Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease in which the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas produce little or no insulin.
The body’s immune system, which usually fights harmful bacteria and viruses, mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
The role of insulin
Once a significant number of islet cells are destroyed, your body produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone from a gland situated behind and below the stomach.
- The pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream.
- Insulin circulates, allowing sugar to enter your cells.
- Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in your bloodstream.
- As your blood sugar level drops, so does the insulin secretion from your pancreas.
Insulin is required for the cells to use blood sugar for energy, and it helps regulate normal glucose levels in the bloodstream. Before treatment, this results in high blood sugar levels in the body.
Symptoms typically develop over a short period, often in a matter of weeks. The common symptoms are frequent urination, increased thirst, hunger, and weight loss. Additional symptoms may include blurry vision, tiredness, and slow wound healing.
The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, but it is believed to involve genetic and environmental factors.
The underlying mechanism involves an autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
Recent studies suggest this autoimmune islet destruction is triggered by gut microbiome dysbiosis or persistent enteroviral infections.
Diabetes is diagnosed by testing the sugar or glycated hemoglobin level in the blood. Type 1 diabetes can be distinguished from type 2 by testing for the presence of autoantibodies.
For more information on diabetes, please go to NDSS.
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