Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 In Adults

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Diabetes mellitus is a disease affecting how your body makes insulin and how it uses glucose (sugar). Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use sugar by allowing the sugar to enter body cells. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas (an organ that lies behind the stomach) makes little or no insulin. This causes high blood sugar levels in the body. The four types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, other specific types, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes. It is more common in children or young adults, but it can occur at any age.
  
  
• Type 1 diabetes may be an autoimmune disease, when the body's immune system (defense system) attacks the cells in the pancreas. Common symptoms of type 1 diabetes include increased thirst, hunger, and urination. You may also have blurred vision. Blood sugar tests are used to diagnose type 1 diabetes. The treatment goal is to keep your blood sugar normal and controlled.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Treatment should be started as soon as you learn you have diabetes. Careful control of blood sugar levels decreases the risks of serious illness. Uncontrolled diabetes can damage your nerves, veins, and arteries which can damage your feet and legs. High blood sugar levels may damage other body tissue and organs over time, such as your eyes and kidneys. Diabetes can cause death if it is not treated. Ask your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your illness, care, or treatment.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

Diet: A dietitian may work with you in choosing the best foods to control your blood sugar. You may need to eat certain amounts of these foods at specific times during the day. Ask caregivers how your favorite foods may fit into your diet.

Medicines:

• Insulin: This medicine may be given to decrease the amount of sugar in your blood. It helps your body move the sugar to your cells, where it is needed for energy.
  
  

Tests: You may have one or more of the following tests:

• Blood sugar checks: Your blood sugar may be checked many times each day. This is usually done before meals and at bedtime. Your finger is pricked to draw blood and the blood is put into a glucose monitor (glucometer). A glucometer is a small hand-held machine used to test the amount of sugar in your blood.
  
  
• Casual plasma glucose: This blood sugar test may be done any time of the day.
  
  
• Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test: This blood test checks to see if your diabetes is well controlled. It shows the average amount of sugar in your blood over the past two to three months.
  
  
• Urine sample: A sample of your urine is collected in a cup. It is tested for the amount of ketones and sugar in your urine. This test tells caregivers how well your blood sugar is being controlled, and if you need more tests.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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