• Idiopathic Type 1 - refers to rare forms of the disease with no known cause.
• Immune-mediated Diabetes - an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system destroys, or attempts to destroy, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.

• Diabetes mellitus
• insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)
• juvenile diabetes
• sugar diabetes

• high levels of sugar in the blood when tested
• high levels of sugar in the urine when tested
• unusual thirst
• frequent urination
• extreme hunger but loss of weight
• blurred vision
• nausea and vomiting
• extreme weakness and tiredness
• irritability and mood changes

In children, symptoms may be similar to those of having the flu.

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Type 1 diabetes can cause different problems, but there are three key complications:

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar; sometimes called an insulin reaction) occurs when blood sugar drops too low.
• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) occurs when blood sugar is too high, and can be a sign that diabetes is not well controlled.
• Ketoacidosis (diabetic coma) is loss of consciousness due to untreated or under-treated diabetes.

Specific treatment will be determined by your physician(s) based on:

• your age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of the disease
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disease
• your opinion or preference

People with type 1 diabetes must have daily injections of insulin to keep the blood sugar level within normal ranges. Other parts of the treatment protocol may include:

• appropriate foods to manage blood sugar level
• exercise to lower and help the body use blood sugar
• regular blood testing for blood-sugar levels
• regular urine testing for ketone levels

• Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5-10 percent of diagnosed cases of diabetes.
• There are an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people with Type 1 diabetes in the US today.
• The risk of developing type 1 diabetes is higher than virtually all other severe chronic diseases of childhood.
• Peak incidence occurs during puberty, around 10 to 12 years of age in girls, and 12 to 14 years of age in boys.
• The symptoms for type 1 diabetes can mimic the flu in children.
• Type 1 diabetes tends to run in families. Brothers and sisters of children with type 1 diabetes have about a 10 percent chance of developing the disease by age 50.
• The identical twin of a person with type 1 diabetes has a 25 to 50 percent chance of developing type 1 diabetes. Sources: National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders and American Diabetes Association.