Type 1 diabetes affects about 5 percent of all people who have diabetes. It is sometimes referred to as juvenile diabetes, because there is a higher rate of type 1 diabetes diagnosis in children between the ages of 10 and 14, but people of any age can develop type 1 diabetes. It may also be called insulin-dependent diabetes, because diabetes pills are ineffective in treating the high blood glucose level; these individuals require injections of insulin to control their blood glucose. (As you will learn shortly, small number of people with type 1 diabetes who are in the very earliest stages of the disease may not yet require insulin; eventually, however, they will.)

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is often called insulin-dependent diabetes because the patient's body can no longer produce insulin,.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.
Type 1 diabetes is often called
insulin-dependent diabetes because the
patient's body can no longer produce
insulin, and they have to turn
 to injected insulin.

Type 1 diabetes is a disease of "confused" white blood cells. Normally, white blood cells are responsible for recognizing foreign objects in our blood and then attacking these foreign objects with antibodies. In type 1 diabetes, the white cells believe the beta cells of the pancreas do not belong there. An inflammation ensues, and the antibodies attack the beta cells. This destruction of beta cells can happen either very quickly or slowly over a long period of time. When enough beta cells are lost, insulin deficiency develops and blood glucose levels begin to rise.

If you have type 1 diabetes, you will probably require insulin to control your glucose. However, on occasion, a person in the earliest stages of type 1 diabetes may still have some islet cells left that secrete enough insulin so that insulin injections are not yet required. Pills or changes in diet, activity, and lifestyle may be enough to control blood glucose. Still, because the person has type 1 diabetes, their white blood cells will continue to attack the islet cells, and the remaining insulin-making beta cells will be destroyed. So, with time, insulin injections will become necessary.

As you can probably tell, we've only scratched the surface on this highly complex and complicated disease. To learn more aboue type 1 diabetes, explore the following topics:

Causes of Type 1 Diabetes
In this article, you will learn more about the immunological glitch that causes type 1 diabetes and about the importance of insulin in the body.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
Most patients with type 1 diabetes have been aware of the condition for quite some time -- most patients are diagnosed before the age of 20. The main symptoms a type 1 patient should look out for are the many dangerous complications of type 1 diabetes. You can learn about these complications, and how to avoid them on this page.

Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis
Here you will learn about the various tests your doctor might prescribe to confirm a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and what you, as the patient, should do to prepare for them.

Type 1 Diabetes Treatment
Treatment for type 1 diabetes revolves mostly around insulin and the many ways to introduce it into the body. On this page, you will learn all about the various types of insulin and injection methods.

To learn more about diabetes in general, including diagnosis, causes, symptoms, and treatment, visit our main Diabetes page.

Suggestions for a Diabetic Diet
One of the most important aspects of treating and controlling diabetes is monitoring the food you take into your body. However, there may be more wiggle room than you think. To learn more about proper nutrition and diabetes, try the following links:
  • Our main Diabetic Diet page will show you which food groups are diabetes-friendly and which ones you should avoid.  
  • Visit our Diabetic Recipes page to find simple, delicious meals you can make that won't send our blood sugar into a tailspin.  

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.