Type I diabetes

Type I Diabetes
Type I diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin, a hormone manufactured and secreted by the pancreas. People with type I diabetes produce little or no insulin at all because their immune systems attack and destroy the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Although it is not clear what specifically causes type I diabetes, it is believed that exposure to a toxin or viral infection may trigger this autoimmune attack in genetically susceptible individuals. In type I diabetes, beta cells are destroyed gradually, but symptoms do not appear until at least 80% of the cells are affected.

Type I is more likely to occur in childhood or adolescence and remain throughout life as there is no cure. The only treatment is regular monitoring of blood sugar and injection of insulin as needed to regulate the levels of blood sugar.However, effective treatment allows most people with Type I diabetes to live long lives. Of all diabetes cases, approximately five to ten percent are Type I.