Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin. It is also known as juvenile diabetes since children and adolescents are usually diagnosed with this condition. When the body is not able to produce insulin, it prevents starch and sugar from being broken down into components that the body can use. Diabetes is a serious health condition, but with proper treatment it is a life-long illness that can be managed.
Juvenile diabetes develops when the immune system destroys the cells within the pancreas that are responsible for changing sugar into energy. This type of diabetes may be caused by genetics. If both parents have a history of diabetes in their families, it can increase the likelihood of the child developing the condition as well.
Many people genetically at risk of getting type 1 diabetes do not have the condition. This has led medical researchers to explore environmental factors that may play an integral role in the development of diabetes. Studies have shown that people who reside in cold weather climates are more likely to get diabetes than people who reside in warm weather climates. Medical researchers have also theorized that a virus may trigger the onset of diabetes within a person who is already genetically predisposed to the condition. Diet is another factor that may play a role in triggering diabetes.
Since the medical community is not sure of what definitely causes diabetes, they are not able to advise people on how to prevent the condition from developing. Once a person has diabetes, it can lead to many health complications. It can lead to bacterial or fungal infections on the skin. People with diabetes are more likely to get glaucoma or other eye disorders. Nerve damage caused by diabetes can lead to a loss of feeling in feet.
Health complications associated with diabetes can be reduced if proper treatment of the condition is implemented. A person can take insulin injections to compensate for the inability of the body to produce its own insulin. A diabetic person needs to carefully monitor what they eat and their blood glucose levels.
Even though the direct cause of Type 1 diabetes and a cure for the illness are still unknown, people with diabetes can still live a healthy full life by properly managing the condition.
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