T1D - What's it all about?
Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas can't make insulin because the immune system attacked it and destroyed its insulin producing cells. In autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's healthy tissues as if they were foreign invaders. A severe attack can interfere with the function of that body part. Doctor's still aren't really sure why autoimmune disease occurs, but genetic factors are thought to play an important role.
People with Type 1 Diabetes are at risk for other autoimmune problems, but these disorders are not actually caused by the diabetes. Celiac disease, a disorder which interferes with the intestines ability to tolerate the protein gluten, occurs in about 1 in 20 persons with diabetes. Thyroid disease will affect about 15% to 20% of those with diabetes. Addison's disease, a type of adrenal insufficiency, is a rare disorder which occurs about 5 times more often in the diabetic population.
So in addition to the constant checking, counting, managing, we screen our children every year for celiac and thyroid disorders. And we keep our fingers crossed while waiting for the results to come back in our favor.
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