Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong disease and is characterized by high blood sugar levels. This type of diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The hormone insulin helps cells in the body absorb glucose. People with type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, cannot produce enough insulin, so blood sugar levels rise.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes are usually extreme thirst, feelings of hunger, increased urination, weight loss, numbness or tingling sensations, burnout, itchy skin, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, and an increased risk of infection. In some cases, a dangerous condition called diabetic ketoacidosis can occur. In this condition, toxic acids called ketones can build up in the blood, and symptoms include dry skin and mouth, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, and a fruity odor.
Various blood tests are used to diagnose diabetes. The fasting blood glucose test is a test performed after 8 hours of fasting and measures blood sugar levels. The oral glucose tolerance test is based on monitoring blood sugar levels following drinking a solution containing a certain amount of glucose. A random blood glucose test is done at an unspecified time to check the blood glucose level. In addition, the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test is also used to evaluate long-term blood sugar control.
Treatment for type 1 diabetes usually includes insulin injections or the use of an insulin pump. Patients regulate their blood sugar levels by taking the hormone insulin from the outside. In addition to the treatment, it is also important to have a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet and use the necessary medications regularly.
If you suspect symptoms such as excessive thirst, hunger, weight loss, delayed wound healing, it is important to consult a doctor. Your doctor will perform the necessary tests to make the correct diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment plan. Early diagnosis and management of diabetes is of great importance for you to lead a healthy life.
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms and Diagnosis
Type 1 diabetes can cause extreme thirst or hunger, slow-healing sores, and other symptoms.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar (sugar) levels called hyperglycemia.
It is considered an autoimmune disease caused by an immune system attack on pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin, a hormone that helps certain cells in the body absorb glucose.
And without enough insulin, your blood sugar levels can rise to unhealthy levels and cause a host of health problems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), type 1 diabetes only accounts for about 5 percent of all diabetes cases.
By comparison, type 2 diabetes, which develops when cells cannot use insulin properly, accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases.
However, type 1 and 2 diabetes often share symptoms associated with hyperglycemia.
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes symptoms can often lead to extreme thirst or hunger, slow-healing sores, and other symptoms. This disease is characterized by high blood sugar levels, called hyperglycemia, and occurs as a result of an immune system attack on pancreatic beta cells that produce the hormone insulin.
Possible symptoms of type 1 diabetes can include:
- Feelings of extreme thirst or hunger.
- Increased urination.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling in the hands or feet.
- Feeling of burnout.
- Dry, itchy skin.
- Vision changes, blurred vision.
- Slow-healing wounds and increased risk of infection.
- Nausea, vomiting and stomach pains (in cases where the disease develops rapidly).
Also, when the body does not produce insulin, it cannot use sugar for energy and begins to break down fats. In this case, toxic acids called ketones can build up in the blood. Ketone accumulation is called diabetic ketoacidosis and can cause symptoms such as:
- Dry skin and mouth.
- Inability to hold liquids.
- Stomach ache.
- Shortness of breath.
- Red face.
- “fruity” smell when inhaling.
People with type 1 diabetes often need to use injections or an insulin pump to supply their body with the hormone insulin. However, taking too much insulin can lead to low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). Symptoms of hypoglycemia include headache, feelings of hunger, irritability, tremors, rapid heartbeat, and increased sweating. In case of hypoglycemia, eating or drinking something high in sugar can help quickly treat it.
Diagnosing diabetes often requires blood tests. Fasting blood glucose test is a test performed after 8 hours of fasting. In addition, different tests such as oral glucose tolerance test, random blood glucose test and glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test can be done. These tests help determine the presence or absence of diabetes.
Diagnosing diabetes often requires blood tests. Fasting blood glucose test is a test performed after 8 hours of fasting. In addition, different tests such as oral glucose tolerance test, random blood glucose test and glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test can be done. These tests help determine the presence or absence of diabetes.
Diabetes and Hypoglycemia
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin—usually by injection or using an insulin pump—to supply their cells with the necessary hormone.
However, too much insulin can cause cells to absorb too much glucose from the bloodstream, resulting in low blood sugar or hypoglycemia.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- Headache
- unusual hunger
- Irritability
- Body tremor and weakness
- rapid heartbeat
- increased sweating
Eating or drinking something high in sugar, such as hard candy or fruit juice, can help treat hypoglycemia quickly.
Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes
Diagnosis of diabetes – type 1 or type 2 – typically requires one or more blood tests.
The fasting blood glucose test measures your blood sugar level after 8 hours of fasting (with no food or drink other than water).
This test is not always reliable and tends to be more accurate in the morning. Diagnosis of diabetes usually requires multiple tests done at separate times.
If your initial fasting blood glucose test results are normal but you have certain symptoms or risk factors for diabetes, your doctor may perform an oral glucose tolerance test.
For this test, you will drink a special glucose solution and do a fasting blood glucose test again after two hours.
A random blood glucose test measures your glucose level at an unspecified time. A high blood sugar level in addition to one or more of the symptoms of diabetes may indicate that you have the disease.
This test is less accurate than the fasting glucose or oral glucose tolerance test.
The glycated hemoglobin test, or A1C test, is a different type of blood test that provides an overview of your blood sugar levels over the past few months, rather than a snapshot of your current level.
Unaffected by recent meals, the A1C test measures the percentage of hemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells to which glucose is bound. A high percentage (more than 6.5 percent) indicates diabetes.
After diagnosing diabetes, your doctor may also order an autoantibody test that looks for antibodies that attack pancreatic beta cells.
Autoantibody testing can help differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.