Type 1 Diabetes mellitus is caused by a complete lack of insulin in the body. Type 1 Diabetes is usually detected in childhood, because of the symptoms
caused by the lack of insulin. Therefore, Type 1 Diabetes has been
called Juvenile Diabetes or Insulin-Dependent Diabetes. About 8% of all
Diabetics have Type 1 Diabetes.

According to the Junvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, “Ninety percent of children who develop type 1 diabetes
actually have no relative with the disease. Thanks to studies of
families, researchers now can identify at birth when a baby carries
some of the genes that indicate risk factors for type 1 diabetes.
Certain genes called HLA markers are associated with diabetes risk.

If a child is born with such markers, his or her risk of developing
type 1 diabetes is about the same as if he or she had a sibling with
type 1 diabetes, even though no other family member may have the
disease. There are other genes that also create risk for juvenile
diabetes that have not yet been identified.

Inside the Pancreas: Beta CellsIn a Type 1 Diabetic, the pancreas (see below) does not secrete insulin.
The beta cells within the pancreas, which normally produce the insulin,
are usually either destroyed or simply not functional. Often, a
Diabetic’s own immune system is responsible for destroying these beta
cells.

Therefore, Type 1 diabetics have autoimmune destruction of the
pancreatic cells that make insulin. Type 1 diabetics are absolutely
insulin requiring, and cannot take oral agents to control their blood
glucose levels.

The Pancreas

When a person has no natural means of producing insulin, sugar
(glucose, fructose, and galactose) stays in the bloodstream and cannot
be used by the cells or stored for later use. Type 1 Diabetics
must inject insulin by syringe, or jet injector, or insulin pump, or
insulin pen, in order to use up the right amount of sugar in their blood.

The Type 1 Diabetic must use enough insulin to take
the right amount of sugar from the bloodstream to convert to for
energy, and cell building material. They must also be very focused on
their nutrition and levels of exercise . The number one cause of death among Type 1 diabetics is renal failure.