American Diabetes Month: Type 1 Diabetes

By Rep. Lynn A. Westmoreland
November 9, 2012

Diabetes is the result of when the body fails to produce insulin. Insulin is the hormone produced in the pancreas to break down sugar, starches and other food. Your body breaks down these foods containing glucose to convert it into energy for our daily lives. If your body can’t break down the glucose, then it isn’t getting the energy it needs.

Type 1 diabetes, also known as Juvenile diabetes, is diagnosed mostly in children and young adults. Type 1 means the body doesn’t produce insulin at all, and the glucose in the blood stream isn’t getting broken down. Being diagnosed with type 1 isn’t a result of poor diet or lifestyle; there’s nothing you can do to prevent it or get rid of it. Factors include genetics and virus exposure, but we still don’t know the cause.

Living with Type 1 diabetes means monitoring your body’s glucose levels and replacing the missing insulin through injections. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise, balancing nutrition and glucose management are important when living with Type 1.

Next week, I will discuss Type 2 diabetes. As American Diabetes Month continues, please take a moment to share what A Day in the Life of Diabetes means to you.