What is type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is a serious autoimmune condition that occurs when your immune system malfunctions. Instead of protecting us from viruses and bacteria, our immune system begins attacking and destroying the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

When someone without type 1 eats or drinks, insulin moves the sugar in the food and drink (called glucose) from their blood into the cells of their body so that they can use it as energy. If you develop type 1 diabetes, beta cells in your pancreas fail to produce insulin. As a result, glucose levels in your blood start to rise, and your body can’t function unless you replace the insulin.

Type 1 diabetes isn’t caused by poor diet or an unhealthy lifestyle. In fact, it isn’t caused by anything that you did or didn’t do, and there was nothing you could have done to prevent it.

Is there a cure for type 1 diabetes?

There isn’t currently a cure for type 1 diabetes but we’re working on it. We fund researchers all over the world who are working as fast as they can to prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes, discover cures for people who already have type 1 and develop better treatments to help people live well with the condition.

What are the treatments for type 1 diabetes?

The main treatment for type 1 diabetes is insulin.

There is lots of technology available to help you measure your glucose levels and get insulin into your body. Find out more about treatments and technologies for type 1 diabetes.

What are the complications of type 1 diabetes?

Long-term, high and low glucose levels can cause complications including heart disease, kidney disease, problems with eyesight and loss of limbs. However, there are many things that can be done to help prevent and delay complications.

With the type 1 technology currently available and ongoing research to prevent, cure and treat type 1 diabetes, we hope that complications will one day become a thing of the past.