Type 1 diabetes (formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes) results when the pancreas loses its ability to make the hormone insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the person's own immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Once those cells are destroyed, they won't ever make insulin again.

There are two forms of type 1 diabetes:

idiopathic type 1 diabetes - refers to rare forms of the disease with no known cause.

immune-mediated diabetes - an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system destroys, or attempts to destroy, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

Type 1 diabetes takes only a few weeks to develop. The initial symptoms are:

increased production of urine (because the body tries to get rid of the excess glucose in the urine, diluting it with water),

excessive thirst,

fatigue (because the glucose is not being converted into energy),

loss of weight,

If the blood sugar level is not stabilized to a normal value, there will be an accumulation of chemicals in the body called ketones, and this condition is called diabetic ketoacidosis. This serious condition can lead to coma and death. The signs of ketoacidosis are:

-Vomiting,

-Pain in the stomach

-Rapid breathing

-High pulse rate

-Somnolence (abnormal tendency to sleep)

Treatment

Diabetes is mainly treated through insulin replacement therapy and by regularly keeping track of your blood glucose levels.

Insulin Replacement therapy

Insulin may be infused into the body using an injection or an insulin pump. It cannot be taken orally as the body's digestive juices do not allow it to enter into the blood stream.

Insulin injections are the most common form of diabetes treatment, and generally have to be taken 1 to 4 times a day to be effective, depending on the severity of your case and the dosage given. There are a variety of insulin dosages, ranging from fast to slow acting, available nowadays, which can be used individually or combined together to give the best results.

Type 1 diabetes is treated with daily injections of insulin. Oral diabetes medications are not effective. Many patients with Type 1 diabetes, after beginning insulin injections, experience a period of reduced insulin need called the honeymoon period. During the honeymoon period, the remaining beta cells continue to produce insulin. It is very important to continue insulin therapy during the honeymoon period, because even low doses of insulin appear to help prolong the duration of the honeymoon.

THE CAUSES OF DIABETES TYPE I

When the glucose uptake into the body cells is reduced, but glucose instead accumulates in the blood, the following physiological effects occur:

-The body cells do not get enough fuel for the work they shall do.

-The molecular thickness (osmality) of the blood increases. This causes water to be pulled out from the body tissues and into the blood. The tissues thus get dried out and the urine production increases.

-The tissues begin to break down protein and fat to get energy, causing weight loss and muscular reduction.

Your liver acts as a glucose storage and manufacturing center. When your insulin levels are low ?" when you haven't eaten in a while, for example ?" your liver releases the stored glucose to keep your glucose level within a normal range.