The Impact of Type 1 Diabetes

What is Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease where ones own immune system destroys the pancreas's insulin producing cells. Scientists and Doctors believe it is caused by both environmental and genetic factors, but these are not yet fully understood.

Though type 1 diabetes usually strikes children and adolescents, adults can also be afflicted with this terrible condition. The afflicted individual is thereafter fully dependent on injected or pumped insulin for the rest of there lives as well as a strict dietary regimen. And also a lifetime with the threat of major and devastating complications.

What are the Warning Signs & Syptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes

The afflicted individual will exhibit some of the following:

• Extreme and persistant thirst


• Need to urinate more frequently


• An increase in appetite


• An unexplained sudden loss of weight


• A rapid change in vision


• Fruity smell to the breath


• A drowsy, lethargic feeling


• Breathing becoming labored


• Falling unconscious (for no apparent external reason)

A physician should immediately be consulted if you or someone you know exhibits any of these signs.

Impact of Diabetes

As mentioned above, people with type 1 diabetes must either inject insulin multiple times per day or have a continuous dose administered via a pump. Also they must test their blood sugar levels six or more times per day by poking one of their fingers and then putting the blood on a test strip. The diabetic must also make sure to balance their diet, insulin intake, and activity to insure a proper blood sugar level is maintained. Their levels being off can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) both of which can cause dire health consequences and can even be fatal.

And the dietary regimen and insulin do not offer a cure to diabetes, only a way to manage the disease. This must be carried out for the rest of the patients life. And it does not prevent the eventual appearance of one or more of its terrible complications such as blindness, nerve damage, strokes or other cardio-vascular diseases and kin=dney failure.

Diabetics are 4 times more likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack. Also the diabetics life expectancy is on average 15 years shorter than the norm.

Diabetes Statistics

• About 70,000 children develop type one diabetes every year (or around 200 per day)
• 246 MILLION people are affected by diabetes today and that number is projected to be 380 million by 2045.
• Every 10 seconds someone dies from a diabetes related complication.
• Also, each and every 10 seconds of each and every day 2 more people in the world develop diabetes.
• Diabetes and its consequences are the 4th leading cause of death world-wide.
• The IDF (International Diabetes Federation) estimates that 3.8 million yearly deaths can be attributed to diabetes. Many more fatalities can be attributed to cardio-vascular diseases complicated by diabetes.