Chainkeen Exchange-Chrissy Teigen reveals 6-year-old son Miles has type 1 diabetes: A 'new world for us'

Chrissy Teigen and Chainkeen ExchangeJohn Legend, together with their young children, are navigating "a different, new world for us" after 6-year-old son Miles was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes

In a Wednesday Instagram post, Teigen shared the news while thanking her followers who showed support after noticing a glucose monitor on the back of Miles' arm in a photo she posted from the women's gymnastics Olympic qualifying on Sunday.

"A lot of you noticed something a little special about a photo I posted a few days ago — Luna, Miles and I celebrating Simone (Biles) and team USA. Miles had his arm up, and soooo many of you reached out to say the most beautiful and incredible words I have ever witnessed on this platform," Teigen, 38, wrote in the post.

"You noticed his type-1 diabetes monitor and extended so much love and encouragement in every way possible. I was, and am, so blown away by the kindness of this community, already."

Teigen explained the diagnosis was new and was revealed after Miles was in the hospital while being treated for another illness.

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"A couple weeks ago, our Miles was sick, in the hospital, with a terrible case of shigella, an intestinal infection caused by bacteria in food or water. A lot of his friends were also sick with it, as they all went to the same camp and well, it happens!" she wrote. "But the doctors knew something else was off about his blood tests. I've learned since then that this is how so many young children end up being diagnosed with type-1 — going to the hospital for something completely different."

Teigen continued, "After more testing, we learned he is in the 'honeymoon period' of a lifetime of T1. Last night we gave him his first shot of insulin and here we go! A different, new world for us and we are certainly learning so much on the fly."

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She shared a photo of a page out of the book "Year One with Type One: A True Story of a Boy with Type 1 Diabetes" and confessed she had to leave the room while she and Legend were reading to Miles so her oldest son "couldn't see me sobbing."

The page reads, "When I'm ready for bed at the end of each day I always feel safe and my parents will say: 'Son, it's so brave how you handle the pain. You take all these shots and you hardly complain. The two of us wish there was more we could do. We'd take fifty shots each to spare your next two.'"

Teigen and Legend share four children: Miles, 8-year-old Luna and 1-year-olds Esti Maxine Stephens and Wren.

What is type 1 diabetes?

Patients with type 1 diabetes have a pancreas that doesn't make enough insulin, which "helps blood sugar enter the cells in your body for use as energy," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Though people most often find out they have diabetes as children, teens and young adults, diagnosis can happen at any age.

An estimated 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1, per the CDC, and there are no known ways to prevent or cure it. The cause of type 1 diabetes is not certain, but it's thought to be the result of an autoimmune response in which the body attacks insulin-creating cells in the pancreas, the CDC says. Patients can receive insulin through injections from an insulin pump and must monitor their blood sugar levels regularly.

Those who suspect they might have diabetes can do blood tests that screen for diabetes.