Type 1 Diabetes Archives - Real Diabetes Truth : Real Diabetes Truth
Registered address: Curzon House, 24 High Street, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 2LJ Tel: 0207 633 3641 No part of this website may be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher. All material on The Real Diabetes Truth is provided for your information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; instead, readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information and opinions expressed here are believed to be accurate, based on the best judgement available to the authors, and readers who fail to consult with appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries. In addition, the information and opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of every contributor to The Real Diabetes Truth. The Real Diabetes Truth acknowledges occasional differences in opinion and welcomes the exchange of different viewpoints. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions. This website uses cookies to create the best user experience possible for our customers. By continuing to use our website, you confirm your consent to our use of cookies. AGREE READ MORE Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes . . . Cured?
Carrie posted this wonderfully thought-provoking comment about her diabetic son: My 13 yr old son was diagnosed over a year ago with Type 1 [diabetes]. Before his diagnosis, I was very ‘green’ — bought organic foods, bought meat from free-range, grass-fed local farms, cleaned my house with products I made myself from vinegar and natural products. But we did follow the low-fat, low-calorie, high-fiber, healthy whole grain diet. We were told “eat whatever you want” — just dose for it [with insulin] and be healthy (yep: low-fat, high-fiber, etc.) I didn’t think so: If he has a carb problem, then limit carbs! We immediately went low-carb, causing us to remove a lot of wheat products, but didn’t know about the damages of gluten then. His last two A1Cs [hemoglobin A1c’s, a 60-90 day reflection of blood sugar fluctuations] have been 5.3% [normal range]. He was taken off his basal insulin and his bolus, continuing to less and less. Today, he is OFF insulin! YES, he is a Type 1 diabetic: They double-checked for the antibodies in case he was misdiagnosed–they are there. Even without insulin, his blood sugars are better than me or his dad, or even sister (we all check now). And all this while growing over 5 inches in one year, going through puberty and the stomach flu with no problems (scary for Type 1 diabetics). His doctors are amazed. We all still did not know how he was this way, until someone shared with me Wheat Belly. We are all going completely gluten-free now and staying low-carb. Maybe my asthma will be gone and my daughter’s horrible itchy rash all over her arms will finally leave! Absolutely wonderful book, thank you! Wow. We know that consumption of modern wheat is associated with causing type 1 diabetes in children, average age of onset 4 years Continue reading >>
18 Truths People With Type 1 Diabetes Wish Others Understood
Diabetes affects more than 29 million Americans and 380 million people worldwide. By 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that number to more than double. Diabetes takes the life of one American every three minutes, and it’s a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart failure and stroke. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the most common forms of the disease; type 1 is a more severe autoimmune form of diabetes that generally develops in children and teenagers and requires life-long insulin therapy, whereas type 2 typically appears during adulthood and can usually be managed through diet and exercise. Despite the large numbers above, diabetes remains a widely misunderstood disease — many do not even realize more than one type exists. The Mighty teamed up with Diabetes Research Institute to ask their community what they want others to understand about type 1 diabetes. Here’s what they had to say: 1. “It’s insulin or death. No pills, no diet, no exercise will make it go away.” —Kelly Connelly Enriquez 2. “It’s bad, but please don’t make that face and say ‘I’m sorry!’” —Dawn Melvin Bobbitt 3. “I wish people understood the difference between type 1 and type 2.” —Lisa Inglis 4. “There is nothing I or my parents could have done to avoid having to live with type 1 diabetes.” —Jalissa Gascho 5. “It takes over your life.” —Adrienne Roberts 6. “It’s very unpredictable.” —Nicole Porth 7. “Over the years, the one thing that really annoys me is when people ask ‘should you be eating that.’ If someone with diabetes is eating something, you can be sure they know what they are doing.” —Sue Langdon 8. “Appearance does not show that every week [a person with diabetes] has to endure an averag Continue reading >>
Eight Ugly Truths About Pharma And Type 1 Diabetes
When we get past the conspiracy theories about Big Pharma, we can focus on the market forces that hamper cure research. This post was originally titled “No One is Hiding a Cure for Type 1 Diabetes.” “BS More pharma empire lies.” This comment, posted in response to a Type 1 research effort, is not uncommon in diabetes forums on Facebook. The pharmaceutical industry may provide the medicine that keeps people with Type 1 diabetes alive, and sponsor many conferences and diabetes-related websites (including, through advertising, this one), but it is also the biggest villain of the diabetes community. In my role as Insulin Nation’s editor, I’ve had the chance to hear many conspiracy theories about the pharmaceutical industry, and to see some of the industry’s inner workings. What I’ve found is that while the conspiracy theories don’t match up with facts, the truth about Big Pharma often isn’t pretty. With this in mind, I’ve provided eight observations about how the pharmaceutical industry treats the diabetes community. There is no diabetes cure hidden in a Big Pharma bunker. Many of the cure research efforts are being done by outside researchers with little to no affiliation with pharma companies. There is an overwhelming public interest to stop diabetes, and the government would come down hard on someone withholding a cure. But…. Pharma seems more interested in treating diabetes than curing it. Look at the amount of money allocated to developing new insulin formulations versus the amount researchers manage to scrape together for Type 1 diabetes cure research. The pharmaceutical industry is in the business of making pharmaceuticals. Pharma companies raise insulin prices to keep themselves in the black. If you get a chance, listen in on some earnings ca Continue reading >>
The Truth About Type 1 Diabetes
Diabetes is an autoimmune disease that affects more people then we tend to realize. Diabetes is a condition in which the bodies natural ability to produce insulin is compromised. Affected individuals then have to take injections of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood glucose levels. I was diagnosed 10 years ago with type one Juvenile Diabetes, and my life has never been the same. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions regarding diabetes that I get questioned about every day. So to all my fellow diabetics, here is the truth regarding misunderstandings. 1. If I drink after you can I get diabetes? The answer to this is no. I don't hear the one as much because our understandings of the disease itself are getting better, but years ago I would get asked this all the time. Diabetes is not contagious, and there is no known reason as to why some people develop type one diabetes. 2. Why don't you just eat healthy and exercise so it will go away? Type one diabetes is not the same as type two. With type one, the cause is unknown and could be genetic. Eating healthy and exercising will not make it go away. As with type two, diet and exercise can lower the side effects associated with diabetes. 3. Do people ever think you are taking drugs in public? Having to take insulin shots in public can be very embarrassing, and we like to think that most people understand that it is just insulin. Unfortunately this is not how it goes. Every time I have to take insulin in public, I notice someone staring at me. This can be quite humiliating, so if you ever see someone is public taking an injection think twice before you are quick to judge them. 4. If you take your insulin then you don't need to do anything else, right? False. Diabetes comes with a lot of other bagg Continue reading >>
The Truth About Living With Type 1 Diabetes
Imagine you’re a tightrope walker, and you have one hand stretched out, gripping a single teaspoon of sugar. This little teaspoon represents the amount of sugar that is dissolved in the blood in the body at any one time. Now imagine that grains of sugar are falling from the sky – and the aim of the game is to keep the amount of sugar on that teaspoon as close to level as possible. Any decision to consume carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta, root vegetables (beetroot, parsnips, carrots, potatoes) cakes, biscuits, breakfast cereals, crisps, chips, sauce, milk, yoghurt, fruit, fruit juice, soft drinks, etc) has the effect of hailstorms of sugar cubes falling from the sky and crashing into your spoon. Your spoon is overflowing but the amount of sugar on that spoon can only be reduced with an injection of insulin, which you must calculate with a ratio that depends on your initial blood sugar level, body weight, sensitivity to insulin and sensitivity to carbohydrates. Every injection enables you to shake that teaspoon a little, but only slightly after 20 minutes after injecting, and not fully until 2 hours after. By then, your teaspoon may still be overflowing, or maybe now you’ve miscalculated and there are only a few granules left on your spoon. You begin to shake and wobble your spoon under the grains that continue to fall from the sky, trying desperately to replenish your spoon to its correct level. While all of this is happening, the audience at the circus are throwing inflatable balloons at you. To the audience, they’re balls of air. But to you, they’re full of stress, adrenaline, caffeine, alcohol, dehydration, illness, weather, insulin, medicine, exercise, sleep, heat and hormones; they’re full of all the things that effect sugar levels. To the audience, the Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes Myths: Clear Up Common Mix-ups
Type 1 Diabetes: Are You as Smart as a 2nd Grader? All you really need to know about type 1 diabetes Eric Hamblin likely learned in kindergarten. This 8-year-old was diagnosed at 18 months of age, and he already has enough smarts to teach first-year med students a thing or two about the disease. I just want to say one thing, and thats you guys dont know anything about diabetes, the class clown told a capacity crowd at a University of New England Medical School seminar. His line got the laughs he was after, but theres truth behind it. Of an estimated 29 million Americans with diabetes , about 3 million have Eric's form of the disease. The smaller proportion of people with type 1 may be a big reason the condition so misunderstood. Types 1 and 2 both cause high blood sugar and have insulin as the problem. Insulin is a hormone that unlocks cells to let in blood sugar, and that creates energy. You cant live without insulin. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body doesnt make enough of it. If you have type 2, your body cant use it properly. There are many other differences between the conditions. Erics mom, Elizabeth Pratt Hamblin, knew the basics thanks to her job as a medical editor. But I didnt know what having type 1 really meant or how it was treated until he was diagnosed, she says. What began as an overwhelmed mothers quest to learn how to care for her son turned into a self-help book for others: 100 Questions & Answers About Your Childs Type 1 Diabetes. Pratt Hamblin covers many myths about type 1 diabetes in her book, including that it only affects children. Thats not true, although it doesnt help that the condition used to be called juvenile or juvenile-onset diabetes. About 18,000 kids a year are diagnosed with the disease, but it can happen at any age. About 5% of Continue reading >>
Diabetes Facts And Myths
en espaolLa diabetes: mitos y realidades You want to educate yourself about diabetes so you can help your child manage it. This means having the right information. There's so much online content about diabetes, but it's not always accurate. Even well-meaning family members and friends can give bad information. And this can hurt your child. Here's the truth about some of the common things you might hear. Does eating too much sugar cause diabetes? No, it doesn't. Type 1 diabetes happens when cells in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed. This happens because something goes wrong with the body's immune system . It has nothing to do with how much sugar a person eats. Sugar doesn't cause diabetes. But sugar can play a role in type 2 diabetes . Eating too much sugar (or sugary foods and drinks) can make people put on weight. Gaining too much weight can lead to type 2 diabetes in some people. Of course, eating too much sugar isn't the only reason why people gain weight. Weight gain from eating too much of any food can make a person's chances of developing type 2 diabetes greater. Yes! People with diabetes can still enjoy sweets sometimes. But like everyone, they should put the brakes on eating too many. Kids with type 1 diabetes don't grow out of it. With type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin and won't make it again. People with type 1 diabetes will always need to take insulin , at least until scientists find a cure for diabetes. Kids with type 2 will always have a tendency to get high blood sugar levels. But sometimes taking steps to live a healthier life can lower their blood sugar. If people eat healthy foods and exercise enough to get their blood sugar levels back on track, doctors might say they can stop taking insulin or other medicines . Can you ca Continue reading >>
Newly Diagnosed: Doctors Answer Type 1 Diabetes Faqs
When your child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, it can feel like you have hundreds if not thousands of questions. The good news is that doctors have heard most of them before and can easily provide answers that will ease your mind. Here, doctors give the FAQs they hear most and share their responses. Q: What caused my child to get type 1 diabetes? A: “As a physician and type 1 diabetic myself, I understand the fears and concerns of parents for their newly-diagnosed children. Most people’s first question is what caused the diabetes in the first place. The truth is we don’t know for sure. Type 1 diabetes is considered an auto-immune disease where our immune system mistakenly begins attacking the insulin-producing (beta) cells of our pancreas. How could our immune system get so mixed up? One common theory is that the outer shell of a specific common cold virus looks very similar to the shell surrounding our beta cells in the pancreas. As our body eradicates this cold virus, our immune system may erroneously think our pancreatic beta cells must be more bad guys. From that time, it could take several weeks or even months before we begin developing the typical symptoms of diabetes. It wasn’t the basket of Halloween candy or the extra dessert — instead, it may have been a simple case of mistaken identity.” — Durant Abernethy, M.D., pediatrics physician at High Country Health Care in Frisco, Colo. Q: As a parent, did I do anything to cause the diabetes? A: “No! Parents can feel a lot of guilt if their child develops diabetes, and it’s important for you to realize and understand that you did not do anything to cause this disease. You are, however, one of the most important resources for helping prevent your children from developing some of the complications Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes Facts
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that occurs when a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, the hormone that controls blood-sugar levels. T1D develops when the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells are mistakenly destroyed by the body’s immune system. The cause of this attack is still being researched, however scientists believe the cause may have genetic and environmental components. There is nothing anyone can do to prevent T1D. Presently, there is no known cure. Who T1D affects Type 1 diabetes (sometimes known as juvenile diabetes) affects children and adults, though people can be diagnosed at any age. With a typically quick onset, T1D must be managed with the use of insulin—either via injection or insulin pump. Soon, people who are insulin dependent may also be able to use artificial pancreas systems to automatically administer their insulin. How T1D is managed Type 1 diabetes is a 24/7 disease that requires constant management. People with T1D continuously and carefully balance insulin intake with eating, exercise and other activities. They also measure blood-sugar levels through finger pricks, ideally at least six times a day, or by wearing a continuous glucose monitor. Even with a strict regimen, people with T1D may still experience dangerously high or low blood-glucose levels that can, in extreme cases, be life threatening. Every person with T1D becomes actively involved in managing his or her disease. Insulin is not a cure While insulin therapy keeps people with T1D alive and can help keep blood-glucose levels within recommended range, it is not a cure, nor does it prevent the possibility of T1D’s serious effects. The outlook for treatments and a cure Although T1D is a serious and challenging disease, long-term management options cont Continue reading >>
Top 10 Myths About Type 1 Diabetes
(Photo Credit: Josie Nicole) Top 10 Myths About Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 Diabetes is one of the most misunderstood diseases, and it accounts for 5-10% of all diabetes cases. Not many people understand the complexity or severity unless personally affected by it. Much of the stigma surrounding diabetes is brought on by myths and misconceptions. But as the prevalence is increasing worldwide, it’s important to debunk many of these myths and share the facts about Type 1 Diabetes. MYTH: Type 1 Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar – FACT: Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. There is no known cause but it’s believed that genes and environmental factors play a role. MYTH: People with Type 1 Diabetes can be cured with diet and exercise – FACT: There is no cure for Type 1 Diabetes (YET). Yes, diet and exercise is beneficial for anyone including those managing diabetes, but it can not treat nor reverse it. MYTH: Sugar is off limits with Type 1 Diabetes – FACT: People with Type 1 Diabetes are not limited to what they can eat. Insulin is administered to cover the carbs or sugar they eat. Too much sugar is bad for everyone, but moderation is key. Sugar is also needed and life-saving for diabetics with low blood sugar. MYTH: If it’s sugar-free then it’s okay for Type 1 Diabetics to go ahead and consume – FACT: Actually, many sugar-free foods are loaded with carbohydrates. In many cases where they have more carbohydrates than a product just made with pure sugar. It’s always important to check nutrition labels because product packaging can be deceiving. MYTH: You won’t get Type 1 Diabetes if you live a healthy and active lifestyle – FACT: Type 1 Diabetes is not caused by ones’ lifesty Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes: Myths And Facts
Diabetes can be a confusing condition, even for the children, teenagers and families who live with it every day. Here, we separate some of the myths from the truths about type 1 diabetes and those who have it. Myth: Diabetes comes from eating too much sugar. Fact: The exact causes of diabetes — both type 1 and type 2 — aren’t known. What is clear is that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means it results when the body’s immune system destroys its own tissues. In this case, the immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells located in the pancreas. What prompts the immune system to target these cells is unknown, but age, genetics, environment, and other factors all play a part. Myth: Diabetes can be reversed with diet and exercise. Fact: While diet and exercise play an important role in how some people manage their type 1 diabetes, there is currently no cure for the condition. People with type 1 diabetes must rely on the infusion of insulin (via injection or an insulin pump) for life. Myth: Kids can grow out of type 1 diabetes. Fact: Diabetes is a lifelong condition, and people of any age can be diagnosed with it — both type 1 and type 2. Myth: People with diabetes can’t have sugar. Fact: With the right amount of planning, medication, and attention to the amount of carbohydrates they eat, people with diabetes can enjoy all the same foods that people without diabetes can. Some people with diabetes may choose not to eat sugary or carbohydrate-rich foods for a variety of reasons. Others might plan ahead to take extra insulin for a piece of cake or a doughnut. What’s more, people with diabetes rely on fast-acting forms of sugar (orange juice, candy, or glucose tabs) to help balance their blood glucose levels and treat hypoglycemia (low blood s Continue reading >>
What Is Type 1 Diabetes?
Note: This article is part of our library of resources for Forms of Diabetes. What is Type 1 Diabetes? Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, autoimmune condition that occurs when the body’s own immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. This attack leaves the pancreas with little or no ability to produce insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Without insulin, sugar stays in the blood and can cause serious damage to organ systems, causing people to experience Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Learn about the warning signs of T1D. When we eat, our bodies break down complex carbohydrates into glucose, the fuel we need. The pancreas releases insulin that acts as a kind of key to unlock the cells, allowing glucose to enter and be absorbed. Without fuel, cells in the body cannot survive. In addition, excess glucose can make the bloodstream too acidic, resulting in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which can be fatal if not treated. People with T1D must inject or pump insulin into their bodies every day to carefully regulate blood sugar. Living with T1D is a full-time balancing act requiring constant attention to avoid acute, life-threatening hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or the long-term damage done by hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Blood sugar levels must be monitored either with finger pricks or a continuous glucose monitor. Insulin doses must then be carefully calculated based upon activity and stress levels, food intake, illness and additional factors. These calculations are rarely perfect resulting in a tremendous emotional and mental burden for both patient and caregivers. How do you get Type 1 diabetes? T1D is neither preventable nor curable and while its cause is unknown, studies prove that T1D results from a genetic predisposition together wi Continue reading >>
What Is Type 1 Diabetes?
In this section, we will share an easy-to-understand overview of type 1 diabetes, including what it is, diagnosis, treatment and links for learning more. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. For unknown reasons, the immune system attacks the insulin producing cells in the pancreas called beta cells and destroys them. You can think of insulin as the key that unlocks your cells and enables them to access sugar. Without access to sugar, it builds up in your blood. You feel tired, your body turns to fat for energy and you lose weight, and you urinate frequently as your body tries to flush out all that excess sugar. Every human (well, all mammals, actually) need insulin to live. Everyone with diabetes needs to take some form in insulin in order to survive. Unfortunately, at this time, type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented or cured. You may have heard type 1 diabetes called juvenile diabetes. About half of people with type 1 diabetes are diagnosed in childhood, though the truth is that type 1 diabetes can develop at any age. This terminology has long since been abandoned. (See: How Many People Have Diabetes?) If left untreated, type 1 diabetes will eventually be fatal. How Do You Treat Type 1 Diabetes? Everyone with type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin to live. Insulin can come from insulin injections, insulin pump or inhaling insulin. Experimental treatments are using implanted insulin-producing cells. The primary challenge of type 1 diabetes is to take enough insulin to lower the high blood sugars but not so much that you have severe low blood sugars. This typically requires frequent checking of blood sugars or, if you have access, using a continuous glucose meter (CGM). Type 1 diabetes requires monitoring and managing all day long. (LADA, latent autoimmune diabetes in Continue reading >>
Researchers May Have Found A Way To Reverse Type 1 Diabetes
Image Point Fr/Shutterstock A diagnosis of type 1 diabetes means a lifetime of constant diligence. Unlike type 2 diabetes, type 1 usually develops early in life. Those diagnosed have to check blood sugar several times a day and take insulin as needed; the process is difficult, expensive, and potentially dangerous. That helps explain the excitement about a potential cure for type 1 diabetes using an already approved treatment. Doctors diagnose more than 18,000 children and teens with type 1 diabetes every year, according to the CDC. These kids lack the ability to make enough insulin, the hormone that processes blood sugar. Using insulin injections to control blood sugar with insulin is tricky because diet, exercise, and stress can quickly alter levels. Without enough insulin, kidney, heart, and nerve damage can be the result. Get too much, and blood sugar levels will plummet dangerously low. (This is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.) Researchers in Israel have tried treating type 1 diabetics with an immune system protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin (alpha-1)—it helps target germs. Normally, insulin gets lower and lower over time in diabetics, but extra alpha-1 seems to help the body produce more. Researchers gave 12 recently diagnosed type 1 diabetics an alpha-1 drip once a week for eight weeks in a study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. For a year and counting following treatment, two of the participants have been making more of their own insulin. Another three saw only minor decreases—which is a good sign. “Compared to the natural course of the disease, which is downhill, even a flat line is considered success,” says study co-author Eli C. Lewis, PhD, biochemical and pharmacology professor at Ben-Gurion University of the N Continue reading >>
