Insulin-dependent diabetes, or type 1 diabetes, is caused by damage to the pancreas. The pancreas contains cells called beta cells. Beta cells make insulin, a hormone that helps cells take in the glucose they need. If the beta cells get wiped out and cannot produce insulin anymore, glucose stays in the blood instead of going into cells.
Patients end up with too much glucose in the blood.
Typically, diabetes patients will check their blood sugar levels manually two to four times a day. When the sugar is too high, they need to take insulin shots. This means at multiple times during the day they have to inject themselves with a syringe. While pain is not the problem, it is not something that can easily be done in a crowd and for children or the elderly it can be especially difficult. Also, the supplies needed for the constant injections can become costly.