Type I Diabetes: Symptoms and Treatment

Type I diabetes is a disease where the pancreas stops producing insulin, the hormone needed to bring glucose in the body’s cells to convert to energy. Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease, occurring when the body’s own immune system destroys the islet cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.

The disease had formerly been called “juvenile diabetes” and “insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus,” but the American Diabetes Association and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) recommended it be referred to only as Type I diabetes in 1997.

Type I diabetes, which accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all cases of diabetes, according to the ADA, is typically diagnosed in younger individuals. In some adults, the body simply doesn’t produce enough insulin, which is known as Type II diabetes, a far more common disease.

Diabetes Can Harm Your Teeth and Gums If Not Controlled

Diabetes can increase the amount of sugar in your saliva. Over time, this can cause tooth decay and gum infections. But you can help prevent these problems by taking good care of your teeth.

Teeth and Gums

Here’s what to do:

• Manage your blood sugar. See your dentist at least twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. Be sure to tell your dentist that you have diabetes
• Call your dentist if you have red, bleeding, or tender gums for more than a few days. These problems may be an early sign of gum disease

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  Floss your teeth after every meal. Then brush your teeth for 3 minute