What Is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs mostly in children and adolescents, and can also occur at various ages. Onset is relatively rapid, there is absolutely insufficient insulin in the body, and ketoacidosis is prone to occur. Insulin treatment must be used to obtain satisfactory results, otherwise it will be life-threatening.

Basic Information

nickname
Insulin-dependent diabetes
English name
diabetes mellitus type 1
Visiting department
Endocrinology
Multiple groups
Children and adolescents
Common causes
Autoimmune system defects, genetic factors, viral infections, etc.
Common symptoms
Onset is usually rapid, thirst, drink more, drink more urine, eat more

Causes of Type 1 Diabetes

Autoimmune system defect
A variety of autoimmune antibodies can be detected in the blood of patients with type 1 diabetes, such as glutamate decarboxylase antibodies (GAD antibodies), islet cell antibodies (ICA antibodies), and the like. These abnormal autoantibodies can damage the insulin-secreting B cells of the body's islets, preventing them from secreting insulin normally.
2. Genetic factors
Current research suggests that genetic defects are the basis of the onset of type 1 diabetes, and this genetic defect is manifested in the abnormality of the HLA antigen of the human sixth chromosome pair. Studies suggest that type 1 diabetes is characterized by familial onset-if your parents have diabetes, you are more likely to develop the disease than people without a family history.
3. Viral infection may be the cause
Many scientists suspect that the virus can also cause type 1 diabetes. This is because patients with type 1 diabetes often have a history of viral infection before the onset of the disease, and the occurrence of type 1 diabetes often occurs after the virus infection has spread. Viruses that cause mumps and rubella, as well as the coxsackie virus family that can cause polio, can play a role in type 1 diabetes.
4. Other factors
Scientists are studying whether these factors can cause diabetes, such as milk, oxygen free radicals, and some rodenticides.

Clinical manifestations of type 1 diabetes

This disease is most common in children or adolescents. This is the first feature. In addition to children, type 1 diabetes can actually occur at all ages in life, especially menopause. The second characteristic of type 1 diabetes is that the onset is generally rapid, and symptoms such as thirst, excessive drinking, polyuria, polyphagia, fatigue, weight loss, and sharp weight loss are obvious. Some patients have ketoacidosis in the first place. The third characteristic of type 1 diabetes is that it will eventually be treated with insulin without exception, so type 1 diabetes was originally called insulin-dependent diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes test

Do antibody tests, that is, insulin autoantibodies (IAA), islet cell antibodies (ICA), glutamate decarboxylase antibodies (GAD-Ab). These antibodies may be positive in patients with type 1 diabetes. The insulin and C-peptide levels of the islet function are very low.

Type 1 diabetes diagnosis

Based on comprehensive judgments such as age and clinical manifestations, a diagnosis can also be made by measuring insulin.

Differential diagnosis of type 1 diabetes

The difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
The onset of type 1 diabetes is related to the HLA antigen, and type 2 diabetes is not related to it; specific antibodies such as GAD can be detected in type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes antibodies are negative; type 1 diabetes has absolutely insufficient insulin, so it needs to be used outside for life Insulin treatment, type 2 diabetes does not require insulin to sustain life; type 1 diabetes is often more acute, prone to ketoacidosis, and type 2 diabetes is not.

Type 1 diabetes treatment

The goals of insulin treatment for type 1 diabetes are to ensure that patients have a good quality of life (that is, to avoid severe hypoglycemia as much as possible) and to satisfactorily control metabolic levels (that is, actively prevent complications of diabetes). Older patients can also add metformin and glucosidase inhibitors.
Insulin analogs have pharmacokinetic advantages over traditional insulins. For example, lispro or aspart insulin has ultra-short-acting activity, and glargine or detemir insulin can mimic the characteristics of basic insulin. No matter what kind of insulin treatment plan is adopted, patients should first receive special missions, and learn to regularly monitor blood glucose on their own, adjust the treatment plan in time, and promote blood glucose standards.

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