If you have Type 1 diabetes, the day-to-day challenges you face are often far more difficult than that of a Type 2 diabetic.
For one thing, the onset of Type 1 diabetes is abrupt and often occurs at a young age, so you’ve most likely been dealing with your disease longer. In addition, Type 1 diabetes is often a more severe condition with limited treatment options. If you have Type 1 diabetes, maintaining an even blood sugar is a matter of life and death. You probably have to administer insulin multiple times a day, which means monitoring blood glucose more often and a greater risk of developing hypoglycemia.
Treatment is improving, but the pace is slow
A recent study of mortality rates among those with Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes or autoimmune diabetes, has found that mortality rates for new cases of diabetes are improving. Researchers cite better medical care and tools, such as self-monitoring of blood glucose, HbA1c testing and use of new blood pressure medications as reasons for the improvement. A large portion of the improvement came within 5 years of diagnosis, which indicates that doctors and patients have better control over preventing acute conditions.
But the study also revealed that people with Type 1 diabetes are still seven times more likely to die than those without the condition. Women with Type 1 diabetes face a death rate that is 13 times higher than women who are not diabetic.
Two completely different conditions
While both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are characterized by elevated levels of blood sugar, the two conditions are quite different. Type 1 diabetes is actually an autoimmune condition that causes your body to produce antibodies that mistakenly attack healthy insulin-producing pancreas cells. As a result, the body stops producing insulin. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, there are no known preventative actions or treatments, and the disease typically affects otherwise healthy people who maintain a healthy body weight.
In Type 2 diabetes, the body still produces insulin, but the entire process of metabolizing blood sugar grows less and less efficient over time. The condition is tied very closely to being overweight and other poor health conditions, such as heart disease and cardiovascular problems. As a result, people with Type 2 diabetes often have warning signs and risk factors long before their diabetes becomes official. Diet and exercise can help prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes in ways that it just does not help in patients with Type 1 diabetes.
New research points to virus and genetics
Genetics have long been linked with Type 1 diabetes, but research has been limited. A number of recent discoveries offer promise for understanding Type 1 diabetes. In one study, researchers identified a gene that seems to be involved in contracting the disease. The gene controls the production of an enzyme that activates white blood cells. In studies, mice without the enzyme were 97% less likely to contract diabetes. The study offers the possibility that finding a way to control this enzyme could lead to new therapies.
In another study, Type 1 diabetes has been closely associated with the presence of a virus in the pancreas. The virus is suspected to work in combination with genetic predisposition to trigger the condition. Researchers hope that more studies will lead to a vaccine for people who have the genetic biomarker.
Type 1 diabetes on the rise
While much has been reported about the rapid increase in the number of cases of Type 2 diabetes, a similar trend is occurring with Type 1 diabetes as well. While little is known about why Type 1 diabetes is becoming more prevalent, hope is on the horizon, as several new research projects offer the chance to find better treatments and possibly a cure for future generations.
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