What is Type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes happens when the immune system damages the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Insulin helps glucose move from the blood into the body’s cells for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the blood.
Type 1 diabetes can begin at any age, although it often appears in children, teenagers and young adults. It is not caused by eating sugar or by a personal failure.
What does everyday care involve?
People with Type 1 diabetes need insulin. Day-to-day care also involves checking glucose, noticing how food and activity affect it, and working with a health care team on a personal care plan. The details of that plan differ from person to person.
Learning what the numbers mean is a process. Questions are welcome, and the person living with diabetes should have a voice in conversations about their care.
When to seek help
Frequent urination, unusual thirst and unexplained weight loss can be signs of diabetes. If these symptoms appear, especially in a child or teenager, seek medical assessment promptly. A health professional can diagnose diabetes and explain the next steps.