Symptoms and Signs of Type 1 Diabetes

Over 1.5 million people in the U.S. have Type 1 Diabetes. As per the experts at Tandem Diabetes, “Someone living with diabetes is either unable to produce insulin, or their body is resistant to insulin, and they cannot use it effectively.” Fortunately, there are ways to minimize its effects with proper treatment. So, you need to know the signs of this disease to get help.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 Diabetes is a genetic condition where your immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. It generally shows up early in life and affects 8% of the diabetic population. Scientists have yet to determine the reasons why this issue occurs.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

There are differences in Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes. Although they both deal with insulin creation, the latter condition is due to lifestyle issues. Further, rather than your body killing insulin cells, type 2 diabetes happens when your body doesn’t make enough of the chemical.

Signs and Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

Several signs and symptoms signal type 1 diabetes.

Severe Thirst

Since your body can’t produce enough insulin, your kidneys work more to absorb and filter excess glucose. When they reach maximum capacity, the sugar in your blood is excreted in the urine, taking fluid from your tissues. As a result, you quickly become dehydrated.

Frequent Urination

Above-average urination is another sign of type 1 diabetes. The condition is especially prevalent at night as your body attempts to break down more glucose than it does during the day. Thus, your bladder fills up faster, which results in a greater need to go to the bathroom.

Excessive Weight Loss

When not diagnosed, type 1 diabetes can cause excessive weight loss even when you’re eating. The reason is your body relies on glucose as a preferred fuel source. Although sugar helps temporarily, carbohydrates are the proper energy cells.

 

Unfortunately, type 1 diabetics don’t properly break them down. For this reason, your body thinks it’s starving and finds ways to compensate. Thus, it rapidly burns good fats and muscles. Hence, the reason why untreated type 1 diabetes patients constantly feel hungry.

Fatigue

Fatigue comes with excessive weight loss. In some cases, patients can’t expel glucose in their urine. Instead, it builds up in the blood and doesn’t get delivered to cells. Extreme fatigue occurs when energy doesn’t reach the cells.

Slow to Heal Wounds

Wounds that take a long time to heal also signify type 1 diabetes. Decreased blood flow is the reason. Since circulation is affected when your body can’t produce enough insulin, blood moves more slowly to deliver repair nutrients to cuts and other wounds. So, it may take longer to heal or, in severe cases, would not heal at all.

Nerve Damage

Over time, high glucose levels take a toll on the body. One sign of this is nerve damage in your eyes, kidney, and heart. Damage to the brain and spinal cord nerves results in peripheral neuropathy, which causes numbness in your hands and feet.

 

Don’t disregard these symptoms or signs if you see them in yourself or others. Visit your doctor immediately for an A1C test to determine your glucose levels.