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Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus - Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Prevention & Expectations

What can be done to prevent the disease?

Recently, scientists have begun looking into promising new ways to prevent type 1 diabetes in certain people that are at a very high risk. This is possible because scientists are now able to predict a person's risk for developing type 1 diabetes with greater accuracy.

What are the long-term effects of the disease?

Some of the long-term effects of type 1 diabetes include:

atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes

autonomic neuropathy, which may cause digestion problems, erectile dysfunction in males, and low blood pressure

bacterial infections of the skin

diabetic retinopathy, damage to the retina of the eye that can cause blindness

increased risk of dying from coronary heart disease, known as CHD

diabetic nephropathy, damage to the kidneys that can lead to kidney failure

fungal infections like ringworm and athlete's foot

peripheral neuropathy, or damage to nerves in the limbs, which can cause serious infections that may require amputation

urinary tract infections

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Coma or death may occur as a result of diabetic ketoacidosis. In addition, smoking greatly increases the risk of getting many of these long-term effects. People with diabetes who smoke are a much higher risk for heart attacks, strokes, infections, and problems with circulation.

What are the risks to others?

Diabetes is not catching and poses no risk to others. Type 1 diabetes can sometimes run in families.

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