The Diabetes Center of Excellence at Shands at UF

Diabetes is a disease which results in the body's failure to properly use and store glucose (a form of sugar). Glucose builds up in the bloodstream which causes blood glucose to rise too high.

Type 1 diabetes is also called immune-mediated diabetes. It was formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes.

Its cause is unknown, however, some people can inherit a tendency to develop diabetes. Not all people who have this tendency will get the disease. Type 1 diabetes usually starts in children or young adults, but can start at any age. About 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes are type 1.

Insulin, a hormone which allows glucose to enter the cells of the body to fuel them, is produced by the pancreas. When the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing cells of the pancreas then glucose cannot enter the cells of the body to fuel them. When glucose cannot enter the cells, it builds up in the blood and the body's cells shut down for lack of fuel to carry on their normal functioning. People with type 1 diabetes must regularly monitor their blood sugar and take insulin artificially by injection to assure their cells receive adequate fuel in the form of blood sugar.