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Diabetes - type 1

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of type 1 diabetes.


Alternative Names

Type 1 diabetes; Insulin-dependent diabetes; Juvenile diabetes


Symptoms

The process that destroys the insulin-producing beta cells can be a long and insidious one. At the point when insulin production bottoms out, however, type 1 diabetes usually appears suddenly and progresses quickly. Warning signs of type 1 diabetes include:

  • Frequent urination (in children, a recurrence of bed-wetting after toilet training has been completed)
  • Unusual thirst, especially for sweet, cold drinks
  • Extreme hunger
  • Sudden, sometimes dramatic, weight loss
  • Weakness
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Blurred vision or other changes in eyesight
  • Irritability
  • Nausea and vomiting (acute symptoms)

Children with type 1 diabetes may also be restless, apathetic, and have trouble functioning at school. In severe cases, diabetic coma may be the first sign of type 1 diabetes.


  • Review Date: 7/18/2006
  • Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital
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