Health Tip of the Week, sponsored by Baton Rouge General: Understanding type 1 diabetes

An estimated 1.45 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, once commonly known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. It is a chronic, incurable condition that prevents the pancreas from making insulin the body needs to regulate blood sugar levels. While Type 1 diabetes can develop at any time, it’s most often diagnosed between the ages of 4-7 years old and 10-14 years old. Some symptoms can include excessive thirst or hunger, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss or blurry vision. Symptoms can also be affected by genetics or exposure to certain viruses that can influence the onset of autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes including Epstein-Barr, enteroviruses and COVID-19. Learn more about Type 1 Diabetes.