Understanding Type 1 Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms, and Management
Diabetes is a common medical condition, affecting over 9% of the people in the United States. Proper treatment and management are critical to overall health. Your diabetes specialist can help. Dr. Juan Carlos Zubieta at North Houston Diabetes Institute in Humble, TX, provides a wide range of medical care to treat diabetes, obesity, and other chronic health conditions.
What You Need To Know About Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a serious, chronic medical condition. It’s caused by an autoimmune reaction that results in the destruction of cells in the pancreas. These cells can no longer produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels. You may develop type 1 diabetes due to genetic factors, exposure to a virus, or environmental factors.
Type 1 diabetes can develop for years without producing any noticeable signs and symptoms. When you develop signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes, they often include:
- Frequent feelings of thirst or hunger
- Chronic fatigue or blurred vision
- Frequent feelings of needing to urinate
- Cuts and other injuries that heal slowly
Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed with a blood test. For the blood test, you will need to avoid eating or drinking for several hours before the test. A sample of your blood is taken and tested for glucose levels in your blood. Your A1C may also be measured, indicating an average of your blood glucose levels over a 2-to-3-month period.
Type 1 diabetes is typically treated with insulin, injections, or an insulin pump. Dietary modifications are also critical to the management of diabetes. Your diabetes specialist may recommend a diet low in fat, salt, and sugar. Regular exercise of at least 30 minutes on most days of the week can also help manage type 1 diabetes.
One of the most important ways to manage type 1 diabetes is to visit your diabetes specialist regularly, as directed by your doctor. Regular testing and examination can help ensure proper diabetes management.
Want To Know More?
To learn more about the causes, symptoms, and management of type 1 diabetes, call Dr. Juan Carlos Zubieta at North Houston Diabetes Institute in Houston, and Humble, TX. You can reach him in the office by calling (832) 644-9595, so call today.