Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas doesn't produce insulin, a hormone needed to convert glucose (a type of sugar) into energy. Despite eating an adequate amount of food and having high levels of glucose in the blood, the body is unable to get the fuel into the cells. Patients need regular injections of insulin to stay alive.

According to the American Diabetes Association, about 18.2 million Americans have diabetes. Type 1 is less common than the other form, type 2 (type 1 accounts for only about 5 to 10 percent of all cases of diabetes). Although type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, it's most commonly diagnosed in children and young adults.

Complications of Diabetes: Neuropathy Over time, about half of patients with diabetes develop signs of neuropathy, or nerve damage. There are four main types of neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves in the legs, feet, hands and arms. It can cause tingling, pain, numbness and weakness in the affected area. Patients may lose the ability to feel an injury, causing a wound that doesn't heal. The feet are especially at risk. Diabetes is a common cause of amputations in the U.S. Researchers estimate people with diabetes and neuropathy have a 15 percent chance of requiring one or more amputations in their lifetimes.

Autonomic neuropathy affects the nerves that control "automatic functions." Damage to these nerves can cause problems with digestion, bowel and bladder function, sexual function, perspiration, vision and the cardiovascular system. Patients with autonomic neuropathy may also have a hard time detecting the body's warning signs of low blood sugar.

Proximal neuropathy causes pain in the thighs, hips, buttocks or legs. The legs may also become weak, causing problems moving from a sitting to a standing position.

Focal neuropathy is a condition that affects a specific group of nerves. It can affect any nerve group, but is most commonly seen in the head, torso or leg. Patients may report vision problems (such as the inability to focus), one-sided facial paralysis, lower back or hip pain, thigh pain and chest or stomach pain.

Antioxidants for Diabetic Neuropathy The cells of the body use oxygen when they produce energy. That process produces toxic byproducts, called free radicals, which can damage DNA and proteins. This is called oxidative stress.

Normally, the body produces natural antioxidants to take up the free radicals to prevent or reduce damage to the cells. We can also get some antioxidants in our diet (like from foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and beta carotene). But if there are too many free radicals or too few antioxidants, the cells of the body can be damaged by oxidative stress.

Researchers theorize that in diabetics, high levels of glucose in the blood disrupt cellular metabolism and cause an overproduction of free radicals and oxidative stress. That process may lead to the development of diabetic neuropathy.

At the University of Michigan Health System, investigators are studying the use of antioxidant supplements in people with type 1 diabetes. Doctors want to find out if the treatment will block oxidative stress and reduce the risk or stop the progression of neuropathy. The researchers are currently looking at three different antioxidants: alpha-lipoic, nicotinamide (vitamin B3) and allopurinol. Studies in animals suggest the supplements may be helpful in increasing the levels of antioxidants in the body. Hopefully, the current study will also prove the treatments to be useful for humans as well. Type 1 patients from around the country who are interested in participating in the study can call the University of Michigan study coordinator at 734-936-8065.

For information about the research and other projects regarding diabetic neuropathy at the University of Michigan, visit their website at http://www.med.umich.edu/pfund/dart.htm. Type one patients who are interested in participating in the study can call the study coordinator at 734-936-8065.

For information about diabetes or diabetic neuropathy: American Diabetes Association, http://www.diabetes.org, or contact your local chapter Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, http://www.jdrf.org National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, http://www.niddk.nih.gov