
The 3 Stages of Type 1 Diabetes Development
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The 3 Stages of Type 1 Diabetes Development
Type 1 diabetes is a medical disorder characterized by the autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic islet cells, eventually leading to the absence of the production of insulin and other important hormones. The lack of insulin results in a decreased ability of glucose to enter the cells, leading to hyperglycemia , or high blood glucose levels.
Type 1 diabetes is believed to be caused by the combination of a genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger. Formerly known as juvenile diabetes, type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed in childhood, as well as in adulthood. In fact, between 25% and 50% of type 1 diabetes diagnoses today occur in individuals over 18 years old.
The main symptoms of untreated type 1 diabetes include:
Frequent infections and slow wound healing
Individuals with type 1 diabetes must monitor their blood glucose levels and administer exogenous insulin via injections or an insulin pump to allow for glucose metabolism. Left untreated, the condition is deadly and suboptimal management can result in numerous complications, including micro- and macrovascular problems in numerous organ systems as well as nerve damage. However, with optimal blood glucose control, the likelihood of complications can be minimized.
There are several main steps in the typical pattern of developing of type 1 diabetes:
Islet cell autoimmunity, characterized by the presence of autoantibodies,
A decrease in beta cell mass that reduces insulin production and results in slightly elevate
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