Diabetes Type 1
Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
This is also known as juvenile, early onset, or insulin dependent diabetes. It usually first develops in children or young adults. In the UK about 1 in 250 people develop Type 1 diabetes at some stage.
With Type 1 diabetes the illness usually develops quite quickly, over days or weeks, as the pancreas stops making insulin. It is treated with insulin injections and a healthy diet (see below).
Why does the pancreas stop making insulin?
In most cases, Type 1 diabetes is thought to be an 'auto-immune' disease. The immune system normally makes antibodies to attack bacteria, viruses, and other 'germs'. In auto-immune diseases the immune system makes antibodies against part or parts of the body. If you have Type 1 diabetes you make antibodies that attach to the beta cells in the pancreas. These are thought to destroy the cells that make insulin. It is thought that something triggers the immune system to make these antibodies. The 'trigger' is not known but a popular theory is that a virus triggers the immune system to make these antibodies.
Rarely, Type 1 diabetes is due to other causes. For example, severe inflammation of the pancreas, or surgical removal of the pancreas for various reasons.