Whole Body

~ Excessive thirst
~ Fatigue
~ Hunger
~ Sweating

Gastrointestinal

~ Nausea
~ Vomiting

Urinary

~ Bedwetting
~ Excessive urination

Also Common

~ Blurred vision
~ Fast heart rate
~ Headache
~ Sleepiness
~ Weight loss

Here is a larger list of symptoms that can occur:

. Extreme thirst
. Increased hunger (especially after eating)
. Dry mouth
. Upset stomach and vomiting
. Frequent urination
. Unexplained weight loss, even though you're eating and feel hungry
. Fatigue
. Blurry vision
. Heavy, labored breathing
. Frequent infections of your skin or urinary tract
. Crankiness or mood changes
. Bedwetting in a child who's been dry at night

Signs of an emergency with type 1 diabetes include:

. Shaking and confusion
. Rapid breathing
. Fruity smell to your breath
. Belly pain
. Loss of consciousness (rare)

Insulin is a hormone that helps move sugar, or glucose, into your body's tissues. Your cells use it as fuel.

Damage to beta cells from type 1 diabetes throws the process off. Glucose doesn't move into your cells because insulin isn't there to do the job. Instead, it builds up in your blood, and your cells starve. This causes high blood sugar, which can lead to:

. Dehydration. When there's extra sugar in your blood, you pee more. That's your body's way of getting rid of it. A large amount of water goes out with that urine, causing your body to dry out.

. Weight loss. The glucose that goes out when you pee takes calories with it. That's why many people with high blood sugar lose weight. Dehydration also plays a part.

. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). If your body can't get enough glucose for fuel, it breaks down fat cells instead. This creates chemicals called ketones. Your liver releases the sugar it stores to help out. But your body can't use it without insulin, so it builds up in your blood, along with the acidic ketones. This mix of extra glucose, dehydration, and acid buildup is known as ketoacidosis and can be life-threatening if not treated right away.

. Damage to your body. Over time, high glucose levels in your blood can harm the nerves and small blood vessels in your eyes, kidneys, and heart. They can also make you more likely to get hardened arteries, or atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

There's no way to prevent type 1 diabetes. Doctors don't know all the things that cause it. But they know that your genes play a role.

They also know that you can get type 1 diabetes when something around you, like a virus, tells your immune system to go after your pancreas. Most people with type 1 diabetes have signs of this attack, called autoantibodies. They're there in almost everyone who has the condition when their blood sugar is high.

Type 1 diabetes can happen along with other autoimmune diseases, like Graves' disease or vitiligo.

Only about 5% of people with diabetes have type 1. It affects males and females equally. You're at higher risk of getting it if you:

. Are younger than 20
. Are white
. Have a parent or sibling with type 1

Everyone with type 1 diabetes needs to use insulin shots to control their blood sugar.

"Onset" is how long it takes to reach your bloodstream and begin lowering your blood sugar.

"Peak time" is when insulin is doing the most work in terms of lowering your blood sugar.
"Duration" is how long it keeps working after onset.

Several types of insulin are available.

. Rapid-acting starts to work in about 15 minutes. It peaks about 1 hour after you take it and continues to work for 2 to 4 hours.
Regular or short-acting gets to work in about 30 minutes. It peaks between 2 and 3 hours and keeps working for 3 to 6 hours.

. Intermediate-acting won't get into your bloodstream for 2 to 4 hours after your shot. It peaks from 4 to 12 hours and works for 12 to 18 hours.

. Long-acting takes several hours to get into your system and lasts about 24 hours.

Your doctor may start you out with two injections a day of two types of insulin. Later, you might need more shots.

Most insulin comes in a small glass bottle called a vial. You draw it out with a syringe that has a needle on the end and give yourself the shot. Some kinds come in a prefilled pen. Another kind is inhaled. You can also get it from a pump, a device you wear that sends it into your body through a small tube. Your doctor will help you pick the type and the delivery method that's best for you.

Exercise is an important part of treating type 1. But it isn't as simple as going for a run. Exercise affects your blood sugar levels. So you have to balance your insulin dose and the food you eat with any activity, even simple tasks around the house or yard.

Knowledge is power. Check your blood sugar before, during, and after an activity to find out how it affects you. Some things will make your levels go up; others won't. You can lower your insulin or have a snack with carbs to keep it from dropping too low.

If your blood sugar is high -- above 240 mg/dL -- test for ketones, the acids that can result from high sugar levels. If they're OK, you should be good to go. If they're high, skip the workout.

You'll also need to understand how food affects your blood sugar. Once you know the roles that carbs, fats, and protein play, you can build a healthy eating plan that helps keep your levels where they should be. A diabetes educator or registered dietitian can help you get started.