Endocrinology & Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D), formerly known as juvenile diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the islets of Langerhans (including beta cells) in the pancreas produce little or no insulin.  Insulin is a hormone that cells need to use blood sugar levels as energy to help regulate normal glucose levels in the bloodstream.  Before treatment, this leads to high blood sugar levels in the body.  The most common symptoms of this hyperglycemia are frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, weight loss, and other serious complications. Other symptoms include blurred vision, malaise, and delayed wound healing. Symptoms are usually short-lived and often develop within a few weeks. The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Underlying mechanisms include autoimmune destruction of pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells.  Recent studies suggest that this autoimmune islet destruction may be caused by persistent enterovirus infection. Diabetes is diagnosed by testing the level of sugar or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) in the blood.