Type 1 Diabetes and Insulin

In the case of type 1 diabetes, your immune system unleashed an assault on the cells in your pancreas that make insulin, which are known as beta cells. As your beta cells died off, your insulin production slowed down, and it may have even stopped. Without sufficient amounts of insulin to control the amount of glucose in your blood, your blood glucose levels began to rise, causing symptoms of diabetes. The symptoms likely included

  • an unquenchable thirst. You could guzzle an entire Super Big Gulp soda and still feel parched.

  • a frequent need to urinate. Duh, you're probably thinking, of course I'll be racing for the bathroom if I'm drinking so much. But with type 1 diabetes your bladder may feel ready to burst whether you've been imbibing fluids or not.

  • increased hunger. But don't worry about getting fat; see next item.

  • sudden weight loss. Now you might be thinking, Do you mean I get to eat like a pig and lose a few pounds? Sign me up! Not so fast. Type 1 diabetes causes weight loss because your body is more or less devouring itself. And you know that can't be good.

  • unexplained fatigue. As in your whole body, not just your jaws from all that eating.

    Increased hunger is a symptom of type 1 diabetes, but so is sudden weight loss.
    ©2007 Publications International, Ltd.
    Increased hunger is a symptom of type 1 diabetes, but so is sudden weight loss.

It's easy to see from these diverse symptoms just how important insulin is to the human body. Read on to learn how your body responds when glucose starts to build up in the bloodstream.

For even more valuable information on Type 1 diabetes, try the following links:
  • To learn more about diabetes in general, including diagnosis, causes, symptoms, and treatment, visit our main Diabetes page
  • Our main Type 1 Diabetes page gives a thorough overview of this form of diabetes, commonly called "juvenile diabetes."
  • Learn the diverse signs of type 1 diabetes, from increased thirst and hunger to sudden weight loss, in Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes.
  • For a variety of treatment options, read Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.