Disadvantaged by genes: What diabetes type 1 means
Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) is considered the most widespread metabolic disorder in its medical definition. In Germany and other industrialized nations, almost one in ten adults is affected by or at risk of the disease. Medicine defines and classifies diabetes into different subgroups in order to more clearly outline specific features of the clinical picture. Diabetes mellitus type 1 is one of these classified groups.
Genetic autoimmune disease
Unlike the other groups, type 1 is considered a genetic autoimmune disease. This means that the causes of a disease of this type are not primarily to be found in an unhealthy lifestyle or ignoring warning signs or symptoms, but that the disease is caused solely by hereditary disturbances of genetic information. This classification is important for the lifelong therapy of type 1 patients. Diabetes type-1 is not "curable" and accompanies the patient throughout his or her life, and the disease can usually be diagnosed in early childhood. The immediate effect of this disease is the total failure of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Studies showed that the hereditary predisposition is not strong in this form of diabetes. This means that the children of parents suffering from diabetes do not necessarily also suffer from the disease. Although the risk factor is incomparably higher, diabetes behaves here in the same way as other genetic abnormalities, such as short stature or other mutations. So the disease is not "automatically" passed on to the children. Nevertheless, the tendency to insensitivity to the hormone insulin may very well be inherited information. For example, if one parent lives with type 1 diabetes, there is a 50 percent chance that the offspring will also develop the disease. If both parents are affected, the probability increases to around 80 percent.
Exact causes unclear
The exact causes of type 1 diabetes have not yet been fully elucidated. What is known and adequately defined is that type 1 diabetes is a polygenic disease, the various disease-relevant gene information of which is suspected to be related to more than 20 different factors. The probability of developing diabetes type 1 is indeed very high as soon as other family members suffer from the disease. Type 1 diabetes is also promoted by the immune system attacking and destroying the body's own insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The exact causes of this defective defense function are also still awaiting a scientific explanation. What is clear is that the earlier this inflammatory process is set in motion, the faster it proceeds. For this reason, type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed in most cases in very young children. When the insulin-producing cells are destroyed, the transport of glucose into the cells fails because the messenger substance - insulin - is missing. This leads to an "uncontrolled" increase in blood glucose levels. Thus, the body is prevented from breaking down its own fat reserves and returning them to the body as energy. As a result, people suffering from diabetes tend to gain weight. An indication of having type 1 diabetes would be a scenario in which, despite a healthy and balanced diet, one tends to gain weight rather than lose it.
What are the consequences?
Since the destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas cannot be regulated or even "repaired" by the body, the insulin deficiency produced by the body is permanent and irreparable. Diabetes type 1 patients inject insulin throughout their lives to prevent hyperglycemia. This therapeutic measure is of urgent importance, as hyperglycemia can lead to considerably dire consequences. One of the most dramatic scenarios of such hyperglycemia is diabetic coma. Likewise, patents who neglect their insulin balance must expect, for example, partial leg amputation. Such cases are not uncommon, but usually occur when a patient ignores his or her disease progression over a long period of time. Since elevated blood glucose levels or a lack of insulin do not cause physical pain and cannot be identified by really clearly recognizable symptoms, dire consequences often occur. It is imperative that, once diabetes type 1 has been diagnosed, the patient is adjusted to his or her insulin requirements by a physician and then also conscientiously treated. Since type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood, patients must also keep in mind that insulin requirements always change with age or different life situations. In addition to conscientiously administered insulin injections, regular visits to the doctor are therefore a must in the agenda of a diabetes type 1 patient.
How does insulin injection work?
Insulin syringes are now designed in such a way that they do not have to be administered by healthcare professionals, but patients can give themselves such syringes. This is usually done via an injection into the tissue of the thigh. The needles of insulin syringes are usually so thin that even "fear patients" (fear of injections) have little problem giving themselves such a syringe.
Is diabetes a limitation in the life course?
Finally, it should be mentioned that there is certainly not much positive to be gained from any disease. However, in contrast to other genetic diseases, type 1 diabetes affects patients far less in the course of their lives. With a diabetes type 1 disease, one will therefore not suffer any restrictions that will have a lasting effect on one's occupation or leisure activities. The only exception might be the "excessive consumption" of sweets, which adds to an already troubled blood glucose level. These borders set themselves however also enough humans, who do not suffer from diabetes, since it belongs meanwhile to the "mode" of a healthy-oriented nutrition. Even the food industry has already recognized that there is generally too much sugar in food and is trying to regulate this with various designs and requirements.
On the medical side, research into diabetes is also being carried out with vigor. Due to the comparatively high number of people affected, the German Federal Ministry of Health has made millions of euros available for this purpose. Medicine and industry are therefore working on concepts to further reduce the negative effects of diabetes. If patients behave "sensibly," they will be able to live with the disease without experiencing any major disadvantages vis-à-vis their fellow human beings.
Sugar shock causes disorientation, seizures, paralysis and unconsciousness. The affected person is dependent on the help of others and must be treated immediately by an emergency physician. If left untreated, it can be fatal. </p>
The symptoms of diabetes include a constant need to urinate, a strong thirst, fatigue and tiredness, dry or itchy skin, weight loss, poor wound healing and increased susceptibility to infections. Type 1 diabetes develops within a few weeks and manifests itself with the typical symptoms; additionally, the breath may smell of acetone. In type 2 diabetes, the symptoms are usually more severe and are therefore ignored; the disease is often only recognized after acute hypoglycemia. </p>
Hyperthyroidism increases insulin resistance, the pancreas secretes less insulin, and the liver produces more glucose, increasing blood glucose levels. In the case of hypofunction, the need for insulin is reduced because the entire metabolism slows down and thus gastrointestinal activity is also reduced and the absorption of glucose is decreased. In addition, sensitivity to insulin increases. </p>
An adjusted diet high in fiber and low in sugar in combination with exercise has been shown to lower blood glucose. Various foods are also thought to have a positive effect on blood sugar levels: Äapples, nüsse, garlic, fish, olive öl, ginseng, cinnamon, aloe vera and grünem leafy vegetables. Caution is advised with cinnamon, the coumarin contained can cause liver damage and is suspected of being carcinogenic. When simultaneously taking blood sugar-lowering drugs, cinnamon should be taken only after consultation with the doctor. </p>
If there is inflammation in the body, stress hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol are released, which leads to increased sugar production in the liver and increases blood sugar levels. Pulmonary inflammation, joint inflammation but also gastrointestinal inflammation are some examples that can trigger the release of stress hormones. </p>
Conclusion
Nevertheless, diabetes type 1 remains a serious disease whose "inconspicuous course" may also involve the risk of completely overlooking or ignoring the disease and how to deal with it. Comprehensive communication with the attending physician is therefore a permanent obligation; even and especially when apparently no symptoms occur. However, this procedure applies not only to diabetes, but in principle to all chronic diseases. The diabetes patient is therefore no more disadvantaged in this sector than patients with other diseases are.
