Diabetes is a disease that disrupts the body’s production of insulin, a hormone that people need to get energy from food.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by people being “insulin resistant,” wherein the body does not use insulin properly. With the correct treatment and lifestyle changes, many people with Type 2 diabetes can control it, and prevent or delay the onset of associated complications.
In Type 1 diabetes, though, insulin is no longer produced. Unlike Type 2, in which remission (for some) is possible, there is no cure for Type 1. It’s a full-time managing act that requires multiple doses of insulin throughout the day, through injections or an insulin pump, to survive. Contrary to belief, it has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle, and exercise and eating habits will not make it go away.
Before diagnosis
A life-threatening complication of diabetes is diabetic ketoacidosis, due to a shortage of insulin. This causes symptoms like dehydration, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and difficulty breathing. If it’s not caught early on, it can be fatal. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of people experience diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis. There are two things that can help:
Knowing the symptoms: Warning signs of Type 1 diabetes often appear suddenly and sometimes require immediate medical attention, and involve such things as extreme thirst, unexplained weight loss, dry mouth, frequent urination, fatigue, fruity breath odor, and sudden vision changes.
Knowing your risk status: With an easy-to-use blood test taken at home, you can find out — before symptoms occur — if you are at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. Kits are $55 plus tax, with the option to order a subsidized kit ($10 plus tax) if you are unable to afford the full-priced cost. You’ll receive your results, explanations of what they mean, and next steps through your account on the testing website.
After diagnosis
Did you know, in Type 1 diabetes, the average glucose levels for Black young adults are 10.7 percent, compared with 8.5 percent for White young adults? (6.5 percent is regarded as diabetes; 8.5 percent is perceived as “good,” whereas 10.7 percent is considered “dangerous.”)
From prescription drugs to diabetes technology, JDRF is working to make sure that every individual with type 1 diabetes has the same opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life. We do this through:
Support and community building
Newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes? JDRF has information needed to understand and manage the disease, including our Bag of Hope and No Limits Teen and Adult care kits.
JDRF volunteers are people who understand the demands of living with the disease, available to anyone at any age.
Advocacy
Our Health Insurance Guide helps people understand how they can get help with prescription and insulin costs, how to choose a plan, and how to navigate losing coverage, denials and appeals, and applying for exceptions.
Clinical trials
JDRF has an online tool to help anyone find clinical trials in their area.
As the largest nonprofit funder of Type 1 diabetes research, and a passionate advocate for policies and treatments that improve the quality of life for those living with the disease, JDRF exists so Type 1 diabetes won’t. Our mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat Type 1 diabetes and its complications through research, advocacy, and community engagement.
Learn more at jdrf.org.