Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 Diabetes)
Definition.
Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic type of diabetes in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, which then requires insulin supplements to help in glucose metabolism. . Type 1 diabetes is common in young individuals thus it is also known as juvenile diabetes. It is known as type 1 diabetes which is an autoimmune disease caused by permanent destruction of beta cells of the pancreas secreting insulin. Failure to secrete insulin will require eternal supplement of insulin to sustain glucose metabolism of the body Insulin is a hormone needed to convert sugar or glucose into energy that can be utilized by the body.
Risk factors and Incidence.
Family history is a major risk factor in developing Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is hereditary thus considered a high risk to individuals born from a parent with genetic predisposition. There are many other factors that can cause of impairment of glucose metabolism which can become chronic and end up in developing Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance which is a condition in which fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin properly. The pancreas may be able to compensate at early stages but in the long run it can loose its ability to secrete enough insulin in response to meals. Poor dietary intake can impair glucose metabolism. As more insulin will be required with high carbohydrates intake, pancreas is required to secrete more insulin to meet the demands. In the long run, it can impair the insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas leading to cell destruction. Poor physical activities do not help mobilizing blood sugar to the Less physical activities can increase the risk of developing type1 diabetes. Being overweight and inactive therefore increases the risk developing type 2 diabetes.It is estimated that about 5%–10% of North American diabetes patients have type 1. The general incidence varies worldwide but is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. It is most common in individuals born from parents with diabetes or with genetic traits. Its occurrence is common in identical twins which explain its genetic nature.
Symptoms.
Common presenting symptoms include increased in urine frequency, increased thirst, weight loss,weakness,blurred vision, superficial infection and poor wound healing.Other symptoms may include skin itching, genital yeast infection, difficulty of urination or dysuria, stomatitis and lip ulcers and axillary pigmentations.
In the absence of insulin, blood sugar builds in the bloodstream which pulls fluids from the tissues which causes thirst and an increased urination. Without insulin, blood sugar is not converted and never reaches your energy-starved tissues without insulin thus causes extreme hunger due to depletion of energy in muscles and organs as the body sugar are moved into the cells. Without the energy sugar supplies, your muscle tissues and fat stores are depleted and may simply shrink which causes weight loss despite eating more than usual to relieve hunger. Due to lack of energy fatigue becomes a more common symptom for a simple reason that if your cells are deprived of sugar, you may become tired and irritable. Increased build up of blood sugar pulls fluid from the tissues — including the lenses of the thus causing blurred vision which can affect the ability to focus clearly. A chronic condition can cause complications involving other systems thus more extensive symptoms are expected. In the presence of diabetic neuropathy, symptoms such as limbs numbness and pains are expected. Diabetic retinopathy can manifest with cataract, lense dislocation, and myopia.
Impact of Nutrition and Exercise on the Prognosis of the Disease.
As one of the metabolism disorder, nutrition has a very great role to play in the development of diabetes considering that glucose or sugar metabolism is mainly involved in this disease. Carbohydrates consumption needs to be carefully balanced. As the body needs carbohydrates, completed deprivation of carbohydrates sources is not the right thing to do. Carbohydrates however, need to be taken on a required specified proportion. Sources of simple or complex sugar should be taken appropriately and accordingly. A diabetic can still eat an ice cream provided the daily carbohydrates are not out of track. A diabetic exchange list is one of the helpful guides for the treatment of the disease. The daily caloric intake needs to be calculated as well not just the carbohydrates but the entire diet. Proper control diet largely influences the success of the treatment.
Increased activity increases demand of insulin needs thus exercise is helpful in stimulating pancreas to stimulate insulin production but in type1 diabetes where destroyed pancreas is unable to produce insulin, exercise will require increase insulin supplementation. Exercise however helps mobilizing sugar into the cells thus with due insulin supplement, activity helps to lower blood sugar levels. As the main aim of the treatment is lowering blood sugar, exercise greatly help in the treatment of the disease alongside with appropriate insulin supplementation.
Prevention Strategies and Treatment Options
For individuals with genetic predisposition, prevention so far is not within their hands and therefore this type of diabetes cannot be prevented unless there will be some genetic remedies that can address this problem in the future. Prevention strategies include avoiding risk factors that can lead to diabetes which include eating a well balanced healthy life, regular exercise, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol. Periodic monitoring of blood sugar is one aspect of prevention of diabetes development maintaining blood sugar levels within the normal range of about 70 to 120. \
The main goal of Type 1 diabetes treatment is maintaining glucose at normal levels which require a lifelong commitment of monitoring blood sugar, taking insulin, maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy foods and exercising regularly. Type 1 diabetes main treatment by insulin replacement therapy. Insulin is usually administered through subcutaneous injection or by insulin pumps. Other important part of treatment regimen includes good dietarycontrol including carbohydrate tracking and careful monitoring of blood glucose levels. Surgical management by pancreas transplantation can help restore proper glucose regulation but there are many complications involved in this option. Current researches considerreplacement of beta cells (by transplant or from stem cells) as a treatment option. This is still currently under research by several research programs and may become clinically available in the future. Generally Type 1 diabetes can be treated but for the meantime it cannot be cured. Part of the treatment plan therefore includes coverage of avoiding setting in of various debilitatingcomplications.
References:
Mayoclinic.com. Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes.
Retrieved on 03/22/2008 from
Yahoo Health. Type1 Diabetes.
Retrieved on 03/22/2008 from