What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?

Diabetes type 1 is an autoimmune disorder that develops when the pancreatic beta cells that produce the hormone insulin are destroyed. Destruction of these specialized cells is initiated by the immune system, resulting in a decrease or complete elimination of insulin production. This hormone is responsible for regulating blood glucose levels, which usually increase after meals. Scientists have identified that an environmental trigger such as a virus or a toxin may cause the immune system to mistakenly attack your pancreas and destroy the beta cells.

Heredity plays an important role in determining one’s likelihood of developing type 1 diabetes. Parents who carry genes for the disease may pass these on to their children, and interaction of environmental factors with these genes may trigger the onset of the disease. Viruses possibly associated with type 1 diabetes include cytomegalovirus, coxsackievirus B, adenovirus, mumps, and rubella.

Because they lack insulin, treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes relies mainly on insulin injections, which have to be given daily.

What Is Latent Autoimmune Diabetes In Adults (LADA)?

Aside from type 1 and type 2 diabetes, scientists have also identified another subtype of the disease known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults, which accounts for 2 to 12 percent of all cases of diabetes. Most patients with LADA are diagnosed after the age of 35 and are often incorrectly diagnosed as type II diabetes. However, these patients also have autoantibodies, which are found only in type I diabetes. Hence, the condition is also called type 1.5 diabetes or latent type I diabetes. These patients are often treated with oral medications to control blood sugar levels, just like type 2 diabetes patients. However, because of poor blood sugar control, they eventually become insulin-dependent, just like those who have type I diabetes.

Diagnosis And Treatment

People who develop symptoms of diabetes (frequent urination, unusual thirst, always hungry, weak, etc.) must consult their doctors immediately to get proper diagnosis and treatment. It is important to treat diabetes early because this is a chronic disease that is associated with serious complications such as loss of vision, kidney problems, chronic infection and non-healing wounds, nerve damage, circulatory problems, and heart disease.

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The diagnosis of diabetes depends on laboratory findings of increased blood sugar levels, which may be tested by taking a fasting blood glucose level, an oral glucose tolerance test, and a hemoglobin A1c (A1C) test. Very high blood sugar levels may be associated with the presence of ketone bodies in the urine, which is typical of type 1 diabetes. Other tests may be done to determine if you have complications of the disease, such as high cholesterol or kidney disease.

The mainstay of treatment in type 1 diabetes is daily insulin injection. Patients are also advised to eat a healthy diet and to exercise to help control blood sugar levels.