I’m sure you’ve heard about type 1 diabetes before, whether from a friend or a family member, or you’ve seen it in the media. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayer. Oscar winner Halle Berry, singer Nick Jonas, and professional athletes including PGA golfer JJ Spaun all live with the condition.
Like the celebrities above, many people who have type 1 diabetes are diagnosed with adolescence, but the disease can also develop into adulthood. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Diabetes Statistics Report in 2023, an estimated 2.1 million people had type 1 diabetes.
What is Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body’s immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose (sugar) from your blood into your cells. Your body uses this sugar for energy.
When the insulin-making cells in the pancreas are attacked, the pancreas cannot make enough insulin. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin to stay healthy and survive.
Causes and Risk factors
The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is not known. But there are some factors that can increase risk, according to the Mayo Clinic:
- Having a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes
- Genetics
- Exposure to viruses or other environmental triggers
- Being between 4 and 7 years old, or between 10 and 14 years old.
Common Symptoms
Some common signs of type 1 diabetes include:
- Feeling more thirsty than usual
- Needing to urinate (pee) more often
- Feeling hungry even after eating
- Feeling very tired
- Dry mouth or gum problems
- Cuts or wounds that heal slowly
- Blurred vision or seeing spots (floaters)
Diagnosis
Doctors use blood tests to check for type 1 diabetes. These tests include:
- Fasting Blood Glucose Test:
- Measure your blood after fasting. You usually need to avoid eating or drinking anything except water for at least 8 hours before the test.
- Random Plasma Glucose Test:
- Measures blood at any time of the day. Fasting is not required
- HbA1c Test:
- Shows your average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. It works by measuring how much sugar is attached to hemoglobin in your red blood cells. Fasting is not required.
- Autoantibody Test:
- Detects antibodies that indicate that the immune system is attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Early detection is important to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis. This happens when the body cannot use sugar for energy and starts to break down fat, creating a harmful substance called ketones.
According to the CDC National Diabetes Statistics Report, 26.7% of all U.S. adults with diabetes in 2023, did not know they had diabetes. If you have symptoms or are at risk of type 1 diabetes, tell your healthcare provider right away.
Management
Type 1 diabetes is managed with:
- Insulin therapy: injected or delivered through a pump
- Blood sugar monitoring: checking your glucose levels daily
- Healthy eating and physical activity: eating balanced meals and staying active can help manage blood sugar
The American Diabetes Association offers the Diabetes Food Hub, which includes meal plans, recipes, and grocery lists to help you choose healthy foods for preventing and managing diabetes.
It is important to work with your healthcare provider to create a plan that best fits your needs and keeps you healthy and feeling good.
Resources
American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Food Hub. Diabetes Food Hub, https://diabetesfoodhub.org/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Diabetes Surveillance System: Diabetes Atlas & Statistics Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/diabetes/diabetesatlas-statsreport.html