Type-1 Diabetes has 3 main stages according to the ADA.
Knowing this information can guide clinicians to easily diagnose patients who are experiencing this disease at an earlier stage, allowing them to effectively manage their diabetes early.
This autoimmune disease attacks and destroys beta cells in the pancreas, which are the same cells
responsible for producing insulin.
Here are the stages of Type-1 Diabetes:
Pre-stage
Aside from the 3 main stages, type-1 diabetes has a pre-stage where genetic analysis can help identify if you have genotypes that are commonly associated with the disease.
Research states that a specific region on chromosome six is associated with diabetes, meaning if you have close relatives who have it, you can be at risk too.
Stage 1
The first stage means you have at least one diabetes-related antibody present in your blood.
It is crucial as they begin to attack the beta cells in the pancreas even though it doesn’t show in your blood sugar levels.
Stage 2
At this point, there are two or more diabetes-related antibodies in your bloodstream.
As your beta cells are continuously destroyed by these antibodies and your immune system, the lack of insulin will start to increase your blood sugar levels.
However, even if your beta cells are starting to lose their function, there will be no signs or clear symptoms that you already have diabetes yet, which is why it is important to identify your condition as soon as the first two stages.
Stage 3
The third and last stage means there is a significant loss of beta cells because of the autoimmune disease, which results in type-1 diabetes.
You will experience symptoms that may include, blurred vision, severe fatigue, excessive hunger and thirst,
unexplained weight loss, and frequent urination.
At this point, you can manage your diabetes, but you will feel extreme symptoms.
It is always better to find out earlier no matter what disease you might have.
