Guide To The Most Common Autoimmune Diseases

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease where the patient's pancreas produces too little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone that manages blood sugar by providing a way for glucose to enter the cells from the blood. The most common cause of type 1 diabetes is an abnormal immune system response where the antibodies produced are inappropriately programmed to destroy islet cells. Islet cells are the cells in the pancreas responsible for the production of insulin.

As their pancreas does not function, a type 1 diabetes patient must manually manage their blood sugar through medications, diet, and specialized monitoring equipment. Insulin injections are necessary to provide the hormone in place of the pancreas. An individual with type 1 diabetes has to be diligent about managing their blood sugar. The reason is to avoid complications, which include heart disease, neuropathy, nephropathy, eye damage, and foot damage.