About Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a serious, chronic disease that destroys the body's ability to produce insulin - a hormone needed to convert food into energy.

Approximately 122,300 Australian people have type 1 diabetes with 2,000 more diagnosed every year - around 5 people every day. Government statistics show that the rate of diagnosis is increasing by 3% a year.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that usually begins in childhood or early adulthood, but can occur at any age. It is a lifelong disease - people don't grow out of it.

People with type 1 diabetes need up to six insulin injections every day or a constant supply of insulin through an insulin pump, just to stay alive.

Type 1 diabetes is not caused by everyday diet or lifestyle and cannot be managed through diet and exercise. Insulin keeps people alive but it is only a treatment, not a cure. There is no cure, yet.

Even when treated, type 1 diabetes can cause serious and devastating long-term health complications such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, amputations and stroke.

Type 1 diabetes affects every aspect of a person’s life and managing the disease involves whole families.

The only way that people with type 1 diabetes will live the long and healthy life they deserve is if more money is invested in research to find a cure.

Read more about living with type 1 diabetes and current type 1 diabetes research progress.