What is Type 1 Diabetes?

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

You will often see Type 1 Diabetes referred to as T1D or even Type 1. They are all the same thing, it is a chronic autoimmune disease where the pancreas is not able to produce insulin. This makes the person unable to regulate their blood glucose levels, creating a life-long dependence on the insulin. 

 

Yes, somebody with T1 can still run a marathon.

Yes, somebody with T1 can still have that birthday cake.

And, yes, somebody with T1 can still have a long and fulfilling life.

 

But each with activity, bite of food, stress level, etc., blood glucose (BG) must be accounted for with insulin or fast acting sugar (such as skittles, glucose tabs or apple juice in Nora’s case).

It's important to remember, even though they are both "diabetes", type 1 and type  2 are very different.