-a-glance guidance for type 1 diabetes screening based on the Standards of Care in Diabetes. Learn More

health care professionals

Latest Innovations and Treatments in Type 1 Diabetes

Earn free CE credit in the Institute of Learning. Learn More

health care professionals

School Nurse Resources

School nurses play an important role for students with type 1 diabetes and their caregivers. Training resources are available. Learn More
Information specialists at the Center for Information are your personal guides to information on diabetes, donation inquiries, as well as American Diabetes Association programs and events. 1-800-DIABETES ( 1-800-342-2383 ). 
Source: https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/type-1