Type 1 is the most serious kind of diabetes, and without proper treatment it can lead to a multitude of health complications. The disease occurs when a person’s pancreas ceases to function, and the body no longer creates insulin. Amy Martin, Diabetes Educator for Washington County Hospital and Clinics, says people normally think type 1 is hereditary. However, she says while people with a family history are susceptible, most people get the disease as a result of a traumatic injury or illness that causes the pancreas to shut down. There is no cure or chance of remission for type 1 diabetes like there is with prediabetes or type 2, and it can only be treated by receiving insulin daily. Insulin can be given through injections, insulin pens, or even pumps that monitor food intake and blood sugar to automatically deliver proper doses of insulin.

Martin says diabetes can affect anywhere the blood flows, which is pretty much the whole body. While health complications can arise with any form of diabetes, type 1 is where they are typically seen. These problems range from heart disease to strokes, or even the loss of limbs. Martin says the risks are significantly decreased if people keep their blood sugars in good control after they get diagnosed with diabetes. If they do, their risk of complications like nerve damage, kidney damage, and amputation are decreased by as much as 75%, which she says makes a big difference. For more information about type 1 diabetes and National Diabetes Awareness Month, listen to the In Touch with Southeast Iowa interview with Martin at KCIIRadio.com.