WEBVTT

00:00:09.724 --> 00:00:13.806
Type 1 diabetes
together with, for example,

00:00:13.806 --> 00:00:18.540
type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes

00:00:18.540 --> 00:00:21.952
belongs to a group of metabolic disorders

00:00:21.952 --> 00:00:25.075
known as diabetes mellitus.

00:00:26.435 --> 00:00:30.993
Characteristic signs
of type 1 diabetes are:

00:00:30.993 --> 00:00:34.290
• severe thirst

00:00:34.290 --> 00:00:36.728
• frequent urination

00:00:36.728 --> 00:00:39.813
• fatigue and listlessness

00:00:39.813 --> 00:00:41.618
• nausea

00:00:41.618 --> 00:00:43.099
• and dizziness.

00:00:43.958 --> 00:00:53.452
The body’s cells get most of their energy
from sugar, or more precisely glucose,

00:00:53.452 --> 00:00:55.411
which they absorb from the blood.

00:00:56.294 --> 00:00:59.712
To keep the supply going between meals

00:00:59.712 --> 00:01:03.024
the body also has reserves of glucose

00:01:03.024 --> 00:01:08.755
that gradually release sugar into the blood
when glucose levels are low.

00:01:10.231 --> 00:01:16.985
This normally keeps blood glucose levels
within a certain range,

00:01:16.985 --> 00:01:20.142
not rising too high for long periods

00:01:20.142 --> 00:01:22.021
or falling too low.

00:01:24.091 --> 00:01:29.040
Insulin is central to this process.

00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:31.427
This is a hormone or chemical messenger

00:01:31.427 --> 00:01:35.036
that is released into the blood
from the pancreas.

00:01:36.779 --> 00:01:40.649
Insulin prompts the cells in the body

00:01:40.649 --> 00:01:46.540
to absorb more sugar
and top up glucose reserves

00:01:46.540 --> 00:01:50.200
and also regulates
other metabolic processes.

00:01:52.099 --> 00:01:57.478
In type 1 diabetes
the body’s own immune system

00:01:57.478 --> 00:02:01.954
attacks the cells in the pancreas

00:02:01.954 --> 00:02:04.794
that produce and release insulin.

00:02:05.529 --> 00:02:10.563
It destroys these cells
increasingly over time

00:02:10.563 --> 00:02:16.000
so that the body no longer has
sufficient insulin.

00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:19.471
If insulin levels are low

00:02:19.471 --> 00:02:24.000
it becomes harder for cells
to absorb glucose from the blood.

00:02:25.274 --> 00:02:27.293
So there is
far too much glucose in the blood

00:02:27.293 --> 00:02:30.443
for long periods
after meals (“hyperglycemia”).

00:02:32.044 --> 00:02:37.735
Over prolonged periods,
hyperglycemia is harmful for blood vessels,

00:02:37.735 --> 00:02:40.591
causing damage to many organs and nerves.

00:02:42.974 --> 00:02:48.751
People with type 1 diabetes must administer
insulin to themselves regularly

00:02:48.751 --> 00:02:51.161
to restore insulin levels to normal.

00:02:52.388 --> 00:02:55.938
They must also keep a watchful eye
on meals

00:02:55.938 --> 00:03:02.001
and their
energy consumption (physical activity)

00:03:02.001 --> 00:03:05.000
and get the right balance.

00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:09.000
This type of diabetes mostly develops
early on in life,

00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:15.224
which is why it used to be called
juvenile diabetes.

00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.704
The factors causing it
are believed to include:

00:03:18.704 --> 00:03:20.212
• genetics,

00:03:20.212 --> 00:03:22.313
• certain environmental factors

00:03:22.313 --> 00:03:25.000
• exposure to infection.

00:03:27.193 --> 00:03:28.700
In short:

00:03:29.396 --> 00:03:32.618
In type 1 diabetes

00:03:32.618 --> 00:03:35.361
the body stops
being able to produce insulin,

00:03:35.361 --> 00:03:37.623
the hormone
that reduces blood sugar levels.

00:03:39.208 --> 00:03:41.276
Without insulin it becomes harder for cells

00:03:41.276 --> 00:03:46.208
to absorb and store glucose from the blood.

00:03:47.732 --> 00:03:54.243
This means that blood sugar levels
are frequently too high for too long,

00:03:54.243 --> 00:03:58.000
causing vascular, organ and neural damage.

00:03:59.247 --> 00:04:03.017
Customized insulin therapy

00:04:03.017 --> 00:04:07.078
allows people to lead
a more or less normal life.