How does type 1 diabetes affect the body

An islet cell transplant is a minor, low-risk procedure that's carried out under local anaesthetic. The procedure has been shown to be effective at reducing the risk of severe hypos. So far, the results of islet cell transplants carried out in the UK have shown a significant reduction in the number of hypos, from 23 per person per year before transplantation to less than one per person per year afterwards.

People with type 1 diabetes who are having a kidney transplant from a donor may also be offered a pancreas transplant at the same time. If you're having repeated, severe and life-threatening hypoglycaemic attacks, a pancreas transplant may also be recommended.

During the procedure, your faulty pancreas will be replaced with a healthy pancreas from a donor. This will allow you to get a new source of insulin. Pancreas transplants are complicated operations and, like other types of major surgery, there's a risk of complications.

In the UK, about pancreas transplants are carried out each year, with more than people on the waiting list. The waiting time for a pancreas transplant is one to two years, because there's a shortage of suitable donor organs. Hyperglycaemia can occur when your blood glucose levels become too high. It can happen for several reasons, such as eating too much, being unwell or not taking enough insulin.

If you develop hyperglycaemia, you may need to adjust your diet or your insulin dose to keep your glucose levels normal. Your diabetes care team can advise you about the best way to do this. If hyperglycaemia isn't treated, it can lead to a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis, where the body begins to break down fats for energy instead of glucose, resulting in a build-up of ketones acids in your blood. Diabetic ketoacidosis is very serious and, if not addressed quickly, it can lead to unconsciousness and, eventually, death.

Read more about the symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis. Your healthcare team will educate you on how to decrease your risk of ketoacidosis by testing your own blood for ketones using blood ketone sticks if you're unwell. If you develop diabetic ketoacidosis, you'll need urgent hospital treatment.

You'll be given insulin directly into a vein intravenously. You may also need other fluids given by a drip if you're dehydrated, including salt solution and potassium. Type 1 diabetes can lead to long-term complications. If you have the condition, you have an increased risk of developing heart disease , stroke , eye and kidney disease. To reduce the chance of this, you may be advised to take:. Diabetic kidney disease is identified by the presence of small amounts of a protein called albumin in your urine.

It's often reversible if treated early enough. The aim of treating diabetes is to help people with the condition control their blood glucose levels and minimise the risk of developing future complications. The Diabetes National Service Framework has also been developed by diabetes clinical experts and patients with diabetes.

Good diabetes care includes:. The Diabetes UK website has more information about care from healthcare professionals. They highlight the 15 care essentials for patients with diabetes. If diabetes isn't treated, it can lead to a number of different health problems. High glucose levels can damage blood vessels, nerves and organs. A consistently raised glucose level that doesn't cause any symptoms can have damaging effects in the long term. If you have diabetes, you're up to five times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke.

Prolonged, poorly controlled blood glucose levels increase the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis furring and narrowing of your blood vessels.

This may result in a poor blood supply to your heart or to your lower limbs, causing angina a dull, heavy or tight pain in the chest or claudication pain in the back of your calves when walking. It also increases the chance that a blood vessel in your heart or brain will become completely blocked, leading to a heart attack or stroke. High blood glucose levels can damage the tiny blood vessels of your nerves. This can cause a tingling or burning pain that spreads from your fingers and toes up through your limbs.

If the nerves in your digestive system are affected, you may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation. Retinopathy is where the retina the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye is damaged. Blood vessels in the retina can become blocked or leaky, or can grow haphazardly. This prevents the light from fully passing through to your retina. If it isn't treated, it can damage your vision.

The better you control your blood glucose levels, the lower your risk of developing serious eye problems. Having an annual eye check with a specialist an ophthalmologist or optometrist can help pick up signs of a potentially serious eye problem early so that it can be treated.

Treatment for diabetic retinopathy is only necessary if screening detects significant problems that mean your vision is at risk.

If the condition hasn't reached this stage, the advice on managing your diabetes, BP and cholesterol level is recommended. Read about diabetic eye screening. If the small blood vessels in your kidney become blocked and leaky, your kidneys will work less efficiently. In rare, severe cases, this can lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment to replicate the functions of the kidneys.

In some cases, a kidney transplant may be necessary. Damage to the nerves of the foot can mean that small nicks and cuts aren't noticed, which can lead to a foot ulcer developing. About 1 in 10 people with diabetes get a foot ulcer, which can cause serious infection. If you develop nerve damage, you should check your feet every day and report any changes to your doctor, nurse or podiatrist.

Look out for sores and cuts that don't heal, puffiness or swelling, and skin that feels hot to the touch. You should also have a foot examination at least once a year. Read more about foot care and diabetes. In men with diabetes, particularly those who smoke, nerve and blood vessel damage can lead to erection problems.

This can usually be treated with medication. If you experience a lack of vaginal lubrication, or you find sex painful, you can use a vaginal lubricant or a water-based gel. Pregnant women with diabetes have an increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. If your blood glucose level isn't carefully controlled immediately before and during early pregnancy, there's also an increased risk of the baby developing a serious birth defect.

Pregnant women with diabetes will usually have their antenatal check-ups in hospital or a diabetes clinic. This allows doctors to keep a close eye on their blood glucose levels and control their insulin dosage more easily.

Having diabetes means that you're more likely to develop problems with your feet, including foot ulcers and infections from minor cuts and grazes. This is because blood glucose can damage the nerves in your feet. To prevent problems with your feet, keep your nails short and wash your feet daily using warm water.

Wear shoes that fit properly and see a podiatrist or chiropodist a foot care specialist regularly so that any problems are detected early. Regularly check your feet for cuts, blisters or grazes because you may not be able to feel them if the nerves in your feet are damaged.

See your GP if you have a minor foot injury that doesn't start to heal within a few days. The Diabetes UK website has more information and advice about taking care of your feet. If you have type 1 diabetes, you should be invited to have your your eyes screened at once a year to check for diabetic retinopathy. Retinopathy is an eye condition where the small blood vessels in your eye become damaged. It can occur if your blood glucose level is too high for a long time hyperglycaemia. If it isn't treated, retinopathy can eventually cause sight loss.

Read more about diabetic eye screening. If you need to take insulin to control your diabetes, you should have received instructions about looking after yourself when you're ill — known as your "sick day rules".

The advice you're given will be specific to you, but some general measures that your sick day rules may include could be to:. Seek advice from your diabetes care team or GP if your blood glucose or ketone level remains high after taking insulin, if:. Read more about sick day rules. Treatment depends on the type of diabetes, so knowing whether you have type 1 or type 2 is important.

To find out if your diabetes is type 1, your health care professional may test your blood for certain autoantibodies. Autoantibodies are antibodies that attack your healthy tissues and cells by mistake. The presence of certain types of autoantibodies is common in type 1 but not in type 2 diabetes. Because type 1 diabetes can run in families, your health care professional can test your family members for autoantibodies. Type 1 diabetes TrialNet, an international research network, also offers autoantibody testing to family members of people diagnosed with the disease.

The presence of autoantibodies, even without diabetes symptoms, means the family member is more likely to develop type 1 diabetes.

If you have a brother or sister, child, or parent with type 1 diabetes, you may want to get an autoantibody test. People age 20 or younger who have a cousin, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, or half-sibling with type 1 diabetes also may want to get tested. If you have type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin because your body no longer makes this hormone. Different types of insulin start to work at different speeds, and the effects of each last a different length of time.

You may need to use more than one type. You can take insulin a number of ways. Common options include a needle and syringe , insulin pen , or insulin pump. Some people who have trouble reaching their blood glucose targets with insulin alone also might need to take another type of diabetes medicine that works with insulin, such as pramlintide. Pramlintide, given by injection, helps keep blood glucose levels from going too high after eating.

Few people with type 1 diabetes take pramlintide, however. The NIH has recently funded a large research study to test use of pramlintide along with insulin and glucagon in people with type 1 diabetes.

Another diabetes medicine, metformin, may help decrease the amount of insulin you need to take, but more studies are needed to confirm this. Reseachers are also studying other diabetes pills that people with type 1 diabetes might take along with insulin. Severe hypoglycemia can be dangerous and needs to be treated right away. Learn more about hypoglycemia and how to prevent or treat it. Diabetic ketoacidosis DKA is a serious complication of diabetes that can be life-threatening.

Very high blood sugar and low insulin levels lead to DKA. The two most common causes are illness and missing insulin shots. Talk with your doctor and make sure you understand how you can prevent DKA and how to treat it if needed. Whether you just got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes or have had it for some time, meeting with a diabetes educator is a great way to get support and guidance, including how to:.

Ask your doctor about diabetes self-management education and support services and to recommend a diabetes educator. Tap into online diabetes communities for encouragement, insights, and support. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. What Is Type 1 Diabetes? Check with your doctor if: You often have problems with high or low blood sugar levels. You have trouble knowing when your blood sugar is low hypoglycemia unawareness. You have questions or want to know more about diabetes. Who to see Health professionals who may be involved in your diabetes care include: A family doctor. An internist. A pediatrician.

A certified diabetes educator CDE. A registered dietitian. All people newly diagnosed with diabetes should see a dietitian for help in choosing healthy foods. An endocrinologist or pediatric endocrinologist. Planning pregnancy when you have type 1 diabetes Women who want to plan a pregnancy need to talk to their doctors about making sure they have good control of their blood sugar. Pregnancy and Diabetes: Planning for Pregnancy. Exams and Tests Diagnostic tests If your doctor thinks that you may have diabetes, he or she will order blood tests to measure how much sugar is in your blood.

The tests used are: Blood glucose tests. Hemoglobin A1c. Tests to check your health You'll need to see your doctor every 3 to 6 months. At your visits, your doctor may: Check your blood sugar levels since your last visit and review your target range. Check your blood pressure and start or adjust treatment, if needed.

Nerve and blood vessel damage can result from high blood pressure, leading to heart problems and strokes. For more information, see the topic High Blood Pressure.

Check your feet for signs of problems, especially if you have had diabetes for a few years. Nerve damage in your feet makes it hard to feel an injury or infection. Take off your socks each time you see the doctor to be sure you both remember to check your feet. At least once a year your doctor will do a complete examination of your feet. Have a hemoglobin A1c test. This blood test shows how steady your blood sugar levels have been over time.

Review your progress regularly Regular visits and checkups with your doctor are also a good time to: Review your meal plan. Physical Activity Log Review your mental health. Review your blood sugar records. Master List of Medicines These visits are also a good time to talk with your doctor about how you're feeling. Tests to screen for complications After you have had type 1 diabetes for 3 to 5 years, your doctor may recommend these tests.

A complete eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. High blood sugar levels from diabetes can damage your eyes. This test can find problems early. If you do not have any signs of diabetic retinopathy, your doctor may recommend less frequent exams. For example, you may have this test every 2 years. A foot exam to check for diabetic neuropathy. Your doctor may look at your feet for sores and calluses at every visit. If you have one or more foot problems, you may need to have your feet checked more than once a year.

A child who has diabetes may not need a thorough examination of his or her feet each year until after puberty. A cholesterol and triglyceride test. Along with other measures, cholesterol levels can help you know your risk for having a heart attack or stroke.

A urine test , to check for protein. If protein is found, you'll have more tests to help guide the best treatment. Protein in the urine can be a sign of kidney damage diabetic nephropathy. A blood test for creatinine and glomerular filtration rate GFR. These tests check for kidney disease. A liver function test.

This test looks for damage to the liver. A thyroid-stimulating hormone test. This test checks for thyroid problems, which are common among people who have diabetes. If the test is normal, your doctor may suggest you have the test again every 1 to 2 years. Treatment Overview Type 1 diabetes requires treatment to keep blood sugar levels within a target range. Treatment includes: Taking several insulin injections every day or using an insulin pump.

Monitoring blood sugar levels several times a day. Eating a healthy diet that spreads carbohydrates throughout the day.

Regular physical activity or exercise. Exercise helps the body to use insulin more efficiently. It may also lower your risk for heart and blood vessel disease.

Regular medical checkups. You will get routine screening tests and exams to watch for signs of complications, such as eye, kidney, heart, blood vessel, and nerve diseases. Not smoking. Not drinking alcohol if you are at risk for periods of low blood sugar. Diabetic ketoacidosis Some people find out that they have type 1 diabetes when they are admitted to a hospital for diabetic ketoacidosis. The honeymoon period If your blood sugar levels return to the normal range soon after diagnosis, you are in what is called the "honeymoon period.

Treatment during this time may include: Keeping in close touch with your doctor. Testing your blood sugar level often, to see if it is rising. Taking very small amounts of insulin or no insulin.

Even though you may not need insulin, some doctors prefer that you take small doses of insulin daily throughout the honeymoon period. This may decrease the stress on the pancreas. Prevention Currently there is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes, but ongoing studies are exploring ways to prevent diabetes in those who are most likely to get it. Preventing diabetes complications People who have type 1 diabetes can help prevent or delay the development of complications by keeping their blood sugar in a target range.

Preventing disease Get a flu vaccine every year. Home Treatment Type 1 diabetes requires daily attention to diet, exercise, and insulin. Spread carbohydrates throughout the day Carbohydrate is the one nutrient in your diet that most affects blood sugar levels.

Diabetes: Checking Your Blood Sugar. Diabetes: Taking Care of Your Feet. Medications Insulin Insulin helps keep your blood sugar level tightly controlled and within a target range. Learn about insulin: Know the dose of each type of insulin you take, when you take the doses, how long it takes for each type of insulin to start working onset , when it will have its greatest effect peak , and how long it will work duration.

Never skip a dose of insulin without the advice of your doctor. Surgery Some complications from type 1 diabetes are treated with surgery.

For more information, see: Diabetic Retinopathy. Diabetic Nephropathy. Diabetic Neuropathy. Other Treatment Avoid products that promise a "cure" for diabetes.

Complementary therapies Some complementary therapies may help relieve stress and muscle tension. Talk with your doctor if you are using: Acupuncture. Chiropractic therapy. Herbal medicines and natural substances , such as antioxidants , vanadium, magnesium, or chromium. Massage therapy. References Citations American Diabetes Association Standards of medical care in diabetes— Diabetes Care , 42 Suppl 1 : S1—S Accessed December 17, Department of Health and Human Services Washington, DC: U.

Government Printing Office. American Diabetes Association Credits Current as of: August 31,