The pancreas in patients with type 1 diabetes is not able to produce insulin – a hormone necessary for life, which helps convert glucose into energy. The necessary level of glucose in the blood for diabetics can be supported by insulin therapy, which helps to prevent life threats and the development of complications. Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but more than half of the cases are diagnosed in children and young people under the age of 19 years. Both men and women are equally affected by the disease.
Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
The first alarming symptom of type 1 diabetes is persistent thirst. It is manifested by a strong desire to drink, dry mouth, frequent urination and a fruity smell from the mouth.
Since type 1 diabetes is accompanied by an increase in blood glucose levels, this is manifested by an increase in appetite and weight loss for no apparent reason. Also, patients complain of constant drowsiness and weakness.
People who develop type 1 diabetes have skin problems. Often they are concerned about the dryness and itching of the skin, impaired circulation, which contributes to the appearance of acne.
But the most dangerous type 1 diabetes syndromes are as follows:
- numbness and tingling in the limbs;
- visual impairment;
- hypoglycemia – a decrease in blood glucose to critical;
- loss of consciousness and diabetic coma ;
- diabetic ketoacidosis.
The last two conditions require emergency medical attention.
How is type 1 diabetes different from type 2 diabetes?
In type 1 diabetes, the human immune system mistakenly destroys the body’s own cells – the pancreas, which produce insulin. As a result, its production ceases.
In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the production of insulin does not stop and this hormone in the body is enough, however, for some reasons, the body of type 2 diabetes becomes insulin sensitive.
Symptoms of diabetes of both types are almost the same, but with type 1 diabetes, they develop faster.
What are the complications of type 1 diabetes?
If the blood sugar is exceeded for a long time, this leads to damage to various systems and organs:
- heart disease and stroke;
- renal failure;
- vision problems, up to blindness ;
- gum disease and tooth loss;
- damage to peripheral nerves.
Type 1 diabetes
Each type 1 diabetes mellitus patient needs several injections of insulin daily, as well as maintaining a special diet. Only a doctor can correctly adjust the dose of insulin, focusing on the results of determining glucose in the blood and trying to maintain its concentration within normal limits.
What to do if the amount of insulin administered has been exceeded?
Exceeding the amount of insulin administered can lead to a strong drop in blood glucose and the development of hypoglycemia, a dangerous condition for humans. In this case, the patient begins to develop the following symptoms: sharp weakness, yawning, inability to speak clearly and think, pallor, sweating, cramps, loss of coordination of movements, loss of consciousness. In this case, you must call an ambulance.
If hypoglycemia did not have time to develop, you can independently stop the insulin reaction: take at least 15 grams. digestible carbohydrates. To do this, you can drink a glass of milk or half a glass of fruit juice or take 3 glucose tablets or 2 tablespoons of raisins.