Can Adults Get Type 1 Diabetes

Diabetes And Your Child

For a parent whose child is diagnosed with a life-long condition, the job of parenting becomes even tougher.

Although being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes will involve coming to terms with the diagnosis, getting used to treatment and making;changes to;everyday life, your child can still lead a normal and healthy life.

The;Diabetes UK;website has information and advice about;your child and diabetes.

If Your Child Gets Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes treatment has three goals:

Being overweight makes it harder to control diabetes. For this reason,striving for a healthy weight may also be part of type 2 diabetestreatment.

A child or teen who gets type 2 diabetes needs expert advice on diet andexercise. A dietitian can help both the child and the family learn to eat in ahealthy way. A pediatric exercise counselor can help the child and familystart an exercise program. In all cases, itâs a good idea for the whole familyto change its habits.

Type 2 diabetes tends to get worse over time. After a while, people withtype 2 diabetes may need drugs to keep their blood glucose levels undercontrol, even if theyâve taken good care of themselves. Drugs include insulinand many types of diabetes medicines.

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What About Kids Aged 11 And Under

Pfizer and BioNTech are currently working with the FDA and CDC to create a plan for when the vaccine may be approved for children aged 11 and under. Infectious disease physician and vaccine researcher Dr. Jesse OShea has projected that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine should be available to all ages 6 months and above by the end of 2021, with the Moderna vaccine following quickly behind.

With the recent full FDA approval of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, doctors are now able to prescribe the vaccine to those under the age of 12 with what is known as an off-label recommendation, since the data has shown high safety and efficacy.But until full approval comes, continue to practice safe measures that protect you and your loved ones from COVID-19, including doing your best to keep tight control of blood sugar levels. As Dr. DeSalvo shared with us, for those who have not been able to get the vaccine, it remains important to wear a mask at school, work, and any indoor event.

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Management Essentials For Type 1 Diabetes

Working closely with your doctor can help you develop an effective diabetes management plan to control your blood sugar, says Dr. Zaidi, the author of Take Charge of Your Diabetes. Plan a healthy diet that youll stick to and a workout schedule with regular exercise. Whether you give yourself insulin with injections or have an insulin pump, a huge part of controlling type 1 diabetes is knowing how much insulin you need and when you need it. Here are nine ways to help prevent or delay complications from uncontrolled type 1 diabetes.

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Adult Type 1 Diabetes Treatment Options

Like all forms of diabetes, a cure for LADA remains elusive, and even the proper course of treatment remains controversial.

The core treatment is of course insulin, but the timing of the start of insulin is problematic. If started too early, the patient will suffer lots of hypoglycemia . If started too late, the risk of complications increases. Unlike other forms of diabetes, theres no therapeutic guidance or treatment algorithms from professional organizations. Doctors have to wing it.

Meanwhile, researchers are investigating what future therapies might be brought to bear to extend the already lengthy insulin-free honeymoon period that is the agreed-upon hallmark of so-called LADA.

One company in this area is Diamyd Medical, which is developing a vaccine to prolong that honeymoon period when insulin is not needed. This is still in study phase so it will be some time before it could be used in clinical practice.

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Young People And Diabetes

Although it can be diagnosed later in life too, type 1 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes found in children. We know that this can mean you have to make changes to how you and your family live your life, but were here to help. ;

Whether youre a parent in need of advice about schools and caring for a child with type 1, or a young adult looking for information about going to university and becoming more independent, weve got a range of resources to help you understand more about diabetes and how to manage it.

When You Get Type 1 Diabetes As An Adult

• Email

Yes, you can get Type 1 diabetes as an adult. My husbands diagnosis at age 33 had a huge effect on our family, but with a positive attitude and a lot of trial and error, you can find your new normal and live life to the fullest!

Hi friends!

As many of you know if you follow me on social media, two weeks ago my husband was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 33. Since this is a major diagnosis, impacting pretty much all areas of our life, I wanted to take some time and write down our story. Ive discovered that many people dont actually know a lot about type 1 diabetes so I think its a good opportunity to use this platform to educate. Ive also realized just how much a diagnosis like this affects not only the person themselves, but family members and those around them as well.so I wanted to give you some insight into how its affecting him, me and our family in general.

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How Is Type 1 Diabetes Treated

• Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin. Insulin may be injected multiple times in a day, or given through an insulin pump. You and your care team provider will discuss which method is best for you.
• Your diabetes care team may include physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. It may also include nurses, dietitians, exercise specialists, pharmacists, dentists, and podiatrists. Family members, or others who are close to you, may also be part of the team. You and your team will make goals and plans to manage diabetes and other health problems. The plans and goals will be specific to your needs.

Get Help At The University Of Michigan

If you have type 1 diabetes, there are several ways you can be involved with the care and resources at U-M. To make an appointment with a clinician, reach out to one of the locations listed below. You can take an education class on type 1 led by a group of diabetes and self-care experts from U-Mlearn more about our classes.

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Symptoms And Risk Factors

It can take months or years for enough beta cells to be destroyed before symptoms;of type 1 diabetes are noticed. Type 1 diabetes symptoms can develop in just a few weeks or months. Once symptoms appear, they can be severe.

Some type 1 diabetes symptoms are similar to symptoms of other health conditions. Dont guessif you think you could have type 1 diabetes, see your doctor right away to get your blood sugar tested. Untreated diabetes can lead to very seriouseven fatalhealth problems.

Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are not as clear as for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, though family history is known to play a part.

Other Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes In Adults

Other diabetic symptoms in adults include feeling drowsy or lethargic; sudden vision changes; fruity or sweet-smelling breath; heavy or labored breathing; and stupor or unconsciousness. If you do have high blood sugar and it goes untreated, it could develop into diabetic ketoacidosisa life-threatening condition. So please see your doctor immediately if you are exhibiting these warning signs.

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How Can I Best Balance My Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms And Daily Life

Fortunately, there are medications that can help keep T1D at bay and reduce the risk of long-term complications. Type 1 diabetics who cannot make their own insulin will need a way to deliver it to their bodies, either through a pump or through injections underneath the skin with syringes or pens.

When T1D is properly controlled, a person with the condition will show no signs or symptoms, because they are playing an active role in keeping their blood sugar levels steady.

Signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes can come on quickly, and they arent always obvious. Many times, theyre mistaken for other conditions. Making yourself aware of the signs and symptoms of T1D is a great way to be proactive about your health and the health of your family members. If you notice any of these signs or symptoms in yourself or a loved one, get in touch with your doctor ASAP. They can make a diagnosis by checking blood glucose levels and A1C to start treatment before there are any complications.

Is Type 1 Diabetes Dangerous

A person with untreated type 1 diabetes is at risk of developing DKA, which can be life threatening.

If they take too much insulin, they also face a risk of hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar. Symptoms

weeks or months after initial symptoms. Now, with medical help, it is possible for individuals with the condition to live a full and active life, although it may affect their life expectancy.

Research shows that people with type 1 diabetes will have a lifespan that is 12 years shorter, on average, than those without the disease. However, this will not be true for everyone. Genetic and other factors can affect a persons chance of developing specific complications. They may play a role in determining their outcome.

One potentially life threatening complication of diabetes is neuropathy, which is also known as nerve damage. The symptoms tend to peak 1520 years after a diabetes diagnosis. People who do not develop neuropathy by this time appear to have a higher chance of living into older age, according to some research. The outlook for type 1 diabetes is improving as new information and treatment options emerge.

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What Causes Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction that destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, called beta cells. This process can go on for months or years before any symptoms appear.

Some people have certain genes that make them more likely to develop type 1 diabetes, though many wont go on to have type 1 diabetes even if they have the genes. Being exposed to a trigger in the environment, such as a virus, is also thought to play a part in developing type 1 diabetes. Diet and lifestyle habits dont cause type 1 diabetes.

What’s Your Type With Diabetes It Can Be Unclear

Without insulin injections or infusion via a pump, people with Type 1 diabetes typically fall into a coma and die within days to weeks, although sometimes adults may have a small amount of reserve insulin that keeps them going longer. Still, eventually all people with Type 1 diabetes must receive insulin.

Lazarus’ story is not uncommon. It has long been thought that Type 1 diabetes arises primarily in childhood or adolescence and only rarely in adulthood. In fact, Type 1 diabetes was formerly called “juvenile” diabetes, and that term is still widely used, even though the terminology was officially changed in 1997.

Across the ages

Now, it looks as if not only can Type 1 diabetes occur in adults, it’s just as likely to appear in adulthood as in childhood or adolescence.

Using data from a resource called the UK Biobank, Dr. Nicholas J. Thomas and colleagues from Exeter University applied a genetic risk score that they developed from 29 genes commonly associated with Type 1 diabetes to 13,250 people who developed diabetes over the first 60 years of their lives.

Overall, 42 percent of cases of Type 1 diabetes started when people were 31 to 60 years old, while 58 percent were diagnosed at age 30 or younger. Type 1 was equally likely to appear across the first six decades of life, whereas the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes rose dramatically with age, accounting for 96 percent of cases in the 31-60 age group.

The results were published Nov. 30 in Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

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Lessons Learned From A Life With Type 1 Diabetes: Adult Perspectives

Diabetes Sick Day Rules

If you need to take insulin to control your diabetes, you should have received instructions about looking after yourself when youre ill known as your sick day rules.

Contact your diabetes care team or GP for advice if you havent received these.

The advice youre given will be specific to you, but some general measures that your sick day rules may include could be to:

• keep taking your insulin its very important;not;to stop treatment when youre ill; your treatment plan may state whether you need to temporarily increase your dose
• test your blood glucose level more often than usual most people are advised to check the level at least four times a day
• keep yourself well hydrated make sure you drink plenty of sugar-free drinks
• keep eating eat solid food if you feel well enough to, or liquid carbohydrates such as milk, soup and yoghurt if this is easier
• check your ketone levels if your blood glucose level is high

Seek advice from your diabetes care team or GP if your blood glucose or ketone level remains high after taking insulin, if:

• youre not sure whether to make any changes to your treatment
• you develop symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis
• you have any other concerns

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Is There A Type 1 Diabetes Diet

The basics of a type 1 diabetes diet include making sure carbohydrate intake is matched with insulin and choosing healthy options to maximize nutrition in each calorie. People with type 1 diabetes will find it is easiest to match carbohydrates to insulin if they follow a low-glycemic load diet, so that the impact of carbohydrates on blood sugar is slow and gradual. This also makes it easier to predict and match to required insulin.

Because weight gain can be a side effect of injecting insulin, a type 1 diabetes diet should be healthy and low in calories to help the person maintain or lose weight. Food lists of low-glycemic load options can help people learn what to include in their diet.

Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes Onset In Adults

When an adult is diagnosed with diabetes, they are often mistakenly told that they have type 2 diabetes. This is because there may be a lack of understanding by some doctors that type 1 diabetes can start at any age, and in people of every race, shape and size. People with type 1 diabetes who have elevated blood glucose and classic risk factors for type 2 diabetes, such as being overweight or physically inactive, are often misdiagnosed. It can also be tricky because some adults with new-onset type 1 diabetes are not sick at first. Their doctor finds an elevated blood sugar level at a routine visit and starts them on diet, exercise and an oral medication.

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What Should I Do If My Child Gets Covid

While most children who do contract COVID-19 do not experience severe symptoms or outcomes from the disease, it is important to remain vigilant and seek help if symptoms begin to get severe, blood sugar levels start to get unmanageable, or ketones are persistent. Remember that ketones can be in the system and DKA can happen even if blood sugar levels appear normal.As shared by Dr. DeSalvo, as with any intercurrent illness, vigilant sick day management is key to preventing DKA with COVID-19. This should include frequent ketone and blood glucose monitoring if available), hydration, and insulin delivery. DKA is most likely to occur if you stop taking insulin in the context of illness, so dont stop taking your insulin you may need to drink carb-containing fluids like Gatorade for glucose levels under 10.0 mmol/L180 mg/dL so that you can continue taking insulin. Hydration and insulin are key in clearing ketones. Know how to reach your diabetes care team and call them with any questions or concerns regarding sick day management. Review your sick day plan at your clinic visit so you can be prepared.

Diabetes And Brain Health

If you have diabetes, your doctor may screen you for depression or cognitive impairment. Older adults with diabetes are at higher risk for these conditions, compared with others their age who do not have diabetes. Having depression or cognitive impairment can make diabetes self-care challenging.

Your diabetes management plan will cover how to:

• Track your glucose levels. Very high glucose levels or very low glucose levels can be risky to your health. Your plan will show how often you should check your glucose and how often to get the A1C test. If you are managing your diabetes without taking insulin, you may not need to check your glucose as often.
• Make healthy food choices. The food you eat affects glucose levels, so its important to learn whats best for you to eat, how much, and when. If you are overweight, work with your health care team to come up with a plan to lose weight.
• Be active. Walking and other forms of daily exercise can help improve glucose levels in older people with diabetes. Set a goal to be more active most days of the week, and create a plan for being physically active that fits into your life and that you can follow. Your health care team can help.
• Take your medicines. You should take medicine as prescribed even when you feel good. Tell your doctor if you have any side effects or cannot afford your medicines. Also, let your doctor know if you have trouble taking your medicine or keeping track of your medication schedule.

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