Imagine your body as a fancy coffee machine. Generally, most people’s insulin is brewed by their pancreas. But if you have Type 1 diabetes, your barista is on a permanent break, sipping lattes in some distant beach town. So, now you are left to be the barista of your own body.
Living with Type 1 diabetes can sometimes feel like constantly making a coffee order for yourself. It is like a game that may stay smooth and steady, but when you get it wrong, it can feel like you have consumed too much caffeine (causing high blood sugar) or skipped your morning coffee (which leads to low blood sugar).
Type 1 diabetes management
Whether it is your phone, your smartwatch, or your glucose monitor, there is always a reminder to check your blood sugar levels. With a little extra effort and some insulin, managing Type 1 diabetes becomes less stressful.
Causes of Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. The immune system erroneously targets the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and inhibits the body from producing insulin, a hormone critical for regulating blood sugar. The potential causes include:
- Genetic factors
Genetics plays a significant role in humans in the development of Type 1 diabetes. Certain genes in our body, particularly those associated with our immune system, can make us more susceptible to developing it.
- Autoimmune response
In people with Type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly targets the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, which normally defend the body against harmful invaders. This process commences years before the symptoms appear, but the exact trigger is still unknown.
- Environmental triggers
Some researchers suggest that certain environmental factors may trigger autoimmune responses and cause Type 1 diabetes, such as viral infections, early childhood diets, Vitamin D deficiency, and several unknown factors.
Symptoms
Common signs and symptoms to look for in Type 1 diabetes are excessive thirst, extreme hunger, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes can happen during pregnancy for women who did not have diabetes before. It usually occurs between the 24th and 28th week, when hormones from the placenta can make it tougher for your body to use insulin properly, causing blood sugar levels to rise higher than usual. While you need to take care of your high blood sugar levels for your and your baby’s health, it can still be controlled with a few simple changes to your diet and daily routine.
Symptoms
The symptoms of gestational diabetes are feeling extra thirsty, urinating more often, fatigue, dry mouth, blurry vision, and infections in bladder and vagina.
If gestational diabetes is not managed, it may lead to high blood pressure during pregnancy, known as preeclampsia. It increases the likelihood of premature birth, complications during delivery, such as the need for a caesarean section if the baby grows too large, and higher probabilities of developing Type 2 diabetes later.
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