DIABETES Health

People with type 1 diabetes are more likely to have heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, high blood pressure, blindness, nerve damage and gum disease. These things happen 2 to 4 times more often in people with diabetes than in people without diabetes. When you have type 1 diabetes, blood may not move as well through your legs and feet. If left untreated, this condition can become very serious and lead to amputation (removal) of your feet. Untreated type 1 diabetes can cause a person to go into a coma. It can even kill you. The good news is that treatment can help prevent these problems

To help prevent these problems, follow your doctor's advice about diet and exercise. Also, carefully follow your doctor's instruction for taking your insulin. You shouldn't smoke, and you should keep your blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels. If you do all of these things, your risk of problems from diabetes can be cut by more than 75 percent.

 

The best diet for people with type 1 diabetes is low in fat, low in salt and low in added sugars. It has lots of complex carbohydrates (like whole-grain breads, cereals and pasta), fruits and vegetables. This diet will help you control your blood sugar level, as well as your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It’s also important to watch your portion size so you can maintain a healthy weight.
 

People with type 1 diabetes take insulin to keep their blood sugar level as close to normal as possible. Your doctor will explain how and when you should take insulin.

Many people with type 1 diabetes take short-acting insulin before each meal. You can adjust the amount of insulin you take for each meal based on how many carbohydrates you eat. Counting the carbohydrates in your food can help you plan your meals, especially if you take insulin. If you eat the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal, you can keep your blood sugar from getting too high or too low. Your dotor can teach you how to count the carbohydrates you consume in each meal and adjust your insulin dose accordingly.

To keep their blood sugar levels from rising during the night, most people with type 1 diabetes need to take an intermediate-acting insulin before they go to sleep. Your doctor will work with you to determine the right amount of insulin for you to take with meals and at bedtime.

 

The best way to monitor your blood sugar level is to test it at least 3 times each day, including at bedtime.

If your blood sugar level goes higher than it should, you may need to take an extra dose of short-acting insulin to return your blood sugar to the normal range. Your doctor can tell you how much insulin you need to take to lower your blood sugar level.
 

People who take insulin may have times when their blood sugar level is too low. This low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia. Signs of hypoglycemia include the following:

 

If you have any of the problems listed above, eat or drink something sweet, such as fruit juice, regular (not diet) soda or candy, right away.

Be sure you teach your friends, work colleagues and family members how to treat hypoglycemia, because sometimes you may need their help. Also, keep a supply of glucagon at home. Glucagon is another medicine you inject in a shot. It will raise your blood sugar level. If you are unconscious or can’t eat or drink, another person can give you a shot of glucagon. This will bring your blood sugar level back to normal.
 

The tips below can help you stay healthy if you have type 1 diabetes:

 

Yes, you can live a normal life. Remember, many successful athletes and people in all professions have type 1 diabetes. You can stay healthy if you do what it takes to control diabetes.