A chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.

It typically appears in adolescence. Treatment aims at maintaining normal blood sugar levels through regular monitoring, insulin therapy, diet and exercise.

Symptoms

Type 1 diabetes symptoms can appear suddenly and may include:

• Feeling more thirsty than usual
• Urinating a lot
• Bed-wetting in children who have never wet the bed during the night
• Feeling very hungry
• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling irritable or having other mood changes
• Feeling tired and weak
• Having blurry vision

Causes

The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Usually, the body's own immune system — which normally fights harmful bacteria and viruses — destroys the insulin-producing (islet) cells in the pancreas. Other possible causes include:

• Genetics
• Exposure to viruses and other environmental factors

Risk factors

Some factors that can raise your risk for type 1 diabetes include:

• Family history: Anyone with a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes has a slightly higher risk of developing the condition.
• Genetics: Having certain genes increases the risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
• Geography: The number of people who have type 1 diabetes tends to be higher as you travel away from the equator.
• Age: Type 1 diabetes can appear at any age, but it appears at two noticeable peaks. The first peak occurs in children between 4 and 7 years old. The second is in children between 10 and 14 years old.

Complications

Over time, type 1 diabetes complications can affect major organs in the body. These organs include the heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Having a normal blood sugar level can lower the risk of many complications.

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