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Diagnosing Type I Diabetes |
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Type I is the most serious type of diabetes
and is also called Juvenile Diabetes because it usually occurs in
children and young adults. The most common cause of Type I diabetes is
the beta cell loss leading to autoimmune destruction, accompanied by
antibodies directed against insulin and islet cell proteins and thus
leading to type 1 diabetes. It is caused by genetic and environmental
factors and affects 2 to 3 % of the diabetic population.
Some of the symptoms normally noticed in Type I diabetes are as
below:
1) Frequent urination mostly at night is the most important symptom but
most people neglect it and leave it till late to consult a doctor.
2) Sudden weight loss. If someone is constantly losing weight despite not
being on a diet coupled with urination, he should consult a doctor
immediately.
3) The most common indication that a person has diabetes is when wounds
heal slowly, especially in the feet and ankle area.
4) Blurred vision, lack of sensation on the skin and itching of the hands
and feet are also very important symptoms that a person should not
ignore and should consult the doctor immediately if he is suffering
from these symptoms and get the blood sugar level checked.
The diagnosis of Type I diabetes is normally done on the basis of the
onset of the symptoms outlined above particularly excessive urination
and excessive thirst accompanied by sudden weight loss. These symptoms
worsen in a matter of weeks and by the time the blood tests are done
almost 20 to 25 % of the patients start experiencing diabetic
ketoacidosis (DKA).
These are only some of the methods used by
doctors that may or may not diagnose some type of complications so,
whenever someone experiences these symptoms, a doctor should always be
consulted.
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