What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s own immune system mistakenly destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Without insulin, cells throughout the body cannot take up energy from glucose, which leads to health complications such as high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia), low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), and long-term damage to nerves, vision, and vital organs.
Although T1D typically appears during childhood or adolescence, anyone can be at risk. According to JDRF, approximately 400,000 people are currently living with type 1 diabetes in the UK, including around 29,000 children. The number of new diagnoses of type 1 diabetes (also known as the incidence) is increasing by about four per cent each year.
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure or methods of prevention for type 1 diabetes. However, advances in medicine and technology do make the condition easier to diagnose, manage and treat.
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