Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, usually starting in childhood or young adulthood. Unlike type 2 diabetes, it is not linked to lifestyle and requires insulin treatment from diagnosis.

• Increased thirst and frequent urination
• Unintentional weight loss despite normal or increased appetite
• Fatigue and blurred vision
• Symptoms often develop over days to weeks, more rapidly than type 2 diabetes
• Untreated, can progress to diabetic ketoacidosis — nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, rapid breathing, and confusion, a medical emergency

• Results from autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, so the body can no longer make enough insulin.
• The exact trigger is not fully understood, though genetic susceptibility plays a role.
• It is not caused by diet or lifestyle, unlike type 2 diabetes.

• Diagnosed with blood glucose testing showing levels consistent with diabetes, together with the typical rapid onset of symptoms, often in a child or young adult.
• Additional blood tests (such as antibody testing, where available) can help distinguish type 1 from type 2 diabetes.
• Ketones in the blood or urine support the diagnosis, particularly if presenting acutely unwell.

Lifelong insulin therapy, given by injection or pump, is essential from diagnosis, as the body cannot produce its own insulin.

Treatment is individualised, combining background (basal) insulin with mealtime (bolus) insulin doses adjusted to food intake, activity, and blood glucose readings.

Regular blood glucose monitoring is central to safe management, helping avoid both high glucose and dangerously low glucose (hypoglycaemia).

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a medical emergency requiring urgent hospital treatment with intravenous fluids and insulin.

• Take insulin consistently as prescribed and never stop it without medical guidance, even when unwell.
• Monitor blood glucose regularly and learn to recognise signs of both high and low blood sugar.
• Carry a fast-acting sugar source at all times in case of hypoglycaemia.
• Seek urgent care for persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, or rapid breathing, as these can indicate diabetic ketoacidosis.