Type 1 Diabetes, also known as Diabetes Mellitus, used to be called juvenile onset diabetes or insulin dependant diabetes (IDDM). These two names have now been abandoned mainly because type 1 diabetes can occur at any age and because many people with type 2 diabetes are on insulin.
If you are looking for information about the treatment and care of someone with type 1 diabetes then you're in the right place.
As a parent of a child who has just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes you may be feeling that this is the end of the world. Whilst your child's blood sugar may now need careful monitoring there is no reason to expect anything other than a long and healthy life for your son or daughter. A well managed diet of low carbohydrate foods and frequent small meals followed by the appropriate insulin shot may be a little more complicated than usual, but is a small price to pay for a happy and healthy family member with type 1 diabetes.
No cure has yet been found for type 1 diabetes and researchers are still unsure of its cause, other than suspecting it is an autoimmune dysfunction. The consolation is that symptoms can be managed by medical protocols and lifestyle adjustments. The key problem in type 1 diabetes is the low or nil production of insulin. Insulin is needed by the body to help the cells utilise glucose for energy and growth. Without insulin the amount of glucose in the blood can vary in the extreme. Not enough and the brain ceases to function and the victim blacks out or falls into a coma. Too much and nerves and tissues become damaged over time, leading to neuropathy and blindness.
When dealing with the condition of type 1 diabetes it is essential to seek help from a qualified medical professional to learn about insulin management. It is also most important to consult a nutrition specialist who can advise you about a low carbohydrate diet to support the medical protocols. |
