Living with type 1 diabetes
If you have type 1 diabetes, you'll need to look after your health very carefully.
Caring for your health will make treating your diabetes easier and minimise your risk of developing complications.
Regular reviews
Type 1 diabetes is a long-term condition, which means you'll be in regular contact with your diabetes care team. Developing a good relationship with the team will enable you to freely discuss your symptoms or any concerns that you have.
The more they know, the more they can help you. Your GP or diabetes care team will also need to check your eyes, feet and nerves regularly, because they can also be affected by diabetes.
HbA1c test
You should be tested each year to see how well your diabetes is being controlled over the long term.
A blood sample will be taken from your arm and a test known as the HbA1c test carried out. It measures how much glucose is in your red blood cells, and gives your blood glucose levels for the previous two to three months.
The HbA1c target for most people with diabetes is below 48 mmol/mol. There's evidence to show that this level can reduce the risk of complications, such as nerve damage, eye disease, kidney disease and heart disease.
An HbA1c of less than 58 mmol/mol is recommended for those at risk of severe hypoglycaemia (an abnormally low level of blood glucose).
The Diabetes UK website has more information about theHbA1c test.
Healthy eating
It's not true that if you have diabetes you'll need to stick to a special diet. You should eat a healthy diet that's high in fibre and fruit and vegetables, and low in fat, salt and sugar.
Read more about healthy eating.
Different foods will affect you in different ways, so it's important to know what to eat and when to get the right amount of glucose for the insulin you're taking. A diabetes dietitian can help you work out a dietary plan that can be adapted to your specific needs.
It's fine for people with diabetes to eat carbohydrates. Your dietitian will explain "carb counting" to you – matching your insulin requirement with the volume of carbohydrates that you eat or drink.
The Diabetes UK website has more information about healthy eating and carb counting and insulin adjustment.
Regular exercise
As physical activity lowers your blood glucose level, it's very important to exercise regularly if you have diabetes.
Like anyone else, you should aim to do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week. However, speak to your GP or diabetes care team before starting a new activity.
As exercise will affect your blood glucose level, you and your care team may have to adjust your insulin treatment or diet to keep your blood glucose level steady.
Don't smoke
If you have diabetes, your risk of developing a cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack or stroke, is increased.
As well as increasing this risk further, smoking also increases your risk of developing many other serious smoking-related conditions, such as lung cancer.
If you want to give up smoking, your GP can provide you with advice, support and treatment to help you quit.
Read more about stopping smoking.
Limit alcohol
If you have diabetes, drink alcohol in moderation (if you drink), and never drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Depending on the amount you drink, alcohol can cause either high or low blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia).
Drinking alcohol may also affect your ability to carry out insulin treatment or blood glucose monitoring, so always be careful not to drink too much. The recommended daily alcohol limit is three to four units for men and two to three units for women.
Read more about alcohol units.
Keeping well
People with a long-term condition, such as type 1 diabetes, are encouraged to get a flu jab each autumn to protect against flu (influenza). A pneumoccocal vaccination, which protects against a serious chest infection called pneumococcal pneumonia, is also recommended.
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