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How To Tell If You Have Type 1 Diabetes


How Is Diabetes Treated

What It’s Like to Have Type 1 Diabetes | UC San Diego Health

Diabetes can be treated in several ways. Diet, physical activity, and careful monitoring are important if you have diabetes, no matter which type of diabetes you have.

If you have type 1 diabetes, you will need to take insulin for the rest of your life. Thats because your pancreas doesnt produce the insulin your body needs.

If you have type 2 diabetes, it may be possible to control your diabetes with lifestyle changes, such as diet, weight loss, and exercise. You may also need to take oral or injectable medications, including insulin or metformin, to manage your blood sugar levels.

If you have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, youll need to carefully track your diet to prevent your blood sugar levels from getting too high. This generally means watching your carbohydrate intake as well as limiting over-processed, low fiber foods, such as:


  • sugary sodas
  • fruit-flavored yogurt
  • flavored coffee drinks

Your doctor will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan to help you control your blood sugar levels.

Living With Type 1 Diabetes

With the right care and support, a child with type 1 diabetes can lead a healthy and happy life.

Type 1 diabetes needs careful daily management to ensure glucose levels remain stable and within a healthy range. This involves a careful balance between food intake, exercise and medication.

Type 1 diabetes is treated by replacing the bodys missing insulin and people with this condition must:

  • use insulin every day
  • regularly test their blood glucose or use a glucose sensor
  • eat a healthy diet matched with the insulin dose
  • take exercise as any other child of the same age.

Education to enable self-management is the cornerstone of diabetes care and continues at all ages and for the duration of the illness.


Diabetes Queensland has a wealth of information for children and teens who have recently been diagnosed with, or are living with diabetes, including information about school action and management plans for students with diabetes, exams, sport days and school camps, as well as resources for schools, parents and carers.

Having a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes can be scary and upsetting for parents and carers. Diabuddies is a supportive community for parents and carers of children living with type 1 diabetes, where you can connect, ask questions, and feel supported.

How Is Type 1 Diabetes Treated

People with Type 1 diabetes need to replenish their insulin each day. There are different types of insulin. Some insulin starts acting as soon as you take the medicine other insulins take several hours to work. The various types of insulin also last in your body for different lengths of time. Some are more expensive than others. Work with your doctor to find the right type of insulin for your needs.

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Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes

You might notice:


  • Unplanned weight loss. If your body can’t get energy from your food, it will start burning muscle and fat for energy instead. You may lose weight even though you haven’t changed how you eat. See which foods are high in trans fatty acids.
  • Nausea and vomiting. When your body resorts to burning fat, it makes ketones. These can build up in your blood to dangerous levels, a possibly life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. Ketones can make you feel sick to your stomach.

Understanding Type 1 Diabetes

Diabetes: How to spot the signs before it

Itâs not the same as âclassicâ or type 2 diabetes, which is often linked to obesity and seen in adults .

If your child has type 1 diabetes, it means their pancreas — an organ in the upper-right side of the belly — makes little or no insulin. The condition is an autoimmune disorder, which means it happens when the bodyâs defense system attacks and destroys cells that make insulin.

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Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

As we said before, type 1 diabetes is more prevalent in younger persons. Type 2 diabetes is the opposite and is much more likely to be diagnosed in middle age or later life. However, as the disease is linked to obesity, diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is increasingly happening in younger people. This is because levels of obesity are increasing across the board. Looking at lifestyle is really important in type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Prevention or retardation of the onset of type 2 diabetes can occur by following a healthier lifestyle. A combination of genetics and lifestyle will affect type 2 diabetes diagnoses.

The signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes include the following:


  • Fatigue/extreme tiredness/drowsiness

Six Ways To Stay Motivated To Manage Your Diabetes Well

Staying motivated w/diabetes: reframe your perspective on BGs, enlist loved ones, commit 2 something, think intrinsic, remember that you are lucky!

short summary: This piece shares six tips that can help you stay motivated to manage your diabetes well and you know, hearing it from Adam is fantastic as hes so motivational and keeps Kelly and all of us hugely inspired at the diaTribe office. Heres some brainpower from him: 1) Instead of avoiding complications, think about how better blood sugars can benefit you now, right this second 2) Remember that blood glucose numbers are information and not a grade on how well you are doing 3) Think about how people in your life can help loved ones, family, and friends can be close allies in your diabetes management 4) Commit yourself to something that will benefit your diabetes management, and make it public! 5) Foster intrinsic motivation and 6) Remember how lucky you are.

Okay, I quit this whole diabetes thing!

But even with those challenges, there are so many reasons to work towards good diabetes management! Here are six tips to remember on those days when nothing seems to be going right:

I hope you find these tips useful if I missed any!


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Recognizing Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes

  • 1Be aware of the following signs and symptoms. If you have 2 or more on the list below, it is best to see your doctor for further evaluation. Common signs and symptoms of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes include:XTrustworthy SourceUS Food and Drug AdministrationU.S. government agency responsible for promoting public healthGo to source
  • Excessive thirst
  • You’re Losing Weightbut Aren’t Trying To

    How do you know if you have type 1 diabetes?

    Unexplained weight loss can happen for lots of reasons, and diabetes is one of them. Goundan explains that insulin helps your body move sugar from your blood to your cells, so when you have an insulin resistance, you dont get enough energy into your cells despite all that sugar flowing through your body. Because youre unable to get enough energy from sugar, your body burns your own fat and muscle for energy,” Kellis says. “Weight loss can be pretty significant, sometimes 10 to 20 pounds.”

    Generally, doctors recommend visiting the doc if you unintentionally lose between 5 to 10 percent of your body weight over the course of six months.

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    Causes Of Type 1 Diabetes

    The bodys immune system is responsible for fighting off foreign invaders, such as harmful viruses and bacteria.

    In people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakes the bodys own healthy cells for foreign invaders. The immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. After these beta cells are destroyed, the body is unable to produce insulin.


    Researchers dont know why the immune system sometimes attacks the bodys own cells. It may have something to do with genetic and environmental factors, such as exposure to viruses. Research into autoimmune diseases is ongoing.

    How Are Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed

    The primary test used to diagnose both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is known as the A1C, or glycated hemoglobin, test.

    This blood test determines your average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months. Your doctor may draw your blood or give you a small finger prick.

    The higher your blood sugar levels have been over the past few months, the higher your A1C level will be. Test results are expressed as a percentage. An A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher indicates diabetes.

    The A1C test isnt accurate for people with sickle cell anemia or the sickle cell trait. If you have this condition or trait, then your doctor will have to use a different test.


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    How To Continue If You Have Diabetes

    Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in the human body. This is because once diabetes has taken its place in the human body, it gradually begins to afflict people. And those who suffer from diabetes want to know update like the way to reduce diabetes.

    So today we bring you an article about ways to reduce diabetes as a benefit. Because only people who have diabetes know what kind of problems they may have if they have diabetes. So lets start todays discussion about ways to reduce diabetes.

  • Answers to questions about diabetes
  • Whats The Difference Between Signs Vs Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes

    responses when you tell people you have diabetes

    Type 1 diabetes symptoms are experienced by a person with diabetes, but signs of type 1 diabetes can also be noted by friends and family even if the person who is having the symptoms may not notice them or may be unable to communicate because they are in the throes of diabetic ketoacidosis. Common signs of T1D to watch out for include:

    • Weight loss, despite eating more
    • Changes to menstruation
    • Rapid heart rate
    • Reduced blood pressure
    • Low body temperature
    • Acting or seeming drunk while sober, which is a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis
    • Breath that is fruity or smells like nail polish remover which is another sign of ketosis
    • Chronic skin infections

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    Back Upremind Me What Diabetes Is Again

    Diabetes isn’t just one disease. There are actually three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Most people with diabetes have type 2it happens when your body doesn’t use insulin well and is unable to keep your blood sugar stable, per the CDC.

    Type 1 diabetes is much less commononly about 5 percent of those with diabetes have type 1and it’s essentially an autoimmune disease where your body stops making insulin at all .

    And gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant womenit usually goes away after you give birth, but it can increase your likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes later on, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases .

    All three types of diabetes can easily be detected though a blood test. The test, essentially, checks to see if your blood glucose is too high. But be warned: You can’t diagnose yourselfnot even with an OTC blood glucose meter, per the NIDDK.

    Unfortunately, many people are walking around with undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes because the symptoms are super-subtle, says Poorani Goundan, M.D., an endocrinologist at Boston Medical Center.


    These sneaky diabetes symptoms might indicate that it’s time to head into your doctor’s office for a test.

    Type 1 Diabetes Causes

    Insulin is a hormone that helps move sugar, or glucose, into your body’s tissues. Your cells use it as fuel.

    Damage to beta cells from type 1 diabetes throws the process off. Glucose doesnât move into your cells because insulin isnât there to do the job. Instead, it builds up in your blood, and your cells starve. This causes high blood sugar, which can lead to:

    • Dehydration. When thereâs extra sugar in your blood, you pee more. Thatâs your bodyâs way of getting rid of it. A large amount of water goes out with that urine, causing your body to dry out.
    • Weight loss. The glucose that goes out when you pee takes calories with it. Thatâs why many people with high blood sugar lose weight. Dehydration also plays a part.
    • Diabetic ketoacidosis . If your body can’t get enough glucose for fuel, it breaks down fat cells instead. This creates chemicals called ketones. Your liver releases the sugar it stores to help out. But your body canât use it without insulin, so it builds up in your blood, along with the acidic ketones. This mix of extra glucose, dehydration, and acid buildup is known as ketoacidosis and can be life-threatening if not treated right away.
    • Damage to your body. Over time, high glucose levels in your blood can harm the nerves and small blood vessels in your eyes, kidneys, and heart. They can also make you more likely to get hardened arteries, or atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

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    Lifestyle And Home Remedies

    Careful management of type 1 diabetes is important to reduce the risk of acute and long-term serious complications. The following tips will help:


    • Wear a tag or bracelet that says you have diabetes, in case of emergency
    • Get yearly physical check-ups and regular eye checks to look for diabetes-related complications
    • Get annual influenza vaccinations as high blood glucose levels can weaken the immune system
    • Wash and moisturise your feet daily and check them for blisters, cuts, and sores
    • Control blood pressure and cholesterol levels to help minimise the risk of complications
    • Dont smoke. Smoking increases the risk of complications
    • Drink alcohol responsibly. Alcohol can cause high or low blood glucose levels
    • Minimise stress. Stress hormones may prevent insulin from working properly.

    Is Diabetes Treatment Different Too

    How to spot Type 1 diabetes in your child | Know Type 1 | Diabetes UK

    A good diabetes diet and regular exercise matters for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Knapp explains. “The big difference is that everybody with type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin, she says. People with type 1 diabetes need to check their blood sugar level with a device called a glucometer about four times a day to know how much insulin to take.”

    Treatment for type 2 diabetes also starts with diet and exercise, and oral medication can also be used to increase the amount of insulin the pancreas makes, Knapp says. “Over time, if the pancreas stops making insulin, some people with type 2 will also need insulin.” People with type 2 diabetes also need to check their blood sugar, from one to several times a day, depending on their state of health.

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    What Is Type 1 Diabetes

    Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which your immune system destroys insulin-making cells in your pancreas. These are called beta cells. The condition is usually diagnosed in children and young people, so it used to be called juvenile diabetes.

    A condition called secondary diabetes is like type 1, but your beta cells are wiped out by something else, like a disease or an injury to your pancreas, rather than by your immune system.


    Both of these are different from type 2 diabetes, in which your body doesnât respond to insulin the way it should.

    When Do People First Experience Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes

    The majority of people with T1D first experience symptoms in childhood, typically between the ages of 4 and 14. A small number, however, develop symptoms in infancy or toddlerhood.

    An even smaller subset of people with type 1 diabetes will be diagnosed as adults, after the age of 20. The onset of type 1 diabetes is slower in adults, so they might experience mild symptoms for a longer period of time before diagnosis than children typically do.

    Type 1 diabetes symptoms in children look similar to the symptoms in toddlers and babies, with a few notable differences. Mood swings and irritability, for example, can affect anyone with T1D, but this common symptom might be mistaken for an ordinary temper tantrum in preverbal toddlers, or as colic in younger babies.

    Type 1 diabetes symptoms in babies and toddlers include weight loss and stunted growth a condition known as failure to thrive which is rare in adults. Failure to thrive might be the only noticeable symptom of T1D in a baby or toddler, since older children can clue parents in to symptoms such as increased urination or blurred vision.

    One important thing we need to point out is that type 1 diabetes is often associated with children, but it happens to adults as well, Dr. Christofides says. Adult-onset, or late-onset type 1 diabetes symptoms look slightly different and can be harder to recognize and diagnose as a result.

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    Getting Tested For Type 1 Diabetes

    Your GP will do a urine test and might check your blood glucose level.

    If they think you might have diabetes, they’ll advise you to go to hospital straight away for an assessment.

    You’ll stay in hospital until you get the blood test results. This is usually the same day.

    If you’re diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a diabetes nurse will show you the things you need to do to start managing it, such as testing your own blood glucose and how to inject insulin.

    Page last reviewed: 14 July 2021 Next review due: 14 July 2024

    Financial Support And Benefits

    I am a Type 1 Diabetic Warrior: Remember the warning signs ...

    Some people with diabetes may be eligible to receive disability benefits and incapacity benefits, depending on the impact the condition has on their life.

    The main groups likely to qualify for welfare benefits are children, elderly people, people with learning disabilities or mental health problems, and those with complications of diabetes.

    People over 65 who are severely disabled, may qualify for a type of disability benefit called Attendance Allowance.

    Carers may also be entitled to some benefit too, depending on their involvement in caring for the person with diabetes.

    Staff at your local Citizens Advice Bureau can check whether you’re getting all of the benefits you’re entitled to. Both they and your diabetes specialist nurse should also be able to give you advice about filling in the forms.

    GOV.uk has more information about benefits, and the Diabetes UK website has further advice about the Disability Living Allowance .

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