You see, insulin usually acts like a gatekeeper: it takes the glucose that your body converts from carbohydrates in your food and opens your cells so that it can enter them. What causes the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?Īll type 1 diabetes symptoms are caused by that lack of insulin. In that case, damaged beta cells mean your body either stops producing enough insulin, or it can’t produce insulin at all. In type 1 diabetes, your body’s immune system specifically attacks cells in your pancreas called beta cells, which produce the hormone insulin. This process is known as an autoimmune response. It can be triggered by a virus, such as the common cold or flu, and there is evidence that it has a genetic component as well.įollowing a viral infection, your body can sometimes malfunction and respond by attacking its own cells. Type 1 diabetes, sometimes known as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic autoimmune condition in which your pancreas loses the ability to produce insulin.
We’re here to empower you with clear answers to all your pressing Qs. That means you’ll likely have to deal with symptoms at least a few times in your life, no matter how diligently you monitor your blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes is a permanent condition. With Ilana Halperin MD and Elena Christofides MD
