Understanding Diabetes

Introduction to Type 1 Diabetes: A Condition Impacting Lives Globally

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Hi, let me introduce myself.  I’m Conley.  This site is about Type 1 Diabetes.  It is a health condition that prevents your body from turning food into energy. As a result, your body breaks food down into sugar or glucose and sends it into your bloodstream. Since your pancreas does not work to create insulin when you eat food, your blood sugar goes up. That is the problem with diabetes. To combat this health condition, insulin is given to the body through injections, or insulin pump so that the glucose in your blood is brought under control, in a “normal range.” This is the tricky part of diabetes management, keeping your blood sugar from going too high or too low. With the help of insulin, your body allows the blood sugar to go into your body’s cells for use as energy.

My credibility and expertise in diabetes management comes from the 45 years of living successfully with Type 1 Diabetes.  I have never passed out from a low blood sugar level.  My A1Cs are either 6.3 or 6.4.  I have not developed any complications from managing diabetes and its long-term effects on the body.  I am not a medical doctor, nor do I have an undergraduate degree in the sciences.  I have a BA Degree in Political Science, a Master of Divinity Degree, and a MBA Degree.  I am well educated.  However, what gives me credibility in writing about diabetes is having lived with it successfully for 45 years.  If you have any questions about your Type 1 Diabetes, you should ask your Endocrinologist first.  The information contained herein is just my opinion, plus research on diabetes management.  It is my hope that you will benefit from reading these articles.  Please leave feedback and let me know your thoughts. Thank you.

What are Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes?

According to the website of the AmericanDiabetesAssociation.com, under Type 1, the following information is given.  The following symptoms of diabetes are typical. However, some people with diabetes have symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed.

Common symptoms of diabetes:

• Urinating often
• Feeling very thirsty
• Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
• Weight loss—even though you are eating more

Type 1 diabetes symptoms can manifest suddenly, like they did for me.  According to the American Diabetes Association the following can occur to people who develop Type 1 Diabetes.

• Symptoms might appear following a viral illness.
• DKA, or Diabetic Ketoacidosis can occur due to high blood sugar levels and lack of insulin. Since no food is getting into the cells, this leads to a breakdown of muscle and fat for energy.  The result is dehydration, and the buildup of ketones in the blood and urine. It is a serious complication that can occur in people with diabetes, primarily type 1 diabetes.
• The lack of insulin prevents glucose from entering cells to be used for energy, causing the body to break down fat for energy instead. This process produces ketones, which are acidic chemicals that can build up in the blood and lead to a condition called acidosis. DKA can develop rapidly and may be triggered by illness, infection, inadequate insulin dosage, or other factors that increase the body’s demand for insulin.
• Symptoms of DKA may include excessive thirst, frequent urination, high blood sugar levels, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fruity-scented breath, rapid breathing, confusion, and unconsciousness. DKA requires immediate medical attention, as it can be life-threatening if left untreated. Treatment typically involves intravenous fluids to rehydrate the body, insulin therapy to lower blood sugar levels, and correction of electrolyte imbalances.
• Symptoms of DKA include fruity breath odor, heavy breathing, and vomiting.
• If untreated, DKA can progress to stupor, unconsciousness, and death.
• Individuals experiencing symptoms, whether of type 1 diabetes or DKA, should promptly contact a healthcare provider for accurate diagnosis, as these symptoms may indicate other health issues.

What Age Group Gets Type 1 Diabetes?

Believe it or not, infants and children can develop Type 1 Diabetes.  Symptoms of type 1 diabetes onset in infants or children include the following:

• Classic symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, weight loss, fatigue, and illness.
• Bedwetting in previously potty-trained children might indicate diabetes onset.

Adults can get Type 1 Diabetes.  According to the American Diabetes Association, the following are symptoms of type 1 diabetes onset in adults:

• It is common due to lack of understanding that type 1 diabetes can develop at any age and in individuals of any body type.
• Adults with type 1 diabetes may not exhibit initial symptoms as mentioned above. The only sure way to know is through routine blood glucose testing, especially if it runs in your family.

My Diabetic Story Begins at Age 18

My type 1 diabetic story began when I was 18 years old. I had gotten real sick with the flu. I guess my immune system was down, and the gene for diabetes became exposed and I got sick overnight. I thought I was just real thirsty all of the time. Nothing I seemed to eat made me any fuller. I later discovered that my grandmother’s mother had type 1 diabetes, so it was in the gene pool for me. Back to the story. I was a freshman at W & L, it was spring semester. When I went home for spring break, I told my mom that I felt sick. She went with me to the general physician who gave me a blood fasting test. I had to drink a sugary type substance, wait 30 minutes, and then have my blood sugar tested. It was over 200 mg/dl. I was pronounced a type 1 diabetic. The nurse showed me how to give myself a shot of insulin. I got on Regular Insulin for meal coverage and NPH Insulin for a long lasting effective insulin. So, the common signs of having developed diabetes is frequent thirst and frequent urination. If you or someone you know tells you they have these symptoms, tell them to go get tested for type 1 diabetes.

What are the 3 main tests for Diabetes?

According to the American Diabetes Association’s website, there are three main ways to test for Type 1 Diabetes.  They are the A1C Test, the Fasting Plasma Glucose Test and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.  I had the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.  The stuff they made you drink was terrible, but not as bad as finding out you are diabetic.  Oh well.

The A1C Test

Let’s talk about the A1C Test.  It measures average blood glucose over 2-3 months period.  If your A1C comes back greater than or equal to 6.5%, then you are diabetic.  If it comes back at 5.7% to 6.4%, you are considered having prediabetes.  And if you are so lucky to have an A1C under 5.7%, then you are “normal,” nondiabetic, and non-prediabetic.  Below is a chart that shows this information.

The Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

According to the medical profession, a Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) Test is a medical procedure used to measure the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood after a period of fasting. It is commonly used to diagnose and monitor diabetes and prediabetes.  The following makes up the test.

• During the test, a person is required to fast for at least 8 hours (usually overnight).
• Then, a blood sample is taken, typically in the morning before breakfast or any food or drink intake.
• This sample is analyzed in a laboratory to determine the concentration of glucose in the plasma portion of the blood.
• Normal fasting plasma glucose levels typically fall between 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
• Levels between 100 to 125 mg/dL may indicate prediabetes.
• Levels equal to or greater than 126 mg/dL on two separate tests typically indicate diabetes.

The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

A third test, according to the medical community, an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) is a medical test used to diagnose diabetes mellitus.  It evaluates how your body processes glucose (sugar).  Here are the steps of the test.

• Your blood sugar level is measured after an overnight fast (typically 8 to 12 hours of fasting). This establishes your baseline fasting blood sugar level.
• After the fasting blood sugar measurement, you’re given a sugary drink that contains a specific amount of glucose (usually around 75 grams). You’ll be asked to drink it within a few minutes. I hated this part.
• Blood samples are taken at specified intervals (usually every 30 minutes to 1 hour) over the next 2 to 3 hours. These samples are used to measure your blood sugar levels to see how your body metabolizes glucose over time.
• The results are then analyzed to determine how well your body processes glucose. This includes looking at how quickly your blood sugar levels rise after consuming the glucose drink, how high they peak, and how long it takes for them to return to normal.

Here is a chart that shows the levels of the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.

How prevalent is type 1 diabetes worldwide?

There are about 8.4 million individuals worldwide with type 1 diabetes. Of these persons, 1.5 million were younger than 20 years, 5.4 million were between 20-59 years, and 1.6 million were aged 60 years or older. The problem with the research on the number of type 1 diabetics is complicated by the fact that type 1 diabetes can go unrecognized and given treatment. As a result, these persons experience diabetic ketoacidosis and rapid death. The incidence and prevalence of type 1 diabetes is increasing in the world.

In the Unites States of American, approximately 1.45 million Americans have type 1 diabetes. By 2040, 2.1 million people are expected to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In America, we have access to the best insurance, and medical help in the world. We are able to catch and diagnosis the disease at its early onset. People living in third world countries don’t have the tools needed nor the facilities to spot early onsets of type 1 diabetes like we do in the United States.  Below is a graph that shows the approximate number of people by country that have the most Type 1 Diabetes.  This information was borrowed from Statista’s website, but put into my own graph.  You can find it here at https://www.statista.com/chart/31253/estimated-number-of-people-with-type-1-diabetes/.

The importance of early detection and the diagnostic processes.

As I said above, if you or anyone you know experiences the classic signs of frequent thirst and frequent urination, get them tested as soon as possible for type 1 diabetes. Why is it important to detect it early and get the correct diagnosis? The reason is early detection and treatment of diabetes can decrease the risk of developing the complications of diabetes. Diabetic ketoacidosis is one such life-threatening condition that can occur if type 1 diabetes is left undiagnosed. In other words, if you develop type 1 diabetes and are not aware that you have it, it can eventually kill you. You can go into a coma, lose your vision, or possibly have a car accident.

Managing Diabetes: Treatment, Lifestyle, and Support

I plan on writing an entire article on blood sugar monitoring and tips and tricks to get your blood sugar stabilized. For now, depending on your insurance coverage or personal finances, type 1 diabetes can be monitored from a basic blood glucose meter, syringes, a fast acting insulin and a slow release or long lasting insulin to an Insulin Pump and a Continuous Glucose Monitoring Device. You also need to buy glucose tablets. Because anytime you add insulin to your body, you have to be aware of low blood sugars, blood sugars within an accepted range, and high blood sugars. If you have health insurance or can afford one on your own, I would definitely get an insulin pump. The one that I have, Medtronic 780G is the latest Medtronic insulin pump on the market. It has a smart feature to help your blood sugars stay in a range of 80 mg/dl to 180 mg/dl. However, in my opinion, you still need to periodically test your blood sugar by pricking your finger and not always depend on your Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring Device.

Once you are diagnosed, your physician will probably set up an appointment to meet with a nutritionist to go over meal planning and to discuss what raises your blood glucose levels, namely carbohydrates. My promise to you in this website is to take the seeming complicated life of diabetes management and make it easy for you to manage, so you can enjoy your life. That’s my promise to you. More will be said about food later.

Though it is primarily up to you to manage your type 1 diabetes, having a good, working relationship with an Endocrinologist is invaluable to your diabetic knowledge, your diabetic health and how to best manage your diabetes in the short and long run. I have been working with my Endocrinologist since 2004. I see him every 4 months, and he checks my bloodwork, including my A1C. More will be said about A1Cs later in another article. So, if you don’t have one, get an Endocrinologist now. Your primary physician can refer you to one in your area.