Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease that usually occurs in childhood. It results when your immune system destroys insulin-producing beta cells in your pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that enables your cells to absorb glucose from your blood. Your cells use glucose, a sugar molecule, for energy. Type 1 diabetics must take insulin injections each day to live. Certain nutritional factors can increase your risk for complications.
High Glycemic Foods
High glycemic foods can rapidly elevate your blood sugar levels, and when left untreated, may increase your risk of severe complications that include ketoacidosis, coma and death. High glycemic foods, such as white bread, sweetened beverages, white rice and other types of refined grains and processed foods, contain sugar your body quickly absorbs into your blood, raising blood glucose levels. As blood glucose levels increase, your body burns fat instead of sugar for energy and increases production of ketones, poisonous acids that build up in your blood and urine. Ketoacidosis is life-threatening and requires hospitalization to survive. Consuming low glycemic foods, such as barley, apples, carrots, whole wheat spaghetti and legumes, enables you to control your blood sugar because these foods contain sugar your body digests and absorbs slowly.
Unhealthy Fats
Consuming unhealthy fats can exacerbate your risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among Type 1 diabetics. People with Type 1 diabetes have a high risk of cardiovascular disease as a result of high blood sugar which damages the endothelium, the layer of cells that line the interior of your arteries. Unhealthy fats, such as saturated fat and trans fat, can elevate your cholesterol levels and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, damages your endothelium and increases production of plaque which can clog your arteries and lead to a heart attack. You can reduce your risk by avoiding meat, whole milk and dairy which contain saturated fat and processed foods which contain trans fat and instead consume foods with healthy fats, such as fish, nuts, olives, olive oil and avocados.
Sodium
Consuming sodium can elevate your blood pressure and increase your risk of hypertension and stroke. Sodium may also exacerbate your risk of kidney disease. Research by scientists at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia and published in "Diabetes Care" in 2011 discovered that sodium is associated with end stage kidney disease and all causes of death in patients with Type 1 diabetes. Reduce your risk of hypertension, stroke and kidney disease by lowering your sodium intake, especially by avoiding processed and fast foods.
Considerations
Type 1 diabetics have higher risks of infections, vision loss, depression, sexual dysfunction and other conditions than other people. Eating a well-balanced diet of nutrient-dense foods can help you obtain nutrients you need to improve your health and reduce your risk of other conditions. Consult your doctor about your health and diet.
References
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; Diabetes; 2010
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International; What Is Type 1 Diabetes?; 2010
- University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Center for Integrative Medicine; Glycemic Index; 2010
- American Diabetes Association; Ketoacidosis; 2010
- American Diabetes Association; Fat and Diabetes; 2010
- American Heart Association; About Cholesterol 2010
