What is type 1 diabetes?

?What is type 1 diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by excess sugar in the blood called "hyperglycemia".

There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The type 1 diabetes is due to stop production of the hormone "insulin" by the pancreas. This hormone brings the blood sugar into the cells of the body for their energy needs. Without insulin, the body's cells do not receive the sugar accumulates in the blood.

Type 1 diabetes occurs most often in children, adolescents and young adults under the age of 30 years. Diabetes is type 1 in 10% of cases.

Why type 1 diabetes occur?

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas no longer produces insulin.

The cause of this downtime is an abnormal reaction of the immune system (natural defense system of the body) that destroys the insulin-producing cells. This reaction is related to a genetic predisposition, may be triggered by external events (viral infections ...).

Thus, the risk of developing diabetes type 1 is more important when a close relative (father, mother, brother, sister) is a type 1 diabetes.

How to know if you have type 2 diabetes?

Symptoms of Diabetes

In most cases, the type 2 diabetes evolves silence is discovered during a blood test and there are no symptoms.

However, sometimes there are some signs that can alert you :

fatigue ;

increased thirst and hunger ;

more frequent urination ;

itching in the genital area ;

very slow wound healing ;

dry eyes ;

more frequent infections.

The medical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes

Diabetes: the initial assessment

To diagnose diabetes , a blood test performed fasting is required. It involves measuring the amount of sugar in the blood, called " blood sugar ."

So that the results are fair, we must first observe fasting for eight hours.

We are in the presence of type 2 diabetes when the fasting plasma glucose greater than or equal to 1.26 g / l ( or 7 mmol / l) and is recorded twice.

Once discovered diabetes , your doctor will examine you and may perform several additional tests .

A clinical examination including :

- Weight;

- Calculation of the body mass index (BMI ) ;

- The measurement of blood pressure ;

- Examination of the blood vessels ;

- Neurological examination .

Laboratory tests focused on :

- The determination of glycated hemoglobin ;

- The rate of blood fats (cholesterol ... ) ;

- Renal function.

Additional examinations and particularly :

- An electrocardiogram ;

- An ophthalmological examination ( fundus ) .

Type 1 diabetes

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