Type 1 Diabetes Explained

By Rachel Stockton rachels at foodconsumer dot org

I grew up on a South Texas ranch; my father raised Angus cattle. His good friend was our local vet, a man who specialized in cattle and horses. He was soft spoken and kind, except on occasion. . He looked and acted drunk, yet I knew he wasn’t a heavy imbiber.

He was soft spoken and kind, except on occasion. I had no idea why, but at times he would become extremely irritable, and would begin to slur his words. He looked and acted drunk, yet I knew he didn't drink; his wife would gently suggest that he "drink some juice", at which point he either became quite combative (and her cajoling would last a bit longer), or he would take the glass from her in his shaking hands, and drink it.

When I got to be a bit older I learned that he had Type 1 diabetes (the 6th leading cause of death). Unlike its Type 2 cousin, (which occurs later in life as a result of lifestyle and other factors), Type 1 is typically diagnosed in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. Compared to Type 2, it is relatively rare, making up only 5-10% of the diabetic population. A brutal taskmaster, it can be unforgiving, relentless, and harshly demanding.

CAUSES

Autoimmune diseases are those in which the body turns on itself, intent on destroying certain cells within certain systems. Type 1 Diabetes is classified as an autoimmune disease because the body destroys the beta cells in the pancreas (why this happens is still somewhat of a mystery). These are the cells that produce the insulin the human body needs to function optimally.

In a healthy person, the very act of eating alerts the pancreas to produce insulin, which is necessary for survival. Digestive juices break all foods down into simple sugar; insulin acts as the "gatekeeper" for the body's cells. Without it, glucose cannot pass "go"; rather than providing energy by entering the cells that need it, it accumulates to dangerous levels in the blood stream. This may cause the diabetic to feel hungry as the cells in the body become desperate for the "fuel" they need to function properly.
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COMPLICATIONS

There are several life threatening complications that can result from Type 1 diabetes; one is that of nerve and blood vessel damage in the feet. Circulation is affected, and the patient isn't as likely to feel pain when the extremities are injured. The lack of adequate circulation, coupled with the lessened sensory response can cause infection in an injury that for the normal person would be minor. In the diabetic, the tissue surrounding the wound is destroyed. In its severest form, this can result in amputation.

High glucose levels, if not monitored and treated with insulin injections can lead to serious problems, such as blindness, kidney disease, heart attack and stroke.

WHEN TO CALL 911

What I saw in my father's friend was an insulin reaction, which can be very serious. If an insulin injection works too quickly, the patient will develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can result in shaking and nausea, in its mildest form. The best way to treat this kind of reaction is to give the patient juice, or a little bit of simple sugar, because it will work more quickly. Regular food will be necessary later, but the conversion from food to sugar takes too much time, which is of the essence when the patient becomes hypoglycemic.

TYPE 1 DIABETES: NO LONGER A DEATH SENTENCE

My father's veterinary friend passed away 30 years ago after losing his leg following a toe injury. Although he did what he could to manage his disease, he knew, back at that time, that he probably would not live a long life.

But things today are different. There are blood glucose meters that can give a blood sugar reading in seconds, insulin packs that distribute just the amount your body needs, and ongoing research that brings new insight into the chronic illness. New studies are concentrating on certain vitamin and enzyme deficiencies and their contribution to the disease. As our knowledge of the causes and treatment of the disease increases, so does the life expectancy of the diabetic. And, perhaps more importantly, so does improvement in the quality of that life.