Type 1 Diabetes – Signs & Symptoms

Type 1 Diabetes is the most severe type of diabetes. It only represents about 5% of all diabetes cases. Unfortunately it often affects young children. But adults get it as well. So if you’re a parent of young children or a grandparent, it’s important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms.

Type 1 Diabetes – Signs & Symptoms

Your body needs insulin. It is a hormone that allows your body to get energy from food. In Type 1 Diabetes, your body attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. So this results in sugar building up in the bloodstream. It has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. There is no cure at this date.

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

This form of Diabetes strikes children and adults suddenly. So it’s important to recognize the symptoms:

Frequent Urination

Extreme Thirst

Increased Appetite/ Constant Hunger

Unexplained Weight Loss

Changes in Vision

Fatigue

Other symptoms could include blurred vision, irritable behavior, itchy skin, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain and unpleasant breath odor. If you notice these symptoms suddenly occurring in your children or grandchildren, seek medical help.

Treatment

According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF.org), having Type 1 Diabetes means a process your body should do naturally and automatically becomes something that now requires your daily attention. And requires manual intervention like insulin shots or insulin pump. Your blood sugar can vary based on food, exercise, stress and emotions and general health. Monitoring insulin throughout the day is challenging. Because too much or too little sugar in the blood can be life threatening, it’s best to be prepared.

MEDICAL ALERTS

It’s important to have an indicator on your person that you are Type 1 Diabetic should you have a medical emergency. The I.C.O.E. bracelets in the photos have your emergency contact numbers engraved so your loved ones will be contacted if there is a medical emergency. A fun design can also be added to make wearing the bracelet a little more “child friendly” so they’ll want to wear the bracelets.

Information for this article came from several sources as noted. For additional information, check out these pages: Diabetesresearch.org, JDRF.org. Mayo Clinic

World Health Organization, Web MD

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About the Author: Michele Redmon is the owner of I.C.O.E. Bracelets. She loves the peace of mind these bracelets provide to parents, grandparents and children. With customer service a priority, she loves talking to her customers. So drop her a line at mailto:mredmon@icoebracelets.com.