Type 1, or Juvenile diabetes is the body attacking itself

A form of diabetes that usually begins in childhood, and requires treatment with insulin. The pancreas does not produce the insulin the body needs to properly use energy. It is also called Juvenile Diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes.

AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

The immune system protects the body against illness by attacking foreign organisms, most commonly viruses or bacteria. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system has mistaken a part of the body as something “foreign” and begins attacking itself. 

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks certain cells in the pancreas called beta cells. Beta cells are responsible for producing insulin, which helps regulate the body’s blood sugar (or blood glucose). Since patients with this disease cannot produce their own insulin, they must regularly monitor their blood sugar levels and take insulin injections when their glucose levels get too high. Currently, there is no known cure for the disease.

CAUSES OF TYPE 1 DIABETES

The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown; however, researchers know that both genetic and environmental factors play a part in triggering the disease. Since it is estimated that only about 10% to 15% of type 1 diabetes patients have a first-degree relative (a parent, sibling, or child) who shares the disease, it appears that genes only play a small role in its development. Researchers are currently investigating potential environmental triggers for this disease.