Crafting Diet, Delivering Health
Understanding Type 1 diabetes from" Diagnosis to Treatment"
6/22/20245 min read
UNDERSTANDING TYPE 1 DIABETES FROM DIAGNOSIS TO TREATMENT
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition, where the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Now why is insulin hormone considered so important ?? Because insulin's main function is to move the glucose from the bloodstream to the body cells. When insulin is absent ,the blood sugar builds up in the bloodstream resulting in hyperglycemia.
Diabetes 1 is an autoimmune disease, which means your own immune system mistakenly attacks cells responsible for producing insulin in the pancreas, the beta cells, because of this ,the regulation of blood sugar gets disturbed and blood sugar levels get increased into your bloodstream. Diabetes 1 was formerly known as Juvenile diabetes, as it was usually diagnosed in early childhood and young adults but it can develop at any age. The cause of diabetes 1 is unknown but genetic and environmental factors are said to be involved.
Now lets see the common symptoms , which may indicate the presence of type 1 diabetes, remember these 3P, whenever diabetes comes to your mind, POLYURIA, POLYDIPSIA,POLYPHAGIA.
POLYURIA-poly means excessive and uria means urine, patient suffering from diabetes 1 passes abnormally large quantity of urine in frequent interval of times
POLYDIPSIA-again poly means too much and dipsia means thirst , meaning those suffering from diabetes have an increased amount of thirst .
POLYPHAGIA-poly means excessive and phagia means hunger . Which means increased hunger. Patients with diabetes are hungry all the time.
WEIGHT LOSS-now in spite of increased hunger and thirst the patient undergoes weight loss, this isn't confusing ?? let me explain you this.
Since there is no insulin available to move the glucose into body cells, the glucose builds up in the bloodstream. The kidney then works to remove this unused sugar through urination. So instead of using sugar for energy, the body starts burning fat and muscle for energy, which results in weight loss.
FATIGUE- Diabetes can make one feel tired , as if the body is having no energy for work. This is called fatigue. It happens because high blood sugar disrupts the body's ability to use sugar for energy. Dehydration from increased urination also can leave you feeling tired.
BLURRY VISION- Why vision is affected in diabetes?. High levels of blood sugar pull fluid from the body's tissues, including the lenses of the eyes. This affects the eyes' ability to focus. Thus you blurry vision
SLOW HEALING WOUNDS–High levels of blood sugar can cause poor blood flow and damage the body's natural healing process. Because of this, people with diabetes may notice slow-healing sores, especially on the feet.
Symptoms of diabetes 1 typically develop over a short period of time, often a matter of weeks if not months. Diabetes1 is diagnosed by testing the level of sugar or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) in the blood. Type 1 diabetes can typically be distinguished from type2 by testing for the presence of autoantibodies and/or declining levels/absence of c-peptide.
Managing type1 diabetes
It is not difficult to manage type 1 diabetes if you follow these four rules
Regularly checking the blood sugar levels
Taking proper dose of insulin
Eating balanced diet with carbohydrate counting
How to keep a track of blood sugar level
With a blood glucose meter. Most kids with type 1 diabetes need to check their blood sugar before meals and at bedtime. This is about four times a day, and sometimes more often. The care plan will tell you how often to check and what to do if the sugar is too high or too low.
With a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). This wearable device measures sugar levels every few minutes all day and night. It uses a thread-like sensor that’s put under the skin and secured in place. Sensors can stay in place for 10 days before they have to be replaced. Because a CGM takes blood sugar
Taking insulin
By injection-Insulin needle is very tiny and short isn't very painful insulin injections are usually given before meals.
INSULIN PUMP-The insulin pump continuously injects insulin through a small tube that is placed just under the skin.
Though there is no exact cure of type1 diabetes but effective management can easily keep the blood sugar in control and prevent complications. The main aim of treatment is to maintain blood sugar in a normal range—80–130 mg/dL before a meal; and<180 mg/dL after the meal. To achieve this, it is very important for people with diabetes often monitor their blood glucose levels at home.
The mainstay of type 1 diabetes treatment is the regular injection of insulin to manage hyperglycemia. This is accomplished by combining different insulin preparations that act with differing speeds and durations. The standard of care for type 1 diabetes is a bolus of rapid acting insulin 10–15 minutes before each meal or snacks, and as-needed to correct hyperglycemia. In addition, constant low levels of insulin are achieved with one or two daily doses of long acting insulin or by steady infusion of low insulin levels by an insulin pump. The exact dose of insulin appropriate for each injection depends on the content of the meal/snack, and the individual person's sensitivity to insulin.
LIFESTYLE
Lifestyle plays a vital role in the life of diabetic patients , in fact it is a key factor. The major way ,type 1 diabetics control their blood sugar is by learning how various foods impact their blood sugar levels. This is primarily done by tracking their intake of carbohydrates, the type of food with the greatest impact on blood sugar. In general, people with type 1 diabetes are advised to follow an individualized eating plan rather than a pre-decided one.
SELF MANAGING SKILLS NECESSARY FOR A DIABETIC PATIENT
self-monitoring of glucose levels with a glucose meter
injecting insulin multiple times a day or using an insulin pump
rotation of injection sites to prevent lipohypertrophy (thickened or scarred area of fat under the skin where insulin is repeatedly injected). This can delay insulin absorption and cause unstable glucose levels.
counting carbohydrate accurately in foods and drinks and matching quick acting insulin to the amount of carbohydrate eaten
adjusting carbohydrates and insulin to manage exercise
Managing hypoglycemia-when the glucose level is less than 4.0mmol/l, it is termed as hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia occurs when insulin injected outweighs insulin needed by the body. People with diabetes can have frequent and severe hypos ,if they do not have a flexible insulin regimen. A person without diabetes does not experience hypoglycemia because insulin and other hormones are always perfectly balanced to keep glucose in range.
In addition, people with diabetes need to have an annual cycle of care and maintain regular checks to detect any diabetes complications
If not well managed, diabetes can lead to serious complications that affect many parts of your body. Early diagnosis and management can help prevent diabetes-related complications.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-symptoms/art-20044248