Type 1 Diabetes and Glucose

When glucose has no way of entering your cells, the sugary substance starts to build up in the blood. Your body has to pull water out of the blood (increasing thirst) so that it can get rid of the excess glucose in the urine (which explains the frequent trips to the restroom). Your cells are screaming for fuel (triggering the "Let's order another pizza!" instinct in your brain). While they're waiting for more glucose, your cells switch to alternate sources of energy, so the body starts to run on fat. That's the reason you lose weight, but it's kind of like burning the furniture in the fireplace when you can't pay the heating bill. And the combination of high blood glucose levels and dehydration makes you feel tired.

Burning fat all day instead of glucose isn't just inefficient; it can be life threatening if it goes on too long. As your body breaks down fat to use as energy, it produces leftover products called ketones. Does that word ring a bell? You may have heard of ketones and ketosis (the accumulation of ketones when fat is burned for energy) if you have tried the carbohydrate-hating Atkins diet. In his book Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution, the late Robert Atkins, M.D., claimed that ketosis is "a signal for rejoicing...a state devoutly to be desired...." Why? Because, according to Atkins, it means you're burning unsightly fat and shedding flab!

Obesity experts disagree whether intentionally triggering ketosis is a safe and effective weight-loss method, though many diet doctors insist that some people lose weight on the Atkins plan not because of metabolic trickery but because it's just another low-calorie diet. (Studies have failed to show that it's superior to other weight-loss approaches.)

What's not up for debate is whether high levels of ketones are dangerous for the person with diabetes. Normally, these compounds pass harmlessly from your system into urine to be excreted. But when carbohydrates are entirely removed from the diet--or when glucose can't get into cells, as in advanced diabetes--ketones build up to toxic levels. At first your breath has a weird odor, like fruit-flavored paint thinner. But soon you become confused, short of breath, and nauseous. You feel dehydrated and lose your lunch. If you don't get medical attention ASAP, you slip into a coma from which you may never awaken. Since you're taking care of your diabetes, you'll likely never have to worry about this condition, called ketoacidosis.

In our final section, we will look at what exactly makes all of these changes happen inside your body.
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.