Type 1 diabetes

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Endocrine glands

Monitor blood glucose - series

Type 1 diabetes

Alternative Names:

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; Juvenile onset diabetes; Diabetes - Type 1
Treatment:

At diagnosis, the immediate goals of treatment are to treat diabetic ketoacidosis (also called DKA) and high blood glucose levels. Because of the sudden onset and severity of symptoms in type 1 diabetes, treatment for newly diagnosed people may involve hospitalization.

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The long-term goals of treatment are to prolong life, reduce symptoms, and prevent diabetes-related complications such as blindness, kidney failure, and amputation of limbs.

These goals are accomplished through education, insulin use, meal planning and weight control, exercise, foot care, and careful self-testing of blood glucose levels.

INSULIN

Insulin lowers blood sugar by allowing it to leave the blood stream and enter cells. Everyone needs insulin. People with type I diabetes can't make their own insulin, and they must take insulin every day.

Insulin is injected under the skin using a syringe, or in some cases, an infusion pump delivers the insulin continuously. It is not available in an oral form.

Insulin preparations differ in how fast they start to work and how long they last. The health care professional reviews blood glucose levels to determine the appropriate type of insulin the person should use. More than one type of insulin may be mixed together in an injection to achieve the best control of blood glucose.

The injections are needed, in general, from 1 to 4 times a day. People are taught how to give insulin injections by their health care provider or a diabetes nurse educator. Initially, a child's injections may be given by a parent or other adult. By age 14, most children can be expected (but should not be required) to give their own injections.

DIET

Meal planning for type 1 diabetes requires consistency to allow food and insulin to work together to regulate blood glucose levels. If meals and insulin are out of balance, extreme variations in blood glucose can occur.

The American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association has information for planning healthy, balanced meals. Consultation with a registered dietitian or nutrition counselor is an invaluable tool for meal planning and dietary control for diabetics.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Regular exercise is especially important for the person with diabetes, as it helps control the amount of sugar in the blood and helps burn excess calories and fat to achieve optimal weight.