What is Type 1 Diabetes?
** DISCLAIMER **
Emily is NOT a doctor or health professional. If you feel like you may be experiencing symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes or any other kind of medical issue, PLEASE see a doctor!
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a currently incurable autoimmune disease that affects the pancreas, an organ that helps the body digest food. The pancreas is the organ in charge of producing a hormone called insulin which helps regulate the amount of sugar in the blood. The cells in the pancreas that create insulin are called beta cells.
T1D occurs when, due to some external factor, the T-cells in the immune system that are normally responsible for attacking various threats such as infections, get confused and begin attacking the beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then shuts down and insulin production stops.
Without insulin, the human body cannot properly process the food it consumes. The amount of sugar in the blood will steadily rise, and if not treated, the body will starve itself. Short term symptoms of T1D include extreme thirst and frequent urination, emergency ways the body will try to get rid of excess sugar in the blood. Drastic and unexpected weight loss is also a commonly seen symptom as a result of the body using excess fat to supply energy.
If not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, an individual with T1D WILL die.
Treating Type 1 Diabetes
Treating T1D is a constant and arduous task. Advancements in technology over the years have made treatment much easier, but there is still no system that can operate without any human input.
The basis of any treatment plan for T1D begins with insulin. There are multiple different kinds, but they all accomplish the same goal (with proper administration) - safe blood glucose levels.
There are two blood sugar “extremes” - high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Each have their own challenges and risks associated with them.
High blood sugar mainly happens when the body does not get enough insulin to offset the amount of food eaten in a meal. Sickness, environment, exercise, hormone fluctuations, and other factors can all result in hyperglycemia. If one experiences hyperglycemia for an extended period of time, or enough times over the course of their life, long term complications can develop. These complications can include blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, limb amputation, stroke, and death.
On the other side of the spectrum is low blood sugar. This, in a Type 1 Diabetic, is most commonly caused by the administration of too much insulin. Exercise and not eating are also some causes of hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar is extremely dangerous and should be treated immediately, as it can easily cause seizures, coma, or even death.
The blood sugar of a person who is not a diabetic ranges between 80-120. The blood sugar of a Type 1 Diabetic can be anywhere from 20-1000. Treating the disease is similar to walking a tightrope. Give yourself too little insulin, and you could be dealing with a nasty headache and a nauseous feeling. Give yourself too much insulin, and you could kill yourself.
Living with a disease in which the medicine used to keep me alive can also be the quick cause of my death is a heavy thing to live with. But, I along with millions of Type 1 Diabetics, live with this fact and accept it as just another part of the disease.
A Quick Glance at Different T1D Therapies
Ever since being diagnosed in 2003, there have been many technological advances in care for T1D. The following are a few examples:
Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices
These are instruments used to check blood glucose levels. These meters are pretty basic, taking an input (test strip) and providing an output (blood glucose level). A test strip is a small, thin rectangular strip with a small area for a blood sample. A typical testing kit includes a meter, a lancing device, and supplies such as test strips and lancets. In practice, a lancet is loading into the lancing device to prick the skin (normally the fingertips) to produce a small drop of blood. The pricked fingertip is then held up to the meter with the test strip inserted, filling the end of the test strip with blood. After about five seconds, a reading will appear on the screen of the meter. If using a meter device like this, it is recommended for one to test their blood sugar 8 - 10 times per day. Popular brands include OneTouch and Contour, among others.
Insulin pumps
An insulin pump is what does most of the heavy lifting in terms of care and administration of insulin. It can be programmed to deliver both short boluses of insulin for meals as well as extended basal rates to simulate the normal activity of a pancreas. These machines can be customized greatly to fit the needs of the patient, as each person is different and will require different amounts of insulin. Over the years, Emily has used Medtronic Minimed Paradigm inulin pumps, as well as more recently the Omnipod 5 system. Other brands include Tandem.
Continuous Glucose Monitors
A Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is a wearable device that monitors blood sugar on a continual basis. This is the answer to the prayers of the bloodied fingers of Type 1 Diabetics. Instead of having to prick fingers 10 times a day, a CGM can last up to ten days and provide blood sugar numbers every five minutes straight to the user’s smartphone. Two of the most popular brands of CGMs are the Dexcom and Freestyle Libre systems, although Medtronic and Eversense also have FDA-approved options.
Artificial pancreas
An artificial pancreas is another term used for the combination of a CGM and insulin pump. It should be noted that these systems are NOT automatic and still require human intervention and programming. The artificial pancreas is the closest to a cure Type 1 Diabetics have today.