With type 1 diabetes, your
pancreas doesn't make insulin or
makes very little insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need
to take insulin every day.
Currently, type 1 diabetes can't
be prevented, but it can be treated
effectively.
Overview
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, progressive autoimmune
condition
That means it needs to be managed for life and it gets worse
over time in stages. You can think of an autoimmune disease
like a programming error in the immune system. The immune
system is programmed to protect people from harmful threats.
But with autoimmune type 1 diabetes, the immune system
mistakenly thinks healthy cells, called beta cells, are a
harmful threat and attacks them.
Beta cells make insulin—and people need insulin to convert
blood sugar into energy. In short, people need insulin to
live. Without enough insulin, your blood sugar level stays
higher than normal, and serious, potentially
life-threatening complications like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
can happen.
This is also the point when lifelong lifestyle changes
and insulin injections are needed.
If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn't make insulin or makes
very little insulin. Insulin helps blood sugar enter the cells in your
body for use as energy. Without insulin, blood sugar can't get into cells and builds up in the
bloodstream. High blood sugar is damaging to the body and causes many of
the symptoms and complications of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes was once called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes.
It often develops in children, teens, and young adults, but it can
happen at any age. Type 1 diabetes is less common than type
2—about 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1. Currently, no one
knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes, but it can be managed successfully
by:
Following your doctor's recommendations for living a healthy
lifestyle.
Managing your blood sugar.
Getting regular health checkups.
Getting diabetes
self-management education and support.
Type 1 diabetes progresses in 3 stages
Early-stage (or pre-insulin-dependent) type 1 diabetes is
when the attack on beta cells has begun but the body can
still make enough insulin to keep blood sugars in a
relatively healthy range.
Stage
1
Stage
2
Stage
3*
Early-stage type 1 diabetes
Beta cell attack begins
Blood sugars are within a normal range
No visible signs or symptoms
Early-stage type 1 diabetes
Beta cell attack continues
Blood sugars are higher or lower than a normal range
No visible signs or symptoms
Insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes
Body no longer able to make enough or any insulin
Blood sugars are much higher than normal range
Visible signs and symptoms appear, and insulin
dependence begins
*This stage is when type 1 diabetes is
typically diagnosed
You don't have to be caught off guard!
A diagnosis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes often comes
without warning and in a traumatic way like an emergency
room visit. Early screening could help.
Signs and symptoms
It can take months or years before symptoms of
type 1 diabetes are noticed. Type 1 diabetes symptoms can develop in
just a few weeks or months. Once symptoms appear, they can be
severe.
Some type 1 diabetes symptoms are similar to symptoms of other
health conditions. Don't guess! If you think you could have type 1
diabetes, see your doctor to get your blood sugar tested. Untreated
diabetes can lead to very serious—even fatal—health problems.
Risk factors
You can get type 1 diabetes at any age, but it usually develops
in children, teens, or young adults.
Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are not as clear as for prediabetes
and type 2 diabetes. Known risk factors include:
Family
history: Having a parent, brother, or sister with type
1 diabetes.
Age:
You can get type 1 diabetes at any age, but it usually develops
in children, teens, or young adults.
In the United States, White people are more likely to develop type 1
diabetes than African American and Hispanic or Latino people.
Causes
Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction
(the body attacks itself by mistake). This reaction destroys the
cells in the pancreas that make insulin, called beta cells. This
process can go on for months or years before any symptoms appear.
Some people have certain genes (traits passed on from parent to
child) that increase their chance of developing type 1 diabetes.
However, many of them won't go on to have type 1 diabetes even if
they have the genes. A trigger in the environment, such as a virus,
may also play a part in developing type 1 diabetes. Diet and
lifestyle habits don't cause type 1 diabetes.
Testing and screening
A simple
blood test is used to screen for diabetes. If you were tested at
a health fair or pharmacy, follow up at a clinic or doctor's office.
That way you'll be sure the results are accurate.
If your doctor thinks you have type 1 diabetes, your blood may also
be tested for autoantibodies. These substances indicate your body is
attacking itself and are often found with type 1 diabetes but not
with type 2. You may have your urine tested for ketones. Ketones are
produced when your body burns fat for energy. Having ketones in your
urine indicates you have type 1 diabetes instead of type 2.
For parents
If your young child has type 1 diabetes, you'll handle
daily diabetes care, such as giving insulin injections
and watching for and treating
hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). You'll also need to
stay in close contact with your child's health care
team. They will help you understand the treatment plan
and how to help your child stay healthy.
Treatment
Unlike many health conditions, diabetes is managed mostly
by you, with support from your health care team:
Primary care doctor
Foot doctor
Dentist
Eye doctor
Registered dietitian nutritionist
Diabetes educator
Pharmacist
Also ask your family, teachers, and other important people in your
life for help and support. Managing diabetes can be challenging, but
everything you do to improve your health is worth it!
You'll need to take insulin shots (or wear an insulin pump) every
day. Insulin is needed to manage your blood sugar levels and give
your body energy. You can't take insulin as a pill. That's because
the acid in your stomach would destroy it before it could get into
your bloodstream. Your doctor will work with you to figure out the
most effective type and dosage of insulin for you.
You'll also need to do
regular blood sugar checks. Ask your doctor how often you should
check it and what your target blood sugar levels should be. Keeping
your blood sugar levels as close to target as possible will help you
prevent or delay diabetes-related
complications.
Hypoglycemia and diabetic
ketoacidosis are common complications of diabetes, and you'll
need to know how to handle them. Meet with your doctor for
step-by-step instructions.
Stress is a part of life, but it can make managing diabetes harder.
Regular physical activity, getting enough sleep, and exercises to
relax can help. Talk to your doctor and diabetes educator about
these and other ways you can manage stress.
Healthy lifestyle habits are really important too:
Making healthy
food choices
Being physically
active
Managing your blood
pressure
Managing your cholesterol
Regular appointments with your health care team can help you stay on
track with your treatment plan and offer new ideas and strategies if
needed.
Medications for Diabetes, Type 1
The medications listed below are related to or used in the
treatment of this condition.
Drug name
Rating
Rx/OTC
Preg
CSA
Alcohol
Humalog
7.6
Rx
B
N
X
Lantus
7.5
Rx
C
N
X
Novolog
6.6
Rx
B
N
X
Lantus SoloStar
3.0
Rx
C
N
X
Levemir
5.4
Rx
B
N
X
NovoLog FlexPen
1.5
Rx
B
N
X
insulin glargine
3.1
Rx
C
N
X
Apidra
Rx
C
N
X
Tresiba
4.1
Rx
C
N
X
insulin lispro
3.9
Rx
B
N
X
Basaglar
2.0
Rx
C
N
X
insulin aspart
6.2
Rx
B
N
X
Toujeo SoloStar
2.7
Rx
C
N
X
Humulin N
10
OTC
B
N
X
Afrezza
68
Rx
C
N
X
Fiasp
7.6
Rx
B
N
X
Humulin R
OTC
B
N
X
insulin regular
7.5
Rx/OTC
B
N
X
Novolin R
7.0
OTC
B
N
X
Symlin
10
Rx
C
N
X
Novolin N
2.0
OTC
B
N
X
Admelog
2.6
Rx
B
N
X
Humulin 70/30
OTC
B
N
X
Novolin 70/30
10
OTC
B
N
X
Semglee
1.0
Rx
C
N
X
Toujeo Max SoloStar
Rx
C
N
X
Humalog Mix 75/25
9.0
Rx
B
N
X
Lyumjev
9.0
Rx
B
N
X
Rezvoglar
Rx
C
N
X
insulin glulisine
8.5
Rx
C
N
X
NovoLog Mix 70/30
10
Rx
B
N
X
octreotide Off-label
9.0
Rx
B
N
Humulin R U-500 (Concentrated)
10
Rx
B
N
X
insulin degludec
4.1
Rx
C
N
X
insulin detemir
5.4
Rx
B
N
X
insulin isophane
8.4
OTC
B
N
X
NovoLog Mix 70/30 FlexPen
Rx
B
N
X
NovoLog PenFill
Rx
B
N
X
pramlintide
10
Rx
C
N
X
Humalog Mix 75/25 KwikPen
Rx
B
N
X
Humulin R U-500 KwikPen
Rx
B
N
X
insulin aspart/insulin aspart protamine
10
Rx
B
N
X
insulin inhalation, rapid acting
6.8
Rx
C
N
X
insulin isophane / insulin regular
95
OTC
B
N
X
Merilog
Rx
B
N
X
Myxredlin
Rx
B
N
X
Humalog Mix 50/50 KwikPen
Rx
B
N
X
Humulin N Pen
OTC
B
N
X
insulin lispro/insulin lispro protamine
9.0
Rx
B
N
X
Symlin Pen
Rx
C
N
X
SymlinPen 60
10
Rx
C
N
X
teplizumab
Rx
N
Tzield
Rx
N
donislecel
Rx
U
Humulin 50/50
OTC
B
N
X
Humulin 70/30 Pen
OTC
B
N
X
Lantidra
Rx
U
ReliOn/Novolin 70/30
9.0
OTC
B
N
X
SymlinPen 120
10
Rx
C
N
X
Legend
Rating
For ratings, users
were asked how effective they found the medicine while
considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 =
not effective, 10 = most effective).
Rx
Prescription only.
OTC
Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC
Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Pregnancy Category
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
Alcohol
B
Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a
risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and
well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
U
CSA Schedule is unknown.
X
Interacts with Alcohol.
C
Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on
the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled
studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in
pregnant women despite potential risks.
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