How do you get type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means that a person’s immune system turns on itself and destroys cells. In type 1 diabetes the cells that are destroyed are those of the pancreas, which is the organ that produces the insulin that the body needs to function. Without insulin your blood cannot process blood sugar. Because blood sugar cannot be processed it accumulates in the bloodstream, and the results of this can be fatal.

It is still unclear why the beta cells in the pancreas suddenly stop producing insulin, but according to About.com the reasons appear to be due to:

Genes – Some people are genetically predisposed to developing type-1 diabetes. If a person has a first-degree family member, such as a parent or sibling with type-1 diabetes, the risk of that person developing type 1 diabetes is high. Researchers have not identified any specific gene that causes type 1 diabetes, but they have identified several genes that seem to play a role. These genes create proteins which affect a person’s immune system.

Viruses– There has to been some indications that certain viruses may trigger the autoimmune response which leads to type 1 diabetes. The virus which has solicited the most interest for researchers is called coxsackievirus, which is common in young children. Young children are the people most likely to develop type-1 diabetes.

Environment– There seems to be environmental influences which help trigger type 1 diabetes. These may include climate and infant diet, which along with the genetic risk factors, lead to the development of the disease. However, a definitive link is yet to be established.

 

How Do You Get Type 1 Diabetes Treatment?

 

How do you get type 1 diabetes treatment? If you notice any of the following symptoms in your child or yourself, it is time to make a doctor’s appointment. They are:

  • Increased thirst
  • Increased appetite
  • Unexplained Weight Loss
  • Increased Urination
  • Fatigue
  • Blurry vision

 

Upon visiting the doctor and telling him about these symptoms he could give you a number of different tests. These are:

Fasting blood glucose level –diabetes is diagnosed if blood sugar levels are higher than 126 mg/dL after fasting. The reading has to happen twice for a definitive diagnosis.

Random (non-fasting) blood glucose level – you don’t have to fast for this test. If the person being tested has a blood sugar reading of 200 mg/dL or higher, and present symptoms, the doctor will move forward for a diagnosis.

Oral glucose tolerance test – In this test the patient will be given a drink which is high in sugar content. After 2 hours if the patient still has a high blood sugar level then diabetes will be diagnosed.

Hemoglobin A1c test – Doctors have recently found a way to see how high a person’s blood sugar has been over the last several months by looking at a certain protein found in red blood cells.

If any of these tests turn up as conclusive, treatment will begin. Most of the treatment for this disease is taken care of at home. A person with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily, keep a healthy and balanced diet, stay physically active, and check their blood sugar levels several times daily.