Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease which occurs primarily in children and young adults under the age of 40. However, disease onset can occur at any age. An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system turns against a part of the body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the islet cells which produce insulin in the pancreas. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. A person who has type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily. Although the cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, there are three factors which play a part in determining why a person develops diabetes:
- Genetic or inherited factors
- Self-allergy
- Environmental damage
Type I diabetes accounts for 5-10 percent of those diagnosed with diabetes in the United States.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include:
- Frequent thirst and urination
- Constant hunger
- Weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Extreme fatigue
- Wetting the bed in children who were dry through the night
Populations most at risk for developing type 1 diabetes include those of Northern European ancestry.
To learn more about type 1 diabetes, visit the CDC’s website on the subject.