This Is Your Body On Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes begins with your pancreas, but it doesn’t stop there. “The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas,” says Mihail Zilbermint, MD, an associate professor of clinical medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and chief of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. The lack of insulin leads to high blood-sugar levels, which in turn can create an array of health issues—from vision loss and foot ulcers to heart attacks and kidney failure. Research finds that nearly half of type 1 diabetes sufferers will develop a serious complication of some kind during their lifetime.
Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age and cannot be prevented, so it’s important to educate yourself about the impact this disease has on the body. “To this day, there’s nothing you can do to prevent or reverse type 1 diabetes,” Zilbermint continues. And the disease takes a toll on each part of your body in a different way. But with consistent management and smart lifestyle choices, you can significantly slow the progression of long-term complications.
Use this guide to learn how type 1 diabetes impacts your different body systems, as well as for recommended management strategies to help you minimize the condition’s impact on your body and your quality of life:
Cardiovascular Disease
The cardiovascular system is put under great stress by prolonged high blood-sugar levels. People with type 1 diabetes are accordingly more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. Diabetes doubles your risk of heart disease and stroke, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Manage it: Maintaining healthy blood-sugar, blood-pressure, and cholesterol levels is crucial for heart health. “Keep your diet balanced by eating whole grains, lean proteins, fruit, vegetables, and legumes,” says Zilbermint. Physical activity promotes healthy heart function, so regular exercise is key. Smoking causes inflammation and insulin resistance in cells, and should be avoided.
Impaired Immunity
“High blood sugar weakens the immune system in several ways, making you more susceptible to viruses and infections,” Zilbermint says. Research finds that diabetes leads to more frequent illness, including flu, pneumonia, and urinary-tract infections, and it can also take longer to recover and heal from cuts and wounds.
Manage it: Adopting a healthy lifestyle goes a long way toward supporting immune function. In addition to eating right and exercising, aim to get adequate sleep, manage stress, and avoid germs. “A big portion of preventing complications is staying up to date on vaccinations,” says Zilbermint, “which includes getting your yearly flu and coronavirus shots.”
Eye Conditions
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among U.S. adults between the ages of 20 and 74. The most common eye-related complication is diabetic retinopathy, a progressive condition affecting the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye. Having diabetes also increases the risk of other sight-threatening issues, like cataracts and glaucoma.
Manage it: Research finds that up to 90 percent of vision loss caused by diabetes can be avoided with early detection and treatment. That means scheduling regular comprehensive eye exams, and keeping close tabs on your glucose, cholesterol, and blood-pressure levels. “High blood pressure, in combination with cholesterol, can exacerbate eye problems and cause more damage,” says Zilbermint.
Kidney Disease
About one in three adults with diabetes will develop chronic kidney disease (CKD), which compromises the organ’s ability to filter waste products from the blood. CKD also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as kidney failure. According to the National Kidney Foundation, diabetes is the leading cause of the latter, accounting for 44 percent of new cases.
Manage it: Get your kidneys checked annually. This may involve a simple blood test to analyze how well they’re filtering your blood, as well as a urine test to detect the presence of albumin, a protein that can signal early kidney disease. If your blood pressure is high, your doctor may prescribe hypertension medication.
Nerve Damage
Diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage, affects half of all people with diabetes. Often starting in the feet and hands, its symptoms—pain, tingling, weakness, and loss of sensation—can occur anywhere in the body. It can impact bladder control, sexual function, and motor function as well. “Chronic nerve damage can lead to delayed stomach emptying, or gastroparesis, which means that every time you eat, you develop abdominal discomfort or pain,” Zilbermint says.
Manage it: Keeping your blood-sugar and blood-pressure levels within your target range is crucial to managing neuropathic symptoms. Make sure you include some physical activity in the mix. Moderate physical exercise has been shown to reduce pain and numbness in those with neuropathy, while restoring strength and mobility.
Foot Problems
Nerve damage and poor circulation—two common type 1 diabetes complications—can lead minor cuts or blisters on your feet to become serious ulcers or infections, Zilbermint says. Left untreated, this can cause severe damage to the tissues and bone, sometimes requiring the amputation of a toe, a foot, or part of a leg.
Manage it: Regular foot checkups will help you stay on top of potential problems. Inspect both on a daily basis, paying close attention to cuts, cracks, blisters, calluses, and any other changes to the skin and nails. And maintain good foot hygiene—keep your feet clean and dry, and protect them from injury, Zilbermint says. “Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes, and avoid walking barefoot on hot surfaces.”
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