DIABETES Health

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Your body gets energy by making glucose from foods like bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, milk and fruit. To use this glucose, your body needs insulin. Iinsulin is a hormone that helps your body control the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood.

Type 1 diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce insulin. If you have type 1 diabetes, glucose builds up in your blood instead of being used for energy.

The cause of type 1 diabetes remains unknown. However, it is not preventable, and it is not caused by eating too much sugar. The body's defense system may attack insulin-making cells by mistake, but we don't know why. People are usually diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before the age of 30, most often during childhood or their teens.

The good news

You can live a long and healthy life by keeping your blood glucose levels (the amount of sugar in your blood) in the target range set by your doctor (see our fact sheet Managing your blood glucose).

You can do this by:

• Taking insulin as required (and other medications, if prescribed by your doctor);
• Eating healthy meals and snacks; and,
• Enjoying regular physical activity.

Insulin therapy

Insulin therapy is the cornerstone of treatment for type 1 diabetes. There are a variety of insulins to help manage diabetes.

According to the Canadian Diabetes Association 2003 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada, the most successful insulin regimen for type 1 diabetes combines intermediate- or long-acting insulin (taken once or twice daily) with fast- or rapid-acting insulin analogue taken at mealtimes. This approach mimics the activity of a normal pancreas, which produces a slow, steady supply of insulin around the clock and a surge of insulin when you eat.

Two relatively new extended long-acting insulin analogues (Lantus and Levemir) now offer some people with diabetes another insulin option. The insulin regimen your doctor prescribes will depend on your treatment goals, age, lifestyle, meal plan, general health and financial circumstances. Insulin also works differently in different people, depending on factors such as injection site, amount of insulin, etc.

For more information, see our fact sheet Insulin: Things you should know.

Complications of diabetes

Over time, high blood glucose levels can cause complications such as blindness, heart disease, kidney problems, nerve damage and erectile dysfunction. Fortunately, good diabetes care and management can prevent or delay the onset of these complications.

Your diabetes healthcare team can help

Your diabetes healthcare team can answer all your questions about how to manage your diabetes well. Depending on your needs and the resources available in your community, your team might include a doctor (your family doctor or a diabetes specialist), a registered nurse and a registered dietitian.

Remember: the most important member of your healthcare team is you.

Your team may also include:

• Pharmacist
• Social worker
• Psychologist
• Foot care specialist
• Endocrinologist
• Eye care specialist

Get the support you need

You might have a difficult time accepting that you or a family member has type 1 diabetes. A positive and realistic attitude toward diabetes can help you manage the condition. Talk to others who have type 1 diabetes or who care for children with the condition – ask your local Canadian Diabetes Association branch about joining a peer-support group or visiting an information session