Type 1diabetes is caused by autoimmune reaction (body attacks its own cells), this reaction destroys beta cells of pancreas that make insulin.

People with type 1 diabetes may have one or more of the following diagnoses:

Ketosis
Rapid weight loss
Onset occurs before age 50 years (Not use alone for diagnosis)
Personal and/or family history of autoimmune diseases
Body mass index is less than 25kg/m2 (Not used alone for diagnosis)

Type 1diabetes is less common than type 2, about 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1

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Symptoms:
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Polydipsia: feeling thirsty
Polyphagia: feeling hungry
Frequent urination, especially at night
General fatigue
Abnormal weight loss
Blurred vision
Slow healing wounds and skin infection
Fruity breath: one sign of ketosis
Numbness and tingling especially at extremities
Urinary tract infections

‍When to see the doctor?

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To book an appointment with us visit fuh.okadoc.com

Early care plans are very important to ensure the proper diagnosis, review medications and to detect any vascular risk factors.

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‍Diagnosis:

1. Diabetes specific autoantibodies.
2. If the first test result is negative and diabetes classification is unclear, consider measuring non fasting C-peptide     serum.
3. Glycated hemoglobin A1C test: which measures the amount of blood glucose attached to oxygen- carrying     protein in red blood cells, A1C level greater than 6.5%indicates diabetes.
4. Random blood sugar test: a blood sample is taken at any time during the day, if it’s greater than 200mg/dl     indicates diabetes.
5. Fasting blood sugar test: a blood sample is taken after fasting overnight, if blood sugar level is 100mg/dl -      125mg/dl is considered prediabetes, if greater than 125mg/dl, that indicates diabetes.
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Risk Factors:

Personal and/or family history of auto immune diseases
Age: It occurs at any age but usually, it develops in children

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Complications:

Type 1diabetes affects major organs in the body.

·       Cardiovascular diseases: Hypertension, angina with chest pain, heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis.
·       Kidney damage (nephropathy).
·       Nerve damage (neuropathy): High blood sugar levels affect the blood vessels that feed the nerves which         affect the extremities especially legs causing tingling, numbness and burning sensations.
·       Eye damage (Diabetic retinopathy): Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the retina which may cause         blindness, also it can cause other conditions such as cataract or glaucoma.
·       Periodontitis (serious gum disease inflammation).
·       Diabetic foot
·       Skin infections
·       Diabetic Ketoacidosis
·       Gastroparesis: which impairs digestion
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Lifestyle and Self-care:

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Nutrition:

·      Eating a well-balanced diet with proper amounts of Carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
·      Do not try to reduce the amount of carbohydrates (type of sugars that our bodies use as a source of energy)        which is found in rice, pasta, bread, vegetables as potatoes, dairy products or juices that contain sugar.
·      It’s best for the carbohydrate intake to be from whole grains as oats, low fat dairy products, fruits and       vegetables.
·      Avoid skipping meals.
·      For proteins, it’s best to eat lean meats as fish, chicken, eggs and nuts and avoid synthetic products as sausages.
·      Avoid saturated and trans fats which increases the risk of heart problems and opt for adding to your diet        monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats such  as avocado and olive oil.
·      Eating foods rich in fiber helps to regulate the blood glucose level and it’s found in oats, fruits and vegetables.
·      For Diabetic and hypertensive patients, try to reduce the salt intake and replace it with other spices.
·      Seek for doctor’s advice to optimize insulin’s regimen when fasting for Ramadan.
·      Replace the sugar with more natural products as Stevia.
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Physical activity:

Walking 30 minutes a day or most days of the week can help prevent cardiovascular problems.
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Blood glucose management:

·    Measure HBA1C every 3-6 months (target less than or equals to 6.5%).
·    Consider having an accurate glucose monitoring device to measure the blood glucose level regularly (at least      4 times a day (including before each meal and before bed). 

Insulin delivery:

·       Subcutaneous injection is done using either insulin pump or pens (into abdominal wall, leg, arm or buttocks).
·       Clean the site of injection, the needle should be inserted into a lifted skinfold.

Patient support:

We offer at Fakeeh University Hospital a wide range of support for our patients, from glucose monitoring devises, insulin pumps, supplements (multi-vitamins and diabetic supports) for more details, don’t hesitate to check our FUH online products below:
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References:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng17(accessed at 10:00 am on 7/12/2023)
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/index.html(accessed at 10:00am on 7/12/2023)

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