Type One Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (diabetes mellitus) is a long-term disease of the
pancreas gland, which is situated within the abdomen. Every cell in
the body needs insulin (a hormone released in response to increased
levels of sugar in the blood) in order for glucose (blood sugar) to be
absorbed into the body's cells. If the body is deficient in insulin,
then glucose will build up in the bloodstream. Type 1 diabetes can
appear at any age. Every patient affected needs insulin injections to
avoid the complications of insulin deficiency.
When the glucose level gets sufficiently high, it starts showing up in
the urine.
Checking your own blood sugar is very important for being able to
control diabetes.
What are the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes?
Increased thirst.
Increased urination.
Fatigue.
Weight loss (although appetite often increases).
Itchiness, especially around the genitals.
Recurrent infections on the skin and mucous membranes (yeast
infections and boils).
If another member of the family has diabetes and you are experiencing
any of the above symptoms on a consistent basis, it is important to
seek medical attention and be tested for diabetes. There is a 5 to 10
per cent risk of a child developing diabetes if either one of the
parents or a sibling has Type 1 diabetes.
How is Type 1 diabetes treated?
Diabetes is treated by:
intake of insulin
staying physically active and getting plenty of exercise
maintaining a steady weight
eating a proper diet containing a controlled amount of carbohydrates.
The goal of insulin treatment is to control the amount of insulin in
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Diabetic acidosis is treated in the hospital on an inpatient basis,
often in an Intensive Care Unit. Treatment consists of:
intravenous fluids, initially with salt-containing, and later
glucose-containing fluids
intravenous insulin drip-feed (infusion)
potassium supplements added to the infusion
antibiotics, if an infection is identified.
Exercise
Some diabetic patients think exercise will take care of high blood
glucose levels and ketone bodies in the urine. In fact, this only
makes things worse. Diabetic acidosis is caused by a low insulin level
and must be treated with insulin.
Long-term prospects
If the diabetic acidosis is diagnosed and treated early, the patient
should recover fully within a few days. If the acidosis is not treated
promptly, it will become life-threatening.