Diabetes (Type 1)

Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. Insulin is a hormone that acts like a key to let blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy. Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake) that stops your body from making insulin. When there isn’t enough insulin, too much sugar stays in your blood. This can cause immediate health problems, including diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which can be life-threatening. Over time, too much sugar in your blood can cause other serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
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Key Facts
- Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2—approximately 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1.
- Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are not as clear as for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, though family history is known to play a part.
- Blood sugar levels change often during the day. When they drop below 70 mg/dL, this is called having low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). At this level, you need to take action to bring it back up. Low blood sugar is serious and especially common in people with type 1 diabetes.
- Common symptoms of low blood sugar may include fast heartbeat, shaking, sweating, nervousness or anxiety, irritability or confusion, dizziness, and hunger.
- Many types of insulin are used to treat diabetes. Types of insulin are classified by how fast and how long they work in your body.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of diabetes that happens when your blood sugar is too high for too long and can be life-threatening. DKA is most common among people with type 1 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes can also develop DKA.
- Good diabetes care (including self-care) and diabetes self-management education and support are key to living well with diabetes.
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Prevention Tips
Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes, but it can be managed by taking your medicines as prescribed by your doctor, living a healthy lifestyle, managing your blood sugar, being physically active, and getting regular health checkups. Diabetes self-management education and support services can help people learn how to manage their diabetes.