BACKGROUND: What is Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin lets the glucose from the bloodstream enter the cells. Without insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, causing dangerously high blood sugars. Since glucose can't enter the cells to be converted into energy, the body tries to burn fat for energy instead. As a result, the blood becomes highly acidic. When not treated, type 1 diabetes results in death.
Fran Cogen, MD, CDE, Director of Diabetes Services at Children's National, Washington DC
30,000 people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the U.S. each year. 26 million Americans have some kind of diabetes.
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Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes
"Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders whose underlying feature is hyperglycemia [high blood glucose]. The immune system of patients with type 1 DM targets and destroys pancreatic beta-cells such that little or no insulin is produced. In patients with type 2 DM, target tissues become resistant to the effects of insulin and pancreatic beta-cells become dysfunctional. While patients with type 2 DM produce some insulin, the amount is sub-optimal for effective blood glucose regulation. If left untreated, hyperglycemia leads to various long-term complications." [Banting House NHSC]