Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes/Symptômes duType 1 Diabètes

Diabetes (or diabetes mellitus) is a kind of metabolic disease that occurs if there is insufficient production of insulin in the body or if your body does not respond to the insulin produced. This typically gives rise to high blood sugar and other related diseases. Diabetes can be categorized as Type 1 or insulin dependent juvenile diabetes, Type 2 or non-insulin dependent adult diabetes and Gestational diabetes which can occur during pregnancy due to high level of blood glucose.

If left untreated, diabetes can lead to various fatal and non-fatal conditions like cardiac problems, blindness, kidney failure, delayed healing of wounds and much more. It is therefore important for you to use diabetes test strips and keep a regular check on your blood glucose level.

Causes of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease that afflicts children or adolescents. This type of diabetes cannot be cured as no proven treatment has been formulated yet despite years of active research.

In most people suffering from Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immunity system accidentally destroys the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. In other patients, the genes may play a part whereas in yet others, certain pathogens may trigger reactions leading to diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes can only be controlled by adopting a healthy lifestyle and taking diabetic-specific diet.

Typical Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

There are several symptoms of Type 1 diabetes that will alert you to the impending condition. Some of the common symptoms that you should look out for include excessive thirst, excessive hunger, urge to urinate too often or feeling inexplicably tired and fatigued over weeks. You can also feel a tingling sensation in your feet or you may face difficulty in vision. You may also lose weight without any apparent reason.

You may detect a fruity odour in your breath when your blood sugar level is very high. Your breathing may also become rapid or your mouth and skin may feel exceptionally dry. You may also suffer from nausea and stomach pain.
Sometimes, people who are undergoing insulin treatment may experience some adverse reactions when their blood glucose level dips below 70 mg/dL. In such a situation, you may suffer from headache, nervousness, palpitations, hunger, sweating, shivering or weakness.

The above symptoms indicate a high or low level of sugar in your bloodstream. You must therefore consult a physician immediately or use diabetes test strips to check your blood glucose level.

Steps to Control Type 1 Diabetes
If you have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, don’t lose heart. By following some simple but compulsory steps regularly, you can easily keep your condition under control. Always attend your check-ups according to a fixed schedule.

Seek advice of your healthcare provider regarding daily meals and schedule of taking insulin injections. She will advise you on how to make your meals more diabetic-friendly and how to appropriately self-inject insulin.
You must also know where to source your diabetes test strips and how to use them in conjunction with a blood glucose monitor. Always store your strips as mentioned in the information manual and use them before the expiry date for accurate results.