Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease, caused by the immune system destroying the insulin-producing Beta cells of the pancreas, requiring lifelong treatment.
Doctor Ta Thuy Linh, in charge of the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Central Endocrine Hospital, said type 1 diabetes occurs at all ages but is more common in children, adolescents and young people. year old. This is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the patient’s own immune system attacks and destroys part or all of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The causes are often related to genetic factors and environmental impacts.
The disease often starts with quite severe symptoms in a short period of time such as increased thirst, drinking a lot, urinating a lot, and rapid weight loss during the 2-6 weeks before admission to the hospital. Some more severe cases can lead to coma due to ketoacidosis or increased blood osmotic pressure. During this period, the patient may have other symptoms such as epigastric pain; Vomiting and nausea can lead to misdiagnosis with other diseases.
At the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes admitted to the hospital are mainly young patients, many of whom are minors. Most of these cases have been detected and treated locally, but due to lack of proper understanding of the disease and lack of knowledge in the treatment process and drug use, many people do not achieve treatment goals, leading to many complications. proof.
Like the case of a 25-year-old female patient in Hung Yen who was hospitalized with high blood sugar. Examination results showed that the patient had eye, kidney and nerve complications due to type 1 diabetes. The doctor determined that this was a case of poor blood sugar control due to lack of compliance with nutrition and treatment as well as no knowledge about the disease. Patients need to quickly control their blood sugar to treat and prevent complications.
People measure blood sugar at the National Endocrine Hospital. Image: Hospital provided
According to the doctor, for patients with type 1 diabetes, insulin is especially important. If insulin deficiency is used or insulin treatment is stopped suddenly or accompanied by other risk factors such as infection, trauma, stress, myocardial infarction… it will promote diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a serious complication that often occurs in patients with type 1 diabetes and can cause sequelae and even death if not treated promptly.
Many other chronic complications of type 1 diabetes can also occur such as kidney complications leading to kidney failure, retinal complications leading to blindness; Possible major vascular complications such as myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, lower limb arterial disease; greatly affects the health, reduces the quality of life and reduces the patient’s life span.
Patients are also susceptible to hypoglycemia due to inappropriate insulin use. Insulin regimen and dosage are calculated by doctors to suit each patient’s medical characteristics as well as diet and exercise. However, some patients eat too little starch or do too much physical activity, which can cause hypoglycemia.
Another common cause that can cause hypoglycemia in patients is incorrect insulin injection. Patients may inject too high a dose, too far away from meals, or have incorrect injection techniques, leading to too rapid absorption of insulin into the body, also leading to hypoglycemia.
In addition to notes about diet, exercise, and proper use of insulin, patients need to prevent complications. Because even people with good blood sugar control are still likely to develop complications of the disease. Be sure to see a doctor if you have symptoms: Blood sugar levels are higher; numbness, numbness or pain in the feet and legs; have vision problems; ulcers or infections in the feet; depression or anxiety disorder;
Symptoms that blood sugar is too low: hunger, fatigue, hand tremors, sweating, irritability, fast heart rate, dizziness, lightheadedness. Blood sugar index less than 70mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L).
Symptoms that show blood sugar is too high: thirst, dry skin, fatigue, frequent urination, weight loss.
Unlike type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle, type 1 diabetes is almost impossible to prevent. The most important thing is to pay attention to symptoms of hyperglycemia such as increased thirst, drinking a lot, urinating a lot, and weight loss, especially in children. Children whose relatives (father, mother, siblings) have type 1 diabetes can have an antibody test to determine their risk of developing the disease.