What Is Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is usually diagnosed in children and young adults and can be mistakenly referred to as juvenile diabetes, even though this type of diabetes mellitus can surface in adults. People with Type 1 diabetes mellitus do not produce any insulin. They must take insulin injections everyday in order to stay alive and ensure that their body’s cells have this vital hormone. Currently, Type 1 diabetes mellitus accounts for roughly 5 to 10% of all people diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The disease is also commonly referred to as type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes.

How Does Type 1 Diabetes Occur?
In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce the hormone, insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body’s cells to turn glucose or sugar into energy. When we eat, our digestive system breaks that food into basic components. One of those components is glucose or sugar. This glucose is distributed to all the cells in our body via our blood. This is where we get the term blood glucose levels. As this glucose is distributed throughout our body, the hormone known as insulin acts in processing that sugar or glucose for the cells and turns them into the energy the cells use to function.

Simply put, glucose is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the glucose or sugar from the blood into the cells. Without the presence of insulin the glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells and can cause two problems. First, your cells begin to starve for the energy they need to function. And second, high blood glucose levels may damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.

This can all be very alarming when you first investigate the details of diabetes, however with good blood glucose monitoring skills, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise the complications of diabetes can be avoided. People with type 1 diabetes should consult their primary care physician or endocrynologist to develop a diabetes management plan. Once a plan is determined between you and your doctor, a blood glucose monitor that best fits into that plan should be chosen.