What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type1 diabetes, once referred to as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone necessary to allow sugar (glucose) in cells to produce the energy. Type 2 diabetes, which is much more common, occurs when the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or does not make enough insulin.

Various factors may contribute to type1 diabetes, including genetics and exposure to certain viruses. Although type1 diabetes usually appears during adolescence, it can develop at any age. Despite active research, type 1 diabetes cannot be cured, although it can be managed. With proper treatment, people with type 1 diabetes can expect to live longer, healthier lives than ever before.

There is nothing you could have done to prevent type 1 diabetes, there is currently no known way to prevent the disease. But researchers are working on the prevention of type 1 diabetes in people who are at high risk of developing the disease, and others working on the prevention of further destruction of pancreatic islet cells in people who are newly diagnosed. Ask your doctor if you may be eligible for one of these tests, but carefully weigh the risks and benefits of all available treatment in a clinical trial. You can find more information on the types of research from Net, a collaboration of researchers on diabetes.