Type 1 Diabetes: Etiology and Treatment

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for producing insulin in the body. It causes an absolute destruction of insulin-producing beta cells that leads to insulin deficiency. Some symptoms of type 1 diabetes are extreme hunger, increased thirst, frequent urination, tiredness, etc. Urine test can be done to find out the presence of a byproduct, where fat tissue and muscle are used for generating energy, as body does not have sufficient insulin for utilizing glucose. Tests can also be run to check for autoantibodies related with type 1 diabetes. The main treatment for this disease involves the administration of insulin through daily injections or an insulin pump. Some other treatments for type 1 diabetes are frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels and carbohydrate counting. This book outlines the etiology and treatment of type 1 diabetes in detail. It consists of contributions made by international experts. This book is a complete source of knowledge on the present status of this important disease.