Type 1 diabetes is a metabolic condition in which your body cannot properly control your blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes usually develops during adolescence, but can appear at any age. If you are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, it is important to learn how to properly manage your condition to avoid potentially serious complications.
Physiology
When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into the simplest form, glucose. Glucose moves through your digestive system until it reaches your small intestine, where it becomes absorbed into your bloodstream. When glucose enters your bloodstream, your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels rise. Normally, the rise of blood glucose causes the pancreas to release a hormone called insulin. Insulin attaches to glucose and brings it your cells so that they can use it for energy. If you have Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas does not produce insulin. As a result, the levels of glucose in your blood are not adequately controlled.
Insulin Therapy
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition for which there is no cure. The goal of treatment for Type 1 diabetes is to keep blood sugar levels controlled. General blood glucose goals are 80 to 120 mg/dL during the day and 100 and 140 mg/dL during sleep, according to MayoClinic.com. Every person with Type 1 diabetes requires insulin therapy in order to survive. Several different types of insulin are available. Your doctor will recommend a type of insulin or a combination of insulin types that are best for your specific condition. Insulin is administered through injections and specific dosage also depends on your condition and the amount and type of food that you eat.
Nutrition
There is no specific diet for diabetes. You can and should eat a variety of different foods from all of the food groups. The most important thing you need to learn is how to count carbohydrates. Counting carbohydrates ensures that you administer enough insulin to properly deliver the glucose in your blood to your cells. The amount of carbohydrates you need each day depends on several different factors, including your activity level, age and sex. You should work with a dietitian to determine your carbohydrate needs. Once carbohydrate needs are determined, these carbohydrates should be spread out evenly over the course of the day. This can help ensure that your insulin dosage is correct and your blood sugar levels stay normal.
Blood Sugar Monitoring
If you have Type 1 diabetes, it is important to monitor your blood sugar regularly to make sure that your blood glucose levels remain within healthy ranges. Blood sugar monitoring involves pricking your finger to get a blood sample and then testing your blood sugar using a digital monitoring device. If your blood sugar level is too high or too low, it is important to take steps to correct it as soon as possible.
