What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Diabetes Mellitus affects how your body uses blood sugar (glucose) for energy. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (also called DM1 or diabetes type 1) is a less common type of diabetes. It affects about 1 in 300 people in the United States. Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but it is most often diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults.
Insulin is a hormone that helps sugar move from the blood into the cells. In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Because of this, the body makes little or no insulin at all. Without insulin, sugar cannot enter the cells and builds up in the blood.
How can people with type 1 diabetes stay healthy?
Type 1 diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be managed very well. The goal is to keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range—not too high and not too low. When blood sugar is well controlled, people with type 1 diabetes usually feel better, have more energy, and sleep better.
Managing type 1 diabetes starts with checking blood sugar levels. This can be done with finger pricks or with continuous glucose monitors, which track blood sugar throughout the day. Because the body does not make insulin, people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day, either by injection or through an insulin pump. Healthy eating, physical activity, and regular medical care also play an important role in staying healthy and living a full, active life.