Insulin-dependent diabetes

Insulin-dependent diabetes, also known as Type 1 diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.

Causes

The exact cause of insulin-dependent diabetes is unknown. However, it's believed to be an autoimmune condition. This means your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the beta cells in your pancreas that produce insulin. The damage is permanent.

Symptoms

The symptoms of insulin-dependent diabetes can appear suddenly and may include increased thirst, frequent urination, bed-wetting in children who previously didn't wet the bed during the night, extreme hunger, unintended weight loss, irritability and other mood changes, fatigue and weakness, and blurred vision.

Diagnosis

Insulin-dependent diabetes is diagnosed through several tests that measure blood sugar levels. These include the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test, random blood sugar test, fasting blood sugar test, and oral glucose tolerance test.

Treatment

There is no cure for insulin-dependent diabetes. However, it can be managed with insulin therapy and lifestyle changes. Insulin therapy involves injecting insulin under the skin. The injections are usually given several times a day.

Complications

If not properly managed, insulin-dependent diabetes can lead to a number of serious complications, including heart disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage (nephropathy), eye damage (retinopathy) and blindness, foot damage due to poor blood flow, skin and mouth conditions, and pregnancy complications.

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent insulin-dependent diabetes. However, research into preventing or slowing the disease is ongoing.

See also

• Type 2 diabetes
• Gestational diabetes
• Prediabetes
• Metabolic syndrome