I'm Dr. Yogish C. Kudva,
an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic.
In this video, we'll cover
the basics of type 1 diabetes.
What is it? Who gets it?
The symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Whether you're looking for answers for
yourself or someone you love,
we are here to give you
the best information available.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition
that affects the insulin
making cells of the pancreas.
It's estimated that about
1.25 million Americans live with it.
People with type 1
diabetes don't make enough insulin,
an important hormone
produced by the pancreas.
Insulin allows your cells to store
sugar or glucose and fat and produce energy.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure.
But treatment can prevent complications and
also improve everyday life
for patients with type 1 diabetes.
Lots of people with
type 1 diabetes live a full life,
and the more we learn and
develop treatment for the disorder,
the better the outcome.
We don't know what
exactly causes type 1 diabetes.
We believe that it is
an autoimmune disorder where
the body mistakenly destroys
insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Typically, the pancreas secretes
insulin into the bloodstream.
The insulin circulates,
letting sugar enter your cells.
This sugar or glucose is the main source of
energy for cells in the brain,
muscle cells and other tissues.
However, once
most insulin-producing cells are destroyed,
the pancreas can't produce enough insulin,
meaning the glucose can't enter the cells,
resulting in an excess of
blood sugar floating in the bloodstream.
This can cause
life-threatening complications.
And this condition is called
diabetic ketoacidosis.
Although we don't know what causes it,
we do know certain factors can
contribute to the onset of type 1 diabetes.
Family history. Anyone with
a parent or sibling with
type 1 diabetes has
a slightly increased risk of developing it.
Genetics.
The presence of certain genes can
also indicate an increased risk.
Geography.
Type 1 diabetes becomes more
common as you travel away from the equator.
Age.
Although it can occur at any age,
there are two noticeable peaks.
The first occurs in children
between 4 and 7 years of age, and the second
is between 10 and 14 years old.
Signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes can
appear rather suddenly,
especially in children.
They may include increased thirst,
frequent urination,
bed wetting in children who
previously didn't wet the bed,
extreme hunger, unintended weight loss,
fatigue and weakness, blurred vision,
irritability, and other mood changes.
If you or your child are
experiencing any of these symptoms,
you should talk to your doctor.
The best way to determine if you have
type 1 diabetes is a blood test.
There are different methods
such as an A1C test,
a random blood sugar test,
or a fasting blood sugar test.
They are all effective,
and your doctor can help
determine what's appropriate for you.
If you are diagnosed with diabetes,
your doctor may order
additional tests to check for
antibodies that are common in type
1 diabetes, and a test called C-peptide,
which measures the amount
of insulin produced when
checked simultaneously
with a fasting glucose.
These tests can help distinguish between
type 1 and type 2 diabetes,
when a diagnosis is uncertain.
If you have been diagnosed
with type 1 diabetes,
you may be wondering what
treatment looks like.
It could mean taking insulin,
counting carbohydrates, fat, protein,
and monitoring your glucose frequently,
eating healthy foods, and
exercising regularly
to maintain a healthy weight.
Generally, those with type 1 diabetes
will need lifelong insulin therapy.
There are many different types of insulin,
and more are being developed
that are more efficient,
and what you may take may change.
Again, your doctor will help
you navigate what's right for you.
A significant advance in treatment from
the last several years
has been the development
and availability of
continuous glucose monitoring
and insulin pumps
that automatically adjust insulin
working with a continuous glucose monitor.
This type of treatment is
the best treatment at
this time for type 1 diabetes.
This is an exciting time for patients and for
physicians that are keen to
develop and prescribe such therapies.
Surgery is another option.
A successful pancreas transplant
can erase the need for additional insulin.
However, transplants
aren't always available nor
successful, and the procedure
can pose serious risks.
Sometimes it may outweigh
the dangers of diabetes itself.
So transplants are often reserved for
those with very difficult
to manage conditions.
A successful transplant can
bring life-transforming results.
However, surgery is always
a serious endeavor and requires
ample research and consideration from you,
your family, and your medical team.
The fact that we don't know what
causes type 1 diabetes can
be a lot. The fact that
we don't have a cure for it, even more so.
But with the right doctor,
medical team and treatment,
type 1 diabetes can be managed,
so those who live with it can get on living.
If you would like to learn even
more about type 1 diabetes,
watch our other related videos
or visit MayoClinic.org.
We wish you well.