Type 1 diabetes. In Poland, the greatest increase in cases of this disease

Of the European countries, Poland is the one in which the number of cases of type 1 diabetes has increased the most in recent years. It is also called insulin-dependent, it is detected in one in 200-250 children. – The growth rate will continue to grow – warns the Masovian Voivodship Consultant for Diabetology prof. Agnieszka Szypowska.

In Poland, the largest increase in incidence of type 1 diabetes in Europe is observed, and the growth rate will continue to grow – warns the Masovian Voivodship Consultant for Diabetology prof. Agnieszka Szypowska. He points out that the early detection of this disease, even before the symptoms occur, allows you to delay its progress.

The expert talked about it during the press conference “Patient with diabetes 2025”, which took place on Tuesday in Warsaw. Prof. Szypowska, who is the head of the Clinical Department of Pediatric Diabetology and Pediatrics of the Medical University of Warsaw, pointed out that in our country type 1 diabetes, also called insulin-dependent, is detected in Poland in one child at 200-250. “This means that every pediatrician will more and more often recognize this type of diabetes,” she argued.

According to specialists, it is necessary to improve the early detection of type 1 diabetes, because thanks to this it is possible to delay its development in children and teenagers.

Type 1 diabetes – what a disease is it

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. As a result of the unfavorable “reprogramming” of the immune system, a small child is damaged and then the destruction of pancreas that produce insulin. It is then necessary to take insulin for the rest of your life. Without this hormone, glucose, necessary for the functioning of man, is not absorbed into some cells, its concentration in the blood increases and metabolic disorders occur (ketone acidica). Diagnostics itself is simple – it is based on a basic test of blood and urine glucose.

Type 1 diabetes – which the most exposed

Insulin -dependent diabetics are more exposed to children whose closest relatives fell ill with this disease. – People whose first -degree relative suffers from type 1 diabetes show a 15 times greater risk of this disease during their whole life compared to the general public – said prof. Szypowska.

However, it is wrong, however, that mainly people with family predispositions suffer from this type of diabetes. According to a specialist in the case of 90 percent Children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes in the family did not occur.

Research conducted in Poland as part of the POLDEDIB program shows that in 40 percent People with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes appeared, calete acidosis, caused by uncontrolled production of ketone bodies due to sudden insulin deficiency. The Provincial Consultant for Diabetology points out that the early detection of diabetes allows this to prevent. A severe form of ketone acidosis can cause permanent damage to organs, leading to disability and even death.

Type 1 diabetes – how to detect the disease

Type 1 diabetes develops in several stages, which are initially asymptomatic. During this period, it can only be recognized by examining the presence of antibodies in blood against pancreatic islands producing insulin. When this disease is full-blush, up to 80-90 percent. The pancreatic cells are already destroyed.

The presence of one such antibody does not prejudge anything yet. Only in 15 percent Children over 15 years develop type 1 diabetes. However, children with many antibodies The risk of the disease reaches 80-90 percent. Most often, it is activated with toddlers from nine month to three years of age.

Population screening for the presence of several, for example four antibodies against pancreatic island antigens, can help in the early, pre -business stage of the development of diabetes. This is indicated by numerous studies that were conducted in many European countries: in Germany, Italy and Poland, also in USA. They show that antibodies should be examined primarily in children in the second and sixth year.

Population screening has already been initiated in Italy, where they are to be conducted in children from the first to seventeen years of age. They were preceded by a pilot study in four regions of the country.

In Poland, population research began in Podlasie on April 21, 2023. Almost 4,000 were examined in 18 months. children, on average at the age of 6. Similar screening tests about 16 thousand Children aged 2-17 were carried out by specialists in the Medical University of Warsaw.

Prof. Szypowska ensures that this type of population screening allows detecting people in the early stages of type 1 diabetes. Preventive measures are also possible to reduce the frequency of ketone acidosis and extend the survival of beta cells of the pancreas that produce insulin, which allows you to better level diabetes and reduce the risk of complications.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes confused with food poisoning

Type 1 diabetes is also called youthful, because it is most often revealed up to 35 years old, usually in children up to 12 – 14 years old.

Clinical symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually occur suddenly and develop in a few weeks. They are often confused with food poisoning. These are abdominal pain, vomiting, intensified thirst (drinking a few to several liters of water a day), multi -curious (polyuria), apathy, fatigue, weight loss, wolf hunger. Lack of quick intervention can lead to keto acidosis, and even coma and death.

Treatment of type 1 diabetes takes place at the beginning in hospital conditions. Until the end of your life, insulin therapy is necessary – subcutaneous injection insulin using pen or insulin pump, constant glucose monitoring, i.e. blood glucose, proper diet and physical activity.