Skillful management of your blood sugar is key to controlling your type 1 diabetes and helping you stay healthy. A team of diabetes care providers will teach you how to do this. It's important that you follow their instructions.
Managing Your Type 1 DiabetesSkillful management of your blood sugar is key to controlling your type 1 diabetes and helping you stay healthy. A team of diabetes care providers will teach you how to do this. It's important that you follow their instructions.Uncontrolled diabetes can lead toKidney failureNerve damageBlindnessAmputation, andHeart attack and strokeTesting Your BloodThe first thing you will learn is how and when to test your blood sugar. You can test your blood sugar at home, at work, or at school.To do this, you will need to get a small handheld device called a blood sugar meter, or a blood glucose meter. You will also need test strips and lancets. Lancets are small, sharp tools used to poke your skin to get a small amount of blood. Test strips absorb the blood and are put into the meter.The meter measures the amount of sugar in your blood. You'll need to test your blood sugar several times during the day. Common times to check your blood sugar are before eating, after eating, and at bedtime.You may also need to check your blood sugar before exercise, whenever you think your blood sugar is low, and after you've treated low blood sugar.You will need to write down your blood sugar readings and insulin doses. Your diabetes care team will use this log to help you stay healthy.From time to time you'll also need to go to your health care provider's office for an A-1-C test. This blood test can tell your provider how well you've been controlling your blood sugar over several months.Giving Yourself InsulinYou will need to give yourself insulin to manage your type 1 diabetes. There are several different types of insulin. Some act quickly, and others work over a long period of time.You will need to inject insulin into your body several times a day. You can do this using insulin syringes, insulin injection pens, or an insulin pump. An insulin pump is a small device that you can program to give you doses of insulin in the amount your healthcare provider recommends.Signs of High or Low Blood SugarYou will need to start paying close attention to how you're feeling. For example, hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, can make you feel thirsty, give you a dry mouth, and make you urinate frequently.High blood sugar is a sign that you don't have enough insulin. If you don't have enough insulin in your body, it will begin to use fat for energy. When your body burns fat, it causes waste products called ketones (KEY-tohnz) to build up in your blood and urine.This condition is called ketoacidosis (Key-toh-ass-eh-DOH-sis). It's a dangerous condition that can turn into a life-threatening coma.Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can happen when you take too much insulin or when you exercise hard. Skipping a meal or eating less than normal can also cause low blood sugar. Some of the symptoms you might get include:HeadacheHungerShakinessDizzinessSweating or chillsIrritabilityConfusion, orConvulsionsIf you have these symptoms, you need to raise your blood sugar right away. Take a glucose tablet, eat a cookie, or drink juice. If you can't safely swallow, someone may need to inject you with a medication called glucagon.Staying HealthyCertain foods can raise your blood sugar. And exercise is a natural way to lower your blood sugar. You will need to work closely with your diabetes care team to learn what foods are best for you, and how much exercise your body can handle.You'll also need to take extra care when you get a cold or the flu. Getting sick can make it hard to control your blood sugar. It's a good idea to create a "sick day plan" with your health care provider. This will help you know when you might need extra insulin or special foods.Your health care provider will also recommend vaccinations to help you stay well.It's also important that others know how to help you in an emergency. A medical identification bracelet or necklace can help you get the right treatment when you need it.Things to RememberType 1 diabetes requires insulin therapy.Low blood sugar and high blood sugar both cause problems and need to be treated.Diet, exercise, and a "sick day plan" can help you stay healthy.What We Have LearnedYou'll need to test your blood sugar levels several times a day. True or false? The answer is true. You'll need to test your blood sugar levels before and after eating, at bedtime, after exercise, and whenever your health care provider tells you to.If your blood sugar gets too low, you may get ketoacidosis. True or false? The answer is false. Ketoacidosis happens when you have high blood sugar. It is a dangerous condition that can cause coma and other complications.
Online Medical Reviewer: Fraser, Marianne, MSN, RN
Online Medical Reviewer: Turley, Ray, BSN, MSN
Date Last Reviewed: 04/30/2020
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