What is Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is a condition that affects how your body uses a special sugar called glucose. Glucose is like fuel for your body, giving you energy to run, play, and do all the things you love. But in type 1 diabetes, something goes wrong with the way your body handles glucose. So why does this happen?

Your body is made up of billions of units called cells. The cell is where glucose is turned into energy to power your body – just like a car turns gasoline into the energy to move. The special type of energy your body uses is called ATP.

Glucose travels through your blood to get to different parts of your body. When they reach their destination, they need a key to enter the cell. This key is called insulin. Insulin is what we call a hormone – hormones are messengers in the body that tell cells what to do!

The pancreas is an organ in your body that makes this key. The special cell that makes insulin is called the beta cell.

In Type 1 diabetes, the beta cells stop making insulin, which means that the glucose can’t get inside the cells. 

Without the key to enter the cells, the glucose will stay in your blood. When there is too much glucose in your bloodstream, it can be harmful to your body. Also, your cells can’t get the energy they need. How do we fix this?

First, to make sure everything is going well, people with type 1 diabetes need to check their blood sugar levels regularly. This is done by pricking their finger with a tiny needle and placing a drop of blood on a special strip. The strip is put into a small machine called a glucose meter, which tells them how much glucose is in their blood. It helps them know if they need more or less insulin.

You can also use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). This is a small sensor that sits on your body. A thin wire that goes under your skin will measure the amount of glucose in your body, and then send this information to a separate transmitter or your phone.

Second, people with type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin to make up for what their body can’t produce. Insulin can be injected using a special pen or a pump, which helps the glucose move from the blood into the cells.

In addition to taking insulin and checking blood sugar, there are other things you can do to stay healthy with type 1 diabetes. Eating healthy foods, being active, and getting enough sleep are important for everyone, but they are especially important for managing diabetes. It’s also important to work closely with doctors and nurses who specialize in diabetes care to learn more about managing the condition.

Conclusion/TLDR:

Type 1 diabetes is a condition that affects how your body uses glucose, the energy source for your body. It happens when the pancreas can’t make insulin, which is a hormone that helps glucose get inside your cells. With the help of insulin, glucose monitoring, healthy eating, managing your mood, and regular exercise, people with type 1 diabetes can live happy and healthy lives. Remember, you are not alone, and many people are here to support you along the way!