Living with type 1 diabetes

Managing your blood glucose

If you have type 1 diabetes, you'll need to:

• check your blood glucose (sugar) regularly
• check how much carbohydrate is in your food and drink (called carb counting)
• take insulin several times a day
• watch out for signs of hypoglycaemia (hypos) and know how to treat it

Checking your blood glucose

Checking your blood glucose is quick and easy for most people.

You'll be offered a blood glucose meter, small needles (lancets) and test strips to do finger-prick tests.

You should also be given a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). This gives you readings at any time and reduces the number of finger-prick tests you need to do.

It's recommended that you check your blood glucose at least 4 times a day (or at least 5 times for children), including before meals and before bed.

Check it more often when you're doing things that can affect it, such as exercise or drinking alcohol, or when you're unwell.

Blood glucose targets

Your diabetes team will discuss with you what blood glucose levels to aim for.

As a guide, the ideal range is:

• when you wake up, before you've eaten: 5 to 7mmol/L for adults, or 4 to 7mmol/L for children
• before meals at other times of the day: 4 to 7mmol/L
• at least 90 minutes after meals: 5 to 9mmol/L

It's not possible to achieve these recommended ranges all the time. But if you can keep your blood glucose levels within these ranges for around 70% of the time, this will reduce your chance of getting complications in the future.

Carb counting

Knowing how many carbohydrates (carbs) you're eating and drinking helps you manage your blood glucose levels by matching your insulin dose to your food. This means you can be more flexible in what you eat.

You can learn about carb counting by doing a type 1 diabetes course, such as DAFNE (Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating). There are also apps that can help.

Taking insulin

You'll take insulin using an insulin pen or an insulin pump. It does not usually hurt, as the needles are very small.

You'll need to adjust your dose depending on your food and drink, your blood glucose and things like how much exercise you do.

Your diabetes nurse will show you how to use your pen or pump. It's important to change where you inject or put your pump each time, and use the right technique, to help prevent problems.

Recognising and treating hypoglycaemia (hypos)

Hypoglycaemia (a hypo) happens when your blood glucose level is too low. It usually needs to be treated if it's below 4mmol/L.

Mild hypos are common and do not usually cause any lasting problems.

They can happen when you have not had enough carbohydrates or you've taken too much insulin.

You'll need to be aware of the symptoms, such as feeling hungry or dizzy, sweating and shaking.

It's important to treat a hypo quickly, before it gets worse, by having a sugary drink or snack.

Things you can do to help manage type 1 diabetes

If you have type 1 diabetes, there are things you can do to help manage your blood glucose levels and avoid any problems.

How type 1 diabetes affects your life

Managing type 1 diabetes can be a challenge and take time to get used to. Constantly trying to meet blood glucose targets can lead to a feeling of burnout.

You'll need to do more planning for things like school or work, travel, eating out and exercise.

But with the right treatment and support, you can eat normally, continue with your usual work and still do all the things you enjoy.

Type 1 diabetes can increase your chance of getting other health problems (long-term complications), such as heart disease, nerve damage and problems with your eyesight. But you'll be given care to help prevent these.

You can also lower your chance of getting complications by managing your blood glucose levels as well as you can.

People with type 1 diabetes also have a higher chance of getting other conditions caused by problems with your immune system (autoimmune conditions), such as thyroid disease, coeliac disease and Addison's disease.

Diabetes treatments and technologies are improving, so people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes today should be able to expect a better quality of life than was possible before.

Many people with type 1 diabetes are able to avoid complications and have long, healthy lives.