Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes questions and answers
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Q: Can I test for type 1 diabetes using things I have at home?
I've just been told I may have diabetes [I wasn't told what type but it must be type 1 because I'm only 16 and I have a BMI of 18.5 so I'm obviously not overweight, so it has to be type 1]. I can't see my doctor for another week, and I really need to know. I can't order anything online, and I live too far from any drugstores to be able to get there. Is there anything I can do?
A: Was the somebody, that told you that you may have diabetes, a member of
the medical profession? That can be a very mean thing to do, telling
someone they have a medical problem, without having the knowledge
to back it up. Look how you've worried and it is highly likely that you
do not have it. Remain calm and see your dr. next week. If you have it,
you will have it all your life and you will learn to manage it. Don't be
fearful.
Q: how long does it take to develop type 1 diabetes?
Since I was young, I've had sensitive blood sugar. About once a month I'll suddenly become very hungry, with horrible headaches and dizziness, and have to stop everything and eat and drink slowly until I can sit up again. This is just my norm. I can't skip a meal without getting very sick. (Throwing up, shakiness, fatigue) Do you show symptoms of type 1 diabetes suddenly or gradually? I've had some minor health problems for a few months, and I feel like something is wrong.
A: Although type 1 diabetes itself develops gradually (months to years), the symptoms usually come on rather quickly (days to weeks) and are usually severe. The main symptoms of type 1 diabetes include:
extreme thirst
frequent urination
fatigue
weight loss
What you describe sounds more like hypoglycemia than diabetes.
Q: How to manage type 1 diabetes in Disney World?
Im going to disney for the first time since i have gotten type 1 diabetes. Im fifteen and i have read a lot and i dont want to be too loaded down with supplies. Disney world is my favorite place ever and i dont want to ruin the experience with the stresses that i know come from this disease. Thanks for the suggestions!!
A: Are you on an insulin pump? If so, adjust your basal rate to about 70% of normal to allow for your walking around and check yourself periodically to see if that's doing the trick. Their food is similar to other fast food stuff, so bolus accordingly.
If you're not on a pump, just bring a bottle and syringes (you can use each one multiple times as long as you use them just on yourself). Your bottle won't need refrigeration for the one day as long as you keep it in your purse or pack. And of course keep some hard candy with you for possible lows - Skittles are my favorite, 17 of them are a perfect 15g of carb.
Keep your meter with you and check your BG every 2 hours and adjust as necessary.
Vacations will make your BG's fluctuate more than normal, so the trick is to just keep a close eye on what they are doing so you can correct as quickly as possible. Try not to worry much about it and just enjoy.
Q: Jay Cutler has Type 1 diabetes will it effect him playing football?
Cutler has Type 1 diabetes, and this is very serious. I know it sounds greedy to be concerned about football right now, but how bad is this? I know there are a few others that have been able to compete, but honestly what are the chances he will be able to continue as a starting nfl quarterback?
A: ACCORDING TO ESPN NO...SCOTT VAN PELT SAID IT IS NOT SERIOUS ..SO OBVIOUSLY NOT...GO SPORTSCENTER!!!
Q: How are some ways YOU can tell if you have Type 1 Diabetes?
Lately i have been showing the symptoms for type 1 diabetes, and it has been going on this last month.
But my question is for people who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, What was it like when you first thought you had this decease? How did you feel at the time and what were some of the big signs that you had it? PLEASE BE VERY DETAILED
Thank you very much.
A: Frequent Urination. I'm talking i'll just go to the and then 30 seconds later i'll need to go again.
Shaking. So bad it's difficult to write.
Tiredness. Really tired
Vomiting. Like once a day
Q: How does type 1 diabetes cause weight loss?
In type 1 diabetes, could somone please explain to me how and why this causes weightloss?
A: Uncontrolled type 1 causes weight loss. Essentially insulin is the key that lets nutrients (carbs) into your cells in your body to create energy. Type 1's do not make insulin, so the cells are starving. For energy, the body will burn off fat cells and this is what causes a type 1 to have rapid weight loss.
Q: Can having type 1 diabetes affect my ability to get a pell grant?
I just got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over the summer. in all my family makes around 40,000 a year with us being a family of four. But now that we have new extra bills such as test strips and medication we are worried about college. i was wondering if pell grants consider medical conditions when evaluating.
A: education.mypressonline.com - it provides some tips about applying to US federal and state grants for college students.
Q: Do you have children with Type 1 diabetes?
I have been assigned a paper to write about anything health-related, and I have decided to write my paper on Type 1 diabetes. My three year old cousin was diagnosed with T1 last year, and I would like to know if there are any parents/grandparents/siblings of those with this type of diabetes. Please answer this question with serious intentions! Thank you!
A: First off I am sorry to hear about your cousin. I am a type 1 diabetic, i was diagnosed at age 29 which is strsnge. Of all diabetics 90 % are type 2 only 10 % are type 1 and of those 10 % about 95 % get it before their late teen years, I must just be lucky. I do feel lucky,
lucky it was me and NOT my kids (age 8 & 10 at that time)
lucky I was not a young child when I got it putting my parents through the hell and struggles of shots and all that.
Lucky that I live in a time where we have insulin, and good rapid insulin and test meters.
Lucky that there is only a 3 to 5% chance my kids can get it.
So hopefully my insight has helped you
Q: Is it normal to experience weakness in your legs soon after being diagnosed type 1 diabetes?
Two months or so ago, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. A few days ago (and a little bit for a few weeks), I started getting this awful weakness in my legs and arms. Sometimes it feels like they're heavy, like I'll flip. Or they're too light and I'll flip over. It feels like I'm going to fall down. I know this is something that can come out of diabetes... but this is really soon! Is it even related? Should I call my doctor/educators? How do they treat this?
Thanks!
A: no, that's not normal. you shouldn't develop secondary complications in two months! speak to your doc about this. It doesn't sound like neuropathy because that is normally a pins and needles type sensation or numbness.
Q: How long do people live after their kidneys start to give out from having type 1 diabetes?
My father developed Type 1 diabetes about 7 yrs ago due to alcoholism. Now his kidneys are not functioning well even with medication. I am trying to decide if I need to move back to Georgia from Wisconsin depending on how much time he has to live. I want to spend good quality time with him, not sick and suffering time only.
A: one year.
Q: Why does it matter if you have untreated type 1 diabetes?
When you have type 1 diabetes, why does it matter if your blood sugar is high? What happens if you don'tt treat diabetes? What happens if you don't take the shots or watch what you eat? Do you die?
A: Simply put -- YES -- you will die.
Type 1 Diabetes means the your pancreas has pretty much failed completely., Because of this your body produces very little or no insulin, and so there is NO control over your blood sugar.
Extra sugar in the blood attachs itself to the red blood cells (this is called GLYCATING) and the sugar molecules act like tiny little knives, making the red blood cells work like a Rotor-Rooter system in your blood vessels. They start damaging the walls of the blood vessels, causing tiny cuts, clots, and scar tissues.
This is extremely damaging to the capillaries, which are only just a little bit larger then a red blood cell, anyway. These capillaries get ripped to shreds!
Now, your kidneys are FULLL of capillaries, so one major damage of diabetes is kidney failure. And it is usually not reversible. If the blood sugar stays high, the result is kidney failure leading to either death or dialysis.
There are capillaries in the retinas of your eyes. These tend to get cut open, causing a bleed. Many diabetecis go blind.
And also the capillaries in your brain. When these break you get many small strokes. The effect is very much like Alzheimers.
And how about those capillaries in the sex organs -- broken capillaries lead to the inability to have sex.
That same glycateds red blood cells also don't carry as much oxygen. So you constantly feel tired, and wounds don't heal as well. Many diabetics suffer from gangrene. leading to amputation of feet, legs, fingers, hands, and arms.
ALSO - - - Some of that sugar breaks down and attachs to the nerves. This leads to diabetic neuropathy, which affects every organ in the body, from brain to tips of toes. Since things often "don't hurt", the diabetic doesn't realize that he or she has a serious wound until gangrene sets in.
Optic nerves get damaged, and nerves to the sexual organs get damaged. Also, the nerves to the stomach and intestines get damaged, leading to many digestive problems, including diarhea, which then leads to dehydration.
It doesn't really matter if you are Type 1 or Type2 -- the effects are the same, but Type 1 diabetics are often diagnosed sooner -- in childhood. Therefore, Type 1 diabetes is often called Juvenile Diabetes, but this is a misnomer. Even adults can get Type1 diabetes.
Q: What happens in this situation to a person w/ Type 1 Diabetes?
So what happens if someone with Juvenile/Type 1 Diabetes hasn't checked their insulin level or whatever for a while & they're engaging in a vigorous activity (like sports or running)? What happens when their sugar level becomes WAY above normal(like over three or four times than normal)?
Thank you very much for the help!
A: Hi
Yikes, I cannot believe what I'm reading here.
I've lived 50 years with Type 1 diabetes.
I was 7 years old when I developed it.
I'm in my late 50's now.
I married and had six pregnancies with only two babies both born prematurely and low birth weight, that I was able to carry successfully and raise to adults and are free of the condition.
My marriage fell apart 12 years ago and I've been rebuilding my life on my own, ever since.
It's been hard. It's been lonely. However, it has been quite an education as well as fulfilling. I have no regrets. I've made mistakes like we all do, however, I learned from those experiences.
I am ever so pleased to have made it to 50 years with the condition. The goals now, are to make it to 60 and 70 years with Type 1 diabetes. It is up to me and no one else, to make this happen.
Not that I've known anyone to make it to 70 years living with Type 1 diabetes. Still I live in hope.
I've had my resentfulness of the condition too but it doesn't make it go away.
In fact neglect can aggravate the chronic medical condition and harm your body, shortening your life span.
Running won't control the blood sugar levels.
It takes both medication and exercise as well as a heathy diet to keep well with this condition.
This person just needs to realise that this is their lot in life and now have to learn to live with it, manage it properly, and work with medical professionals, or die. Simple as that.
Being resentful and in denial of the condition does make it go away.
This behaviour is irresponsible and of concern.
Consequences will result in serious health concerns and complications including coma and death.
Type 1 diabetics need to check BSL's before breakfast, lunch, dinner and before retiring at night.
Type 1 diabetics need to take their medication/s regularly to keep BSL's within normal ranges to minimise complications for the body.
Type 1 diabetics need to eat regularly and healthy.
Type 1 diabetics need to carry snacks and jelly beans on their person and advise close associates that they have the condition.
From what you have described this is extremely dysfunctional and self destructive.
Won't take long before a major reality check will kick in which may be just what is needed.
Counselling is another option to get to the real root cause of this behaviour.
Q: How can mumps leading to pancreatitis cause Type 1 diabetes?
My Type 1 diabetes was caused by mumps
A: To make it simple.
The pancreas produces insulin.
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreatic inflammation is so severe that you could say that the pancreas autodestroys itself with all the enzymes it produces to digest food. This enzymes engorge the pancreas and destroy its specialized tissues. Because of this you loose pancreatic tissue with it's islets (special islets produce insulin) and therefore with no insulin you become diabetic type: insulin dependant.