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Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 is the most severe form of diabetes, in which not enough insulin is produced by the body. The lack of insulin results in high blood sugar levels.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows your body to use glucose (a type of sugar found in many carbohydrates) for energy. Insulin also helps to balance your blood glucose or blood sugar levels, by preventing it from getting too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia).
Following are the normal and diabetic blood sugar levels:
Plasma Glucose Test | Normal | Pre-Diabetes | Diabetes |
Random | Below 11.1 mmol/l Below 200 mg/dl | N/A | More than 11.1mmol/l More than 200 mg/dl |
Fasting | Below 6.1 mmol/l Below 108 mg/dl | 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/l 108 to 125 mg/dl | More than 7.0 mmol/l More than 126 mg/dl |
2 Hour Post-Prandial | Below 7.8 mmol/l Below 140 mg/dl | 7.8 to 11.0 mmol/l 140 to 199 mg/dl | More than 11.1mmol/l More than 200 mg/dl |
Please Note: If your glucose levels are below 50 mg/dL or above 200 mg/dL you need to be admitted to the emergency room without delay.
The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Medical experts agree on the fact that this is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system of the body is mistakenly conditioned to attack and destroy the cells in the pancreas, which produces the hormone insulin.
Insulin helps to unlock the cells of the body to allow the sugar (glucose) to enter them so that the glucose is transformed into energy. If there is more sugar in the body than is required, the insulin helps to store the sugar in the liver and releases it when the blood sugar level is low, or when the body needs more sugar, such as in between meals or during vigorous physical activity. Therefore, insulin helps to balance out the blood sugar level and keep it in a normal range. As blood sugar level increases, the pancreas secrete more insulin.
If your body does not produce enough insulin or the cells in your body are resistant to the effects of insulin, you may develop hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). If the blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods of time it can lead to long-term complications.
In diabetes type 1, insulin does not get produced in the body. Without insulin, the cells are starved of energy, and the sugar levels keep rising in the blood.
People can be prone to diabetes mellitus type 1 due to :
Symptoms of high blood sugar or Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 include:
Diagnosis of diabetes type 1 usually includes one or more blood tests:
The doctor may also ask you to undergo a Random Blood Sugar Test, Fasting Blood Sugar Test and an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT).
If not managed properly, diabetes type 1 can lead to some serious complications such as:
The medical treatment for diabetes type 1 includes taking insulin either through injections or through insulin pumps. Additional medicines may be prescribed by the doctor to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Regularly checking your blood sugar levels is necessary.
Please consult a general physician, diabetologist or an endocrinologist if you suspect that you suffer from symptoms of diabetes.
Physical activity is important for you regardless of the fact that you suffer from Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 or Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.
It is advisable to consult with your doctor to find out which forms of exercises suit you the best.
If you have Diabetes Type 1 you need to monitor your blood sugar before, during and after exercising. You may experience a drop in your blood glucose after exercising and therefore it is important to take precautions.
For example, you may need to take a lower dose of insulin and increase your carbohydrate intake before exercising.
Warning: To avoid any serious risk to your health please consult your doctor before starting a new exercise regimen. You may need to change your diet, and the dosage of insulin, or of other medicines before you start exercising.
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