Type 1 diabetes—also known as juvenile diabetes—is a chronic
condition where the body's pancreas makes little insulin or stops
its secretion altogether. Insulin is a hormone required to lower the
blood sugar level by breaking down the sugar (glucose) and making
them enter the body's cells to produce energy. If there will be no
insulin, glucose will accumulate in the bloodstream causing the
blood sugar level to rise. This can lead to heart diseases, kidney
failure, eyes and nerves damage, and even death in severe cases. Its
exact cause is unknown. Usually, the body's own immune system
attacks the islet cells in pancreas and destroys them. Islet cells
produce insulin. This can happen due to both genetic and
environmental factors (such as exposure to viruses).
Although type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or
adolescence, it can also develop in adults. Its symptoms include:
frequent urination, getting thirsty and hungry, feeling tired and
weak, losing weight and having blurry vision. Despite intense
research, there is no cure for this condition.The only way to
prevent damage to your body organs is to take insulin regularly to
control blood sugar level. Healthy diet and lifestyle can also help
manage your condition but taking insulin is a must. Healthy diet
includes eating food that has a high amount of protein (eggs, fish,
beans and lentils), eating non-starchy vegetables, choosing whole
grains and staying hydrated. Added sugars, refined grains such as
white bread, processed foods, sugary breakfast cereals, sweets such
as cakes and candies, sugary drinks, fried foods and those high in
saturated fats, and alcoholic beverages should be avoided.
Our patient—who we'll refer to as Saba for anonymity purposes—is a
21 year old student from Pakistan who fights against diabetes with
her utmost courage and resilience. She was diagnosed with diabetes
type 1 at the age of 12 when she was studying in grade 7. When she
got diagnosed, it didn't affect her much mentally due to continuous
and positive support from her family and doctors. Also, she was just
12 years old, so couldn't understand much and was treated like a
normal human being. However, it was quite a painful experience
physically as the body's pancreas stopped producing insulin and
glucagon. She was admitted to the ICU and the initial phase was
difficult for her, nonetheless she survived. After that, she is
leading a normal life but has to inject insulin before every meal.
This is what she has to say when asked about family support or how
the disease affected her family, social and work life. "For me, I
think that my family and friends became more possessive and
protective to ensure that nothing goes wrong with my health. Since I
was studying at that time and with the significant support
especially of my family, nothing affected my studies. They closely
monitored everything and prioritized my health above all else. As
for the social life and work life, it wasn't affected much except
that initially, I try to hide it from people due to the judgements
that they pass. Also they consider you weak and vulnerable then. But
over time, I have overcome this and now I am living a good life."
Her life's plans remain unchanged, however she added a goal to her
life which is to serve as an example for all those who believe they
can't achieve greatness while dealing with diabetes or any other
disease.
"I am currently enjoying life to the fullest because I've learned to
manage my condition very well through a controlled diet and regular
exercise. One of the most important lessons this disease has taught
me is patience—the patience to achieve goals over the long term. And
consistency because without it, optimal results are hard to attain I
believe. You might wonder how so let me clear it. When my blood
sugar levels are high and ketones are positive (ketones appear when
body's cells don't get glucose to produce energy, instead they burn
fats which result in the production of ketones), I choose exercise
as my response. It's a continuous effort and so tiring but it not
only refreshes me mentally and spiritually, but also keeps me
physically fit. Simultaneously, my inner voice tells me 'stay calm
buddy, relax, be patient, your blood sugar level will soon drop to
180'. So I remind myself of this process during ever challenging
times in my life."
But despite many positives in her life such as her family over
carefulness and support, one thing she has noticed over time is that
people's responses often tend to be impulsive focusing on potential
consequences that may or may not actually happen. They overlook the
pain the patient already endures and this can be very disturbing for
the patient's mental health. It usually happens when sometimes she
suffers high blood sugar levels.
Finally, the advice to the people is that "Dealing with diabetes
isn't as daunting as it may seem. All it requires is maintaining
your composure and calmness, checking the temperature of your
insulin, injecting it at the right time, and most importantly,
adhering to a controlled diet along with regular exercise. Remember,
you and I are not alone—countless others manage this condition and
thrive in their journeys. Throw away any negative thoughts and focus
on the world you've envisioned for yourself. This disease can't harm
us unless we allow it to. Stay happy, cool and calm!"
As of 2021, around 8.4 million people suffer from diabetes Type 1
that accounts for approximately 5-10% of all diagnosed cases of
diabetes. A constant global rise has been observed in its incidence,
though the reasons for this rise are not completely understood. Many
believe environmental factors to be playing a part. Though there is
no permanent cure for diabetes type 1, one can manage it through
insulin's injection, controlled diet and regular exercise,and can
live a pretty normal life.
Sources
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20353011
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-1-diabetes/living-with-type-1-diabetes/avoiding-complications/
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/diabetes/type-1-diabetes
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(22)00218-2/fulltext
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/what-is-type-1-diabetes.html
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/type-1-diabetes-diet#foods-to-avoid