Type 1 diabetes

• What is type 1 diabetes?

  A condition where the pancreas produces little or no insulin

  Result is that a persons blood glucose level can rise to a level that can kill them
• Controlling type 1 diabetes:

  1. Insulin therapy

  • Involve injecting insulin into the blood
  • Usually have several injections throughout the day likely during mealtimes
  • Insulin makes sure glucose is removes from the blood quickly once the food is digested
• 2. Limit the intake of foods rich in simple carbohydrates

  • i.e. sugars which cause the blood glucose level to rise rapidly
  • People with type 1 diabetes are advised to spread their intake of carbohydrate rich foods throughout the day
• 3. Regular exercise

  • Helps to lower the blood glucose level as the increased metabolism of cells during exercise removes more glucose form the blood
• Modern treatment for type 1 diabetes

  1. Diabetics can have a pancreas transplant. Successful operations means they wont have to inject themselves with insulin again

  • With any organ transplant, your body can reject the tissue
  • To prevent this from happening, they have to take costly immunosupressive drugs (drugs that suppress the immune system)
• 2. Modern research into artificial pancreases and stem cell research may mean the elimination of organ rejection
• How to test for diabetes?

  Can be tested for by looking for glucose in a urine sample

  A blood test can also be used and is more reliable as it gives the current level of glucose in the blood