abstract
| - Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's own immune system attacks the Beta cells in the pancreas, destroying them or damaging them sufficiently to significantly reduce the production of insulin. The reduced amount of insulin is unable to process the glucose in the blood, leading to high blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes was formerly known as "juvenile diabetes," but it's not primarily a childhood problem. The adult incidence of Type 1 is similar to that for children , which is why "Type 1" is the preferred term. Many adults who contract Type 1 diabetes are misdiagnosed with Type 2, due to the misconception of Type 1 as a disease of children. Mayo Clinic summarizes the condition of type 1 diabetes in these words: "Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar (glucose) into energy. Although type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, it typically appears during childhood or adolescence."
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