Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the pancreas produces little to no insulin, the hormone that the body relies on to allow sugar into cells to use as energy. Insulin lowers blood sugar levels; without it, sugar builds up in the bloodstream, leading to high glucose levels. If untreated, diabetes can lead to death. When undertreated, it can result in serious long-term health problems, including nerve damage, blindness, and kidney and heart disease, among a host of other complications; overtreating with too much insulin leads to hypoglycemia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.6 million adults have type 1 diabetes in the United States.
There is no cure for type 1 diabetes. Day-to-day treatment involves intensive insulin therapy—monitoring blood sugar levels throughout the day and adjusting insulin accordingly. Many people with diabetes opt to wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that attaches to the body and regularly checks their blood sugar levels via a small sensor placed just under the skin. Or, there’s the manual method of pricking a finger with a lancet, then placing a drop of blood on a test strip.
