Type 1 diabetes, once called “juvenile onset” or “insulin-dependent” or “Type I” diabetes, is an autoimmune disorder. The body turns on it itself and attacks the cells in the pancreas (beta cells in the islets of Langerhans) that make insulin. Scientists have been working for years to figure out exactly why this happens, and there are theories, but still no definitive answer. We know that some people have antibodies against insulin and/or insulin-making cells, and that some trigger sets them in motion. Although once thought to be a childhood disease, people of any age can be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
People who have type 1 diabetes take insulin in order to live. Insulin is a hormone that maintains blood glucose in a healthy range (for those without diabetes that range is 70 to 110 mg/dL). Taking insulin from an outside source never works as perfectly as the normally functioning human body, so those with type 1 diabetes work hard to manage blood glucose levels. Diabetes management includes checking blood glucose levels (putting a drop of blood on a strip in a meter that gives a reading), exercising, paying attention to food choices, and taking insulin. It’s also important to manage stress, as stress typically raises blood glucose.
Blood glucose levels that are higher than normal over time can lead to negative health outcomes, while blood glucose levels that are too low can cause immediate danger. Therefore, managing blood glucose levels makes a difference in the short and long term. There are several tools available to help people with type 1 diabetes manage their disease: blood glucose meters, insulin pens, insulin pumps, smart phone apps, and continuous glucose monitoring systems.
Type 1 diabetes is a full-time job, and doing the work of a pancreas is not easy, but with effort and the use of resources, it is possible.