Type 1 diabetes – Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but usually appears before the age of 40, particularly in childhood. Around 10% of all diabetes is type 1. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas (a small gland behind the stomach) progressively reduces the amount of insulin (the hormone that regulates blood glucose levels) it produces until it stops producing any at all.
Can type 1 diabetes happen at any age?
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.
Does diabetes type 1 last forever?
Recent estimates of the reduction in life expectancy caused by type 1 diabetes vary from 7.6 to 19 years. Life expectancy estimates for individuals with type 1 diabetes in these reports ranged from approximately 65 years of age to 72 years of age.
Is type 1 diabetes reversible in early stages?
Diabetes Treatment Basics – The first thing to understand when it comes to treating diabetes is your blood glucose level, which is the amount of glucose in the blood. Glucose is a sugar that comes from the foods we eat and also is formed and stored inside the body.
It’s the main source of energy for the cells of the body, and is carried to them through the blood. Glucose gets into the cells with the help of the hormone, So how do blood glucose levels relate to type 1 diabetes? People with type 1 diabetes can no longer produce insulin. This means that glucose stays in the bloodstream and doesn’t get into the cells, causing blood glucose levels to go too high.
High blood sugar levels can make people with type 1 diabetes feel sick, so their treatment plan involves keeping their blood sugar levels within a healthy range, while making sure they grow and develop normally. To do that, people with type 1 diabetes need to:
take insulin as prescribed eat a healthy, balanced diet with accurate carbohydrate counts check blood sugar levels as prescribed get regular physical activity
Following the treatment plan can help a person stay healthy, but it’s not a cure for diabetes. Right now, there’s no cure for diabetes, so people with type 1 diabetes will need treatment for the rest of their lives. The good news is that sticking to the plan can help people feel healthy and avoid diabetes problems later.
Can I drink alcohol with type 1 diabetes?
Drugs and diabetes – It is not clear if taking recreational drugs affects your blood glucose levels, but their effect on you might mean you’re not able to manage your blood glucose as normal. If drugs make you feel spaced out or lose track of time, you might forget to take your insulin.
Some drugs make you lose your appetite and move around more, which can lead to a hypo. Others slow you down and can make you eat more or feel really low the next day, so you might not manage your blood glucose as well. If you decide to use recreational drugs, speak to your diabetes team about the best ways to stay safe and manage your diabetes.
Make sure someone you’re with knows about your diabetes and how to recognise and treat a hypo. Diabetes UK has more advice on diabetes and recreational drugs, Page last reviewed: 24 August 2021 Next review due: 24 August 2024
Can you get type 1 diabetes in 20s?
Types of Diabetes – So, first a little clarification for those of you who don’t know -there are several types of diabetes. Before his diagnosis, I knew the basics about type 1 and 2 and that was about it. I was not an expert then and I’m certainly not an expert now, but I’ve done a lot of reading lately and learned a lot! So here’s a brief overview: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease with a fairly sudden onset.
- While it is most often known for being diagnosed in young children and teens (often known as juvenile diabetes), it’s actually almost as common for people in their 20’s & 30’s (and beyond) to be diagnosed.
- With Type 1, the body’s immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin so they stop producing it.
While the exact cause is unknown, it’s likely a combination of genes you’re born with and an environmental trigger that activates it. If you’re not producing insulin, sugar builds up in the blood instead of going into cells where it’s neededso you need injected insulin (a combination of long-acting and short-acting) for the rest of your life.
Type 2 diabetes has a more gradual onset. Your body is still producing insulin, you just become less sensitive to it over time. Typically, you can initially manage Type 2 with diet and exercise and take oral medication to stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin. Eventually, your pancreas may stop working and you’ll require insulin.
The cause of type 2 diabetes is multifactorial- you can inherit genes that make you more susceptible but lifestyle factors like diet, exercise & obesity also play a role. In addition, there’s another type known as LADA- latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (sometimes called type 1.5 diabetes), that is often initially misdiagnosed as Type 2.
They have similar symptoms but LADA develops faster and people are often at a healthy weight, whereas Type 2 is often (but not always) diagnosed in people who are overweight. So even though they may initially be able to get by because their pancreas is still producing some insulin, oral drugs prescribed for type 2, like metformin, will eventually stop working for LADA patients because their immune system will continue to destroy insulin-producing cells.
There are blood tests that can be used to diagnose LADA by measuring the amount of c-peptides in the blood. C-peptides are a byproduct of insulin production, so low levels can indicate that your body is not producing much insulin on its own. Another blood test often given to LADA patients looks for the presence of insulin-destroying antibodies. 
Can type 1 diabetes occur at 50?
Types of diabetes – There are two main kinds of diabetes.
In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not make insulin. Although older adults can develop this type of diabetes, it begins most often in children and young adults, who then have diabetes for life. In Type 2 diabetes, the body does not make or use insulin well. It is the most common kind of diabetes. It occurs most often in middle-aged and older adults, but it can also affect children. Your chance of getting type 2 diabetes is higher if you are overweight, inactive, or have a family history of diabetes. Women with a history of gestational diabetes (a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy) also have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Diabetes can affect many parts of your body. It’s important to manage diabetes because, over time, it can cause serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, and nerve damage that may lead to amputation. Also, people with type 2 diabetes may be at greater risk for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease,
Can a 25 year old get diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes (previously called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes) is usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults, but it can develop at any age.