What was once known as juvenile diabetes, type 1 diabetes is a very serious condition that causes a person to re-evaluate many dietary and lifestyle habits. For unknown reasons, in people with this condition, the body’s immune system attacks the pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin. As a result, they become unable to produce the blood-sugar regulating substance.

Insulin plays a very important role and is meant to be released after meals to help carry nutrients so it can be properly converted to energy. This delivery to the cells ensures that the blood does not remain flooded with sugar. When this process is interrupted by the lack of insulin production, the body is thrown out of whack completely. In order to feed the cells that are not receiving the delivery of nutrients, other systems shoot into overdrive. A sufferer of type 1 diabetes who is not receiving treatment will become dehydrated, will begin to lose weight, and will likely begin to have other complications in various areas of the body, including the eyes, where increased pressure, as a result of excess sugar in the blood can cause serious and lasting damage that even the best Austin optometrist can’t undo.

Though this condition can appear at any time in life, it is typically detected in children and young adults. Though diabetes is a growing problem, it is not type-1 diabetes that has raised concern. This issue is far less common than type 2. As an autoimmune disease, this form of diabetes can also occur in conjunction with other serious illnesses, such as Grave’s disease and hyperthyroidism.

There are warning signs of type one diabetes that a person should watch out for. These include increased hunger and thirst, dry mouth, blurred vision, fatigue, abdominal pain, and frequent urinary tract infections. When the situation is allowed to progress, these symptoms can change. Often people nearby will report that the person has fruity smelling breath, but more significantly, he or she is likely to lose consciousness, will suffer severe abdominal pain, and may become shaky or confused.

Retinopathy is a common side effect of type one diabetes, which is the reason why an eye doctor will play an integral role in ongoing treatment of the disease. Retinopathy results from blood vessels being damaged by the increased sugar levels. They can begin to ooze blood onto the retina or macula and new, abnormal vessels can form. The result is vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of irreversible blindness.

Though there is no definitive cure for type one diabetes, the disease can be controlled through a modified diet, exercise, and insulin therapy. A medical team should be assembled to ensure the body remains healthy and intact. This includes a primary care physician, a diabetic specialist, a nutritionist, and an ophthalmologist. These individuals will play integral roles in keeping the blood sugar levels under control and preventing other serious complication, such as poor circulation, kidney damage, or retinopathy. However, the individual will also have to play a very active role in practicing a healthy lifestyle, self-administering insulin, and regularly checking blood-sugar levels.

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Austin, TX 78753-1641
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