What is What With Type 1?

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes:

1. Extreme thirst
2. Frequent urination
3. Sudden changes in vision
4. Sugar in urine
5. Fruity, sweet, or wine-like odor or breath
6. Increase in hunger
7. Sudden weight loss
8. Drowsiness, lethargy
9. Unconsciousness

• High blood sugar (a.k.a., Hyperglycemia):

1. Thirst (dehydration)
2. Frequent urination
3. Blurry vision
4. Stomach pain
5. Increased hunger
6. Nausea
7. Drowsiness, lethargy, exhaustion
8. Confusion
9. Sweating
10. Fruity, sweet, or wine-like odor or breath
11. Vomiting
12. Inability to concentrate
13. Weight loss (a long-term symptom) that will lead to a coma

(Source: http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=108123)

• Low blood sugar (a.k.a., Hypoglycemia):

1. Dizziness
2. Nervousness
3. Personality change/irrational behavior
4. Blurry vision
5. Shakiness
6. Nausea
7. Crying
8. Sluggishness
9. Sweating
10. Poor coordination
11. Hunger
12. Light-headness
13. Irritablitlity
14. Drowsiness
15. Erratic response to questions
16. Inability to concentrate
17. Convulsions*
18. Unconsciousness*

* These symptoms are very severe and must be followed by immediate action

(Source: http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=108124)

• What does it mean to have a "high blood sugar"?

To have a high blood sugar means that the body has too much sugar (glucose) in its blood stream. This can result from:

1. Not a sufficient amount of insulin injected
2. Eating more than permitted
3. Eating before it's time to
4. Eating food with high amounts of glucose with no extra injections
5. Injecting insulin where there is a slower absorption rate
6. Skipping a dose of insulin
7. A clog in the tubing of the insulin pump (if one is owned)
8. A decrease in exercise
9. Stress
10. Illness or injury
11. Other hormones
12. Medication

A high blood sugar is usually not to be worried about (if it doesn't go above 400, that is) but, if there is a constant amount of high levels, it can lead to heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and amputation of limbs. Hyperglycemia, as high blood sugar is also referred to as, can lead to DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis), a "diabetic coma." It happens when cells can not receive the required amount of energy from the glucose, and the body begins to burn stored fat and tissue. Byproducts, known as ketones, which can be dangerous at high levels. They become a poison-like substance to the body and are passed through urine as they accumulate in the blood stream.

(Sourcehttp://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=108123)

• What does it mean to have a "low blood sugar"?

Having a "low blood sugar" is the most frequent and most harmful condition for many people with T1D (Type 1 Diabetes). It occurs when the body has very little glucose to turn into energy. This can result from:

1. An overdose of insulin
2. Not eating enough
3. Eating after it's time to
4. Being injected where there is a higher absorption rate than usual
5. Injecting more insulin without eating extra food
6. Exercising more
7. Illness or injury
8. Other hormones
9. Medication interaction

(Source: http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=108124)

For more information on what Type 1 Diabetes looks like, visit http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=103438