Type 1 Diabetes and What Parents Need to KNow
Type 1 Diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM) is associated with the inability of the pancreatic beta cells to produce insulin. This disease is classified as an autoimmune disease that attacks and kills the insulin-producing beta cells. The pancreas continues to form beta cells, but they are rapidly killed off by the malfunctioning immune system.

Type 1 diabetes used to be called childhood-onset diabetes, because it primarily afflicted children whose immune systems had not fully matured. But today adults in their 20s and 30s are now developing this disease.

Key Point 1: Because this disease primarily attacks children, it is imperative that the parents of the child become educated in understanding diabetes, nutrition, and drugs -- beyond the conventional information about Type 1.
 
Children should be applauded for taking on the responsibility to manage their blood glucose every day. Parents should also be applauded for doing an excellent job caring for their child.

But if you want to prepare your child for their college years and beyond, it is imperative that you understand how to take caregiving to the next level -- and, create the proper environment that will prepare your child for the later years. Unfortunately, most parents miss a major opportunity to prepare their child's future beyond the early and teen years.

We recommend that you get a copy of our Diabetes Caregiving Guide to better understand how to prepare your child for the immediate future and beyond. It is critical that the parents educate themselves and act as role models for their child. 

Fill out this form if you would like a free copy of "The Mistakes that Parents Make with Type 1 Children" document.

You may think that you are feeding healthy foods to your child, and you may think that you are doing everything for your child to protect his/her health. To help you to understand the knowledge that you are missing, we strongly recommend that you get Mr. McCulley's book Death to Diabetes today.

If you want to improve your child's quality of health for the future and lead him out of the darkness of ignorance, you must be his light. And, in order to be his light, you must acquire the proper knowledge -- the superior knowledge that goes beyond what "the experts" have told you about diabetes and nutrition. That superior knowledge is in Mr. McCulley's book.

Dehydration. The build up of sugar in the blood can cause an increase in urination (to try to clear the sugar from the body). When the kidneys lose the glucose through the urine, a large amount of water is also lost, causing dehydration.

Weight loss. The loss of sugar in the urine means a loss of calories which provide energy and therefore many people with high sugars lose weight. (Dehydration also contributes to weight loss.)

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Without insulin and because the cells are starved of energy, the body breaks down fat cells. Products of this fat breakdown include acidic chemicals called ketones that can be used for energy. Levels of these ketones begin to build up in the blood, causing an increased acidity.
 
The liver continues to release the sugar it stores to help out. Since the body cannot use these sugars without insulin, more sugars piles into the blood stream. The combination of high excess sugars, dehydration, and acid build up is known as "ketoacidosis" and can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.

Damage to the body. Over time, the high sugar levels in the blood may damage the nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and heart and predispose a person to atherosclerosis (hardening) of the large arteries that can cause heart attack and stroke.


Who Gets Type 1 Diabetes?
Although the disease usually starts in people under the age of 20, Type 1 diabetes may occur at any age.

The disease is relatively uncommon, affecting 1 in 250 Americans. The condition is more common in whites than in blacks and occurs equally in men and women.

What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?
Doctors don't know all the factors that lead to Type 1 diabetes. It appears that the susceptibility to the condition can be inherited.

Doctors have identified that an environmental trigger plays a role in causing the disease. Type 1 diabetes appears to occur when something in the environment -- a toxin or a virus (but doctors aren't sure) -- triggers the immune system to mistakenly attack the pancreas and destroy the beta cells of the pancreas to the point where they can no longer produce sufficient insulin. Markers of this destruction -- called autoantibodies -- can be seen in most people with Type 1 diabetes. In fact, they are present in 85% to 90% of people with the condition when the blood glucose levels are high.

Because it's an autoimmune disease, Type 1 diabetes can occur along with other autoimmune diseases such as hyperthyroidism from Grave's disease or the patchy decrease in skin pigmentation that occurs with vitiligo.

What Are the Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes?
The symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are often subtle, but they can become severe. They include:

• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger (especially after eating)
• Dry mouth
• Nausea and occasionally vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry)
• Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
• Blurred vision
• Heavy, labored breathing (Kussmaul respiration)
• Frequent infections of the skin, urinary tract, or vagina

Signs of an emergency with type 1 diabetes include:

• Shaking and confusion
• Rapid breathing
• Fruity smell to the breath
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of consciousness (rare)

How Is Type 1 Diabetes Managed?
Many people with Type 1 diabetes live long, healthy lives. The key to good health is keeping your blood glucose levels within your target range (80-100 mg/dl), which can be done with meal planning, exercise, and intensive insulin therapy. People with Type 1 diabetes must use insulin injections to control their blood sugar.

You will also need to check your blood glucose levels regularly and make adjustment of insulin, food, and activities to maintain a normal blood glucose level.

Consequences of Uncontrolled Type 1 Diabetes
Similar to Type 2 diabetes, when Type 1 diabetes isn't well controlled, a number of serious or life-threatening problems may develop, including:

Retinopathy. This eye problem occurs in 75% to 95% of adults who have had diabetes for more than 15 years. Diabetic retinopathy in Type 1 diabetes is extremely rare before puberty no matter how long they have had the disease. Medical conditions such as good control of glucose, management of high blood pressure, and regulation of blood fats like cholesterol and triglycerides are important to prevent retinopathy. Fortunately, the vision loss isn't significant in most people with the condition.

Kidney damage. About 35% to 45% of people with Type 1 diabetes develop kidney damage, a condition called nephropathy. The risk for kidney disease increases over time and becomes evident 15 to 25 years after the onset of the disease. This complication carries significant risk of serious illness -- such as kidney failure and heart disease.

Poor blood circulation. Damage to nerves and hardening of the arteries leads to decreased sensation and poor blood circulation in the feet. This can lead to increased risk of injury and decreased ability to heal open sores and wounds, which in turn significantly raises the risk of neuropathy and amputation. Damage to nerves may also lead to digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.