Type 1 diabetes
What is it?
Your body’s cells get glucose from the blood for energy with the help of a hormone called insulin. In type 1 diabetes, your immune system stops insulin from being made and this means glucose levels build up in the blood. Type 1 diabetes can be managed, but cannot be prevented or cured yet.
Who is most likely to get it?
People of all ages get type 1 diabetes, but it usually starts in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. It is caused by a combination of genetic makeup and an environmental trigger such as a viral infection that you might have had many years ago.
How is it treated?
The insulin that your body has stopped making must be replaced. At the moment, insulin can only be taken by injection or continuous infusion. You and your doctor will decide what the best treatment option is for you.
What can I do to manage it?
It is important to learn as much as possible about type 1 diabetes and how to manage it. Seeing a Credentialled Diabetes Educator will help you decide on a course of action and develop a diabetes self management plan to suit your lifestyle and circumstances.
Need more information?
Your doctor can refer you to health care professionals who can assist you. You will also find more information in our Resource links section.
Credentialled Diabetes Educators are health care professionals who have specialised in diabetes and participate in ongoing learning to make sure their knowledge and skills are up-to-date. To find a Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE) close to where you live or work, please click on ‘Find a CDE’ to return to our home page and start your search.