What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes affects millions of people throughout the world.
It is characterised by insulin deficiency and is caused by the immune system producing auto-antibodies, which target the pancreas and then partially or completely destroy its beta cells.
Pancreatic beta cells are responsible for secreting insulin, an essential hormone for the regulation of blood glucose levels. Their destruction causes a decrease in the production of insulin which then results in a build-up of glucose in the blood, which can lead to an increased risk of hyperglycaemia and other complications (heart disease, blindness, kidney failure...).
For this reason, people with type 1 diabetes are also considered as being insulin-dependent: a supply of insulin is essential to enable people living with type 1 to maintain stable glucose levels as the body is no longer able to produce it in sufficient quantities.
Pancreatic beta cells are responsible for secreting insulin, an essential hormone for the regulation of blood glucose levels. Their destruction causes a decrease in the production of insulin which then results in a build-up of glucose in the blood, which can lead to an increased risk of hyperglycaemia and other complications (heart disease, blindness, kidney failure...).
For this reason, people with type 1 diabetes are also considered as being insulin-dependent: a supply of insulin is essential to enable people living with type 1 to maintain stable glucose levels as the body is no longer able to produce it in sufficient quantities.
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415 Million People are living with diabetes worldwide.
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20 Million of those people are living with Type 1.