I am here to continue with the series on #Diabetes. There are majorly two types of Diabetes viz the insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1)and the non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2) which was discussed in the last episode.
Today, I'm supposed to write another story which would convey my message on type 1 Diabetes but I couldn't brace my mind up enough to write it. Each time I try, I remember the cases that I have seen especially in children and I become emotional because of the effect of the disease on the children and their families. Therefore, it gives me no pleasure to write a sad story about children. 
In light of this, I just want explain in lay man's terms what type 1/ insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM) is. I hope you won't find it boring.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is a type of disease in which the body's immune system attacks and renders useless an organ in the body called PANCREAS. The pancreas is an irreplaceable organ in the body whose cells produce a hormone called INSULIN. The work of insulin is to mop up all the food we eat especially the carbohydrates from the blood to the cells of the body.
I hope you know that all the food we eat will digest and be broken down into smaller substances before the body can use it. The only way for the body to either use or store the sugar broken down is if the insulin is working well. Otherwise there would be high level of blood sugar. Therefore, Insulin is a very important hormone.
IDDM is the type that usually occurs in children though it can occur in adults as well. Thankfully, it occurs in only 5-10% of all Diabetes cases. There is no specific cause of this disease though some risk factors have been identified or implicated. The disease is not due to one's fault either by commission or omission.The risk factors are as follows.
- Family history: this is a strong factor as children whose parents or siblings have Diabetes tend to have the disease
- Exposure to some viruses like Epstein Barr virus, Coxsackie virus, Rubella or Cytomegalovirus may trigger the immune system to destroy the islet cells of the Pancreas.
- Drinking water that contains Nitrates
SYMPTOMS
- Frequent thirst and drinking of water
- Frequent urination
- Excessive Hunger
- Weight loss
- Tiredness
- Unusual behaviour in children
- Blurred vision
TREATMENT
There is no cure for this disease sadly, however it can be managed by injecting insulin at regular intervals as prescribed by doctors. There should also be blood sugar monitoring regularly.
COMPLICATIONS
IDDM affects nearly all organs in the body. It affects the heart, blood vessels, the nerves, the kidneys and the eyes. However, if the blood sugar is kept under control, the risk of complications is reduced. The complications include:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Coma from a condition called Diabetes Ketoacidosis
- High blood pressure
- Nerve damage
- Damage to eyes, kidneys and the feet
PREVENTION
This disease is not easy to prevent but early diagnosis and treatment goes a long way in preventing complications.
Thanks for reading.
References
www.webmd.com
www.mayoclinic.org
Photos from Google
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