Case Study Diabetes [012] &[016]

Question 1

What are the causes of Type 1 diabetes mellitus?

Answer 1

We don’t know all the factors that lead to type 1 diabetes. Clearly, the susceptibility to the condition can be inherited. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s own immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes appears to occur when something in the environment – a toxin or a virus triggers the immune system to mistakenly attack the pancreas and destroy the beta cells of the pancreas to the point where they can no longer produce sufficient insulin. Markers of this destruction (autoantibodies) can be seen in most people with type 1 diabetes. In fact, they are present in 85% to 90% of people with the condition when the blood sugars are high. Because it’s an autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes can occur along with other autoimmune diseases such as hyperthyroidism from Grave’s disease or the patchy decrease in skin pigmentation that occurs with vitiligo.

Question 2

What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes mellitus?

Answer 2

Question 3

Signs of an emergency with type 1 diabetes include:

Answer 3