All Health Topics

Type 1 diabetes

Published Oct. 31, 2018
• Reviewed by a UI Health Care Provider

In type 1 diabetes the pancreas stops making insulin. There is no insulin to get the sugar from the food you eat into the cells. The sugar stays in the blood and the blood sugar goes too high.

What are the signs of type 1 diabetes?

  • Being very thirsty and drinking a lot
  • Peeing a lot
  • Feeling very hungry
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Feeling tired a lot of the time
Type 1 Diabetes Care for Children and Adolescents
This book was written by the pediatric diabetes education team members at University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

What else should I know about type 1 diabetes?

  • It usually starts in children, teens, or young adults.
  • It is no one’s fault if you get it.
  • It is not spread from person to person. Nobody can “catch” it from you.
  • There is no cure for diabetes. You will have diabetes the rest of your life.
  • High blood sugar over a long period of time can hurt your eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

What is a “honeymoon” for people with type 1 diabetes?

Your pancreas keeps making some insulin for a short time after you start insulin shots. This is called the honeymoon. The honeymoon starts in 1 to 4 weeks. It lasts about 2 months to 2 years.

You will get low blood sugars when the honeymoon starts. Your diabetes doctors and nurses will help change insulin doses when needed.

Over time, your pancreas will stop making insulin and the honeymoon will end.

Often times during the honeymoon, people may think they do not have diabetes.

With type 1 diabetes you will need insulin for the rest of your life. The most important thing to do is to take insulin every day.