Type 1 diabetes is a health problem where your immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Insulin helps your body use sugar as energy for many of its daily functions. Without insulin, your blood sugar will go up to dangerous levels. Diabetes does not go away. You will learn to manage it with eating the right way and taking drugs as ordered by a doctor.
Diabetes and Heart Disease education by Maureen Kane APN, CDE, Nurse Practitioner and Certified Diabetes Educator.
Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do. Check your blood sugar level. Your doctor will tell you how often, but it is most often a few times a day. Keep a list of your blood sugar levels. This will help you learn what causes high or low readings and help you manage your diabetes.
You need to take insulin for the rest of your life. This will help to control your blood sugar. The doctor may also give you other drugs. These may help to control other health problems and avoid bad side effects from your illness.
Talk to your doctor about how you can be active. This may help control your blood sugar. You can garden, bike, walk, swim, or do other activities. Always check your blood sugar before and after you are active to see how your body responds. Be sure to drink lots of water before, during, and after activities.
If this illness is not controlled, these problems might happen:
This is a life-long problem and you cannot prevent it. You can still lead a normal life. Diabetes can be managed through diet, drugs, and being active.
Make sure you always carry a diabetes emergency kit. Be sure you and the people around you know how and when to use the kit. Check the expiration date of the items in your kit often.