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Symptoms and Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes is much less common than type 2, accounting for only 5-10% of diabetes cases. Unlike type 2 which is more common in older adults, type 1 is typically diagnosed before the age of 30.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Diabetes type 1 is an autoimmune disease in which the beta cells (insulin producing cells) located in the pancreas are destroyed over a period of time. The more beta cells are destroyed the less insulin that can be made. This results in a lifelong deficiency of insulin and dependency on insulin from external sources.

Autoimmune refers to a condition in which the body mistakes its own cells (the beta cells) for invader cells and destroys them. While the exact cause is unknown, the autoimmune process is thought to be the result of genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger. This event sets off a chain reaction that causes the B cells of the immune system to creates proteins called antibodies that mark the beta cells and signal for their destruction by other parts of the immune response team. The CD4 and CD8T Cells are the soldiers who sniff out and destroy the tagged beta cells

Progression of Type 1 Diabetes

Before overt diabetes occurs the patient will be in a phase called pre-diabetes. In pre-diabetes the pancreas will work double time to maintain normal blood glucose levels. The hallmark of pre-diabetes is the presence of GAD, ICA, IAA antibodies. In addition there will be evidence of beta cell injury and a decrease in the amount of insulin being produced.

The patient is considered to be in overt diabetes once the number of beta cells is reduced to less than one fourth and the body is no longer able to produce enough insulin to keep up with the demands of the body. At this point blood sugar will be significantly elevated.

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

Symptoms vary per person but typically include the following

Frequent urination: including waking at night to urinate and bed wetting
Weight loss: since glucose is not being used as an energy source, the body must find other energy sources and does so by breaking down fat and muscle
Thirst
Hunger
Blurred Vision
Drowsiness
Nausea
Vomit
Skin, bladder, vaginal infections

The classic 3 P’s of Diabetes; polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyphagia (hunger). Thirst is due to dehydration. Frequent urination is due to the body trying to expel the excess sugar through the urine. Both high and low blood sugar cause hunger.

Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

Once diagnosed with type 1 diabetes patients will be started on insulin treatments for life. The amount of insulin needed will be individualized, but the typical starting dose is 0.4-1.0 units/kg/day.

Insulin

Insulin injections can be given in long, intermediate, short, or rapid-acting form
In most cases insulin is given in a long or intermediate form for maintenance and then a “bolus” or rapid-acting insulin is given at mealtime

Basal/Bolus schedules

Basal: half of the daily insulin is given in long acting form
Bolus: half of daily insulin is split into 3 and rapid acting is given 3x per day to cover every meal

Calculating insulin doses

Patient weighs 60kg (pounds/2.2= kg) and the insulin dose prescribed is 0.5 units per kg

To calculate the daily insulin dose
- amount of units needed x kg
- 0.5units/kg= 30 units insulin per day

TO calculate the basal bolus dose if the total daily insulin coverage needed is 30

50% of that needs to be basal dose= 15 units of long acting
50% of that 30 needs to be bolus, then divided by 3 meals= 5 units of rapid acting per meal

How to administer insulin

90 degree injection angle, inject then count to 10 before removing the needle
Injection sites: abdomen, thighs, back of arms, buttock
Choose an injection site, such as the abdomen, and rotate where you insert the needle within that same site to provide a consistent rate of absorption as well as prevent skin breakdown
Do not change body site locations daily as different body parts absorb the medication at different rates, the abdomen absorbs most quickly.

Storage of insulin

Refrigerate insulin for prolonged storage
May be left at room temp for up to 1 month
DO NOT keep in hot temperatures

Insulin Side Effects:

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- from too much insulin or not enough food
Weight gain
Injection site skin breakdown from not rotating the site enough

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