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Diabetes mellitus: type 1.

Article Excerpt
What is type 1 diabetes mellitus?

Type 1 diabetes is a disorder that happens when your body produces little or no insulin. The lack of insulin causes the level of sugar in your blood to become abnormally high.

When you digest food, your body breaks down much of the food into sugar (glucose). Your blood carries the sugar to the cells of your body for energy. The pancreas gland makes insulin, which helps move the sugar from the bloodstream into the cells.

When your body does not have enough insulin, it is hard for sugar to enter your cells. Sugar builds up in the blood. Too much sugar in your blood can cause many problems. These problems can be life-threatening if they are not treated. However, proper treatment can control your blood sugar level.

Type 1 diabetes is also called juvenile diabetes and was formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes. This type of diabetes usually starts in childhood or early adulthood.

How does it occur?

Type 1 diabetes occurs when most or all of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas have been destroyed. Usually the cause of this type of diabetes is not known. Sometimes the diabetes may be the result of a viral infection or injury of the pancreas. Or it might result from an immune system disorder.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may develop suddenly. Or they may develop gradually over days to weeks. Symptoms vary widely from person to person. Common symptoms include:

* increased urination

* increased thirst and dry mouth

* increased appetite or loss of appetite

* unexpected weight loss

* blurred vision

* tiredness

* fruity odor to breath.

If diabetes is not treated, you could develop a life-threatening chemical imbalance called ketoacidosis and possibly go into a coma.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and your symptoms and examine you. He or she will test the level of sugar in your blood. Two blood tests may be done to diagnose diabetes:

* a fasting plasma glucose test (FPG), also called a blood sugar

* the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)....

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