Type 1 diabetes
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is very important if you have diabetes. However, you don't need to avoid certain food groups altogether.
You can have a varied diet and enjoy a wide rangeof foods as long as you eat regularly and make healthy choices.
You can make adaptations when cooking meals, such as reducing the amount of fat , salt and sugar you eat, and increasing the amount offibre.
You don't need to completelyexclude sugary and high-fatfoods from your diet, buttheyshould be limited.
The important thing in managing diabetes through your diet is to eat regularly and include starchy carbohydrates , such as pasta, as well as plenty of fruit and vegetables .
If your diet is well balanced, you should be able to achieve a good level of health and maintain a healthy weight .
Diabetes UK hasmore dietary advice and cooking tips .
As physical activity lowers your blood glucose level, it's very important to exercise regularly if you have diabetes.
Like anyone else, you should aim to do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking , every week.
However, before starting a new activity, speak to your GP or diabetes care team first.
Exercise will affect your blood glucose level, so your care team may have to adjust your insulin treatment or diet to keep your blood glucose level steady.
If you have diabetes, your risk of developing a cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack or stroke , is increased.
As well as increasing this risk further, smoking also increases your risk of many other serious smoking-related conditions, such as lung cancer .
If you want to give up smoking , your GP can provide you with advice, support and treatment to help you quit.
If you have diabetes and decide to drink alcohol , avoid drinking more than the recommended daily amounts,and never drink alcohol on an empty stomach.
Depending on the amount you drink, alcohol can cause either high or low blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia).
Drinking alcohol may also affect your ability to carry out insulin treatment or blood glucose monitoring, so always be careful not to drink too much.
Men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week.
People with long-term conditions are encouraged to get a flu jab each autumn to protect against flu (influenza) .
A pneumoccocal vaccination , which protects against a serious chest infection called pneumococcal pneumonia , is also recommended.
If you have diabetes,you're at greater risk of developing problems with your feet, including foot ulcers and infections from minor cuts and grazes .
This is becausediabetes is associated with poor blood circulation in the feet, and blood glucose can damage the nerves.
To prevent problems with your feet, keep your nails short and wash your feet daily using warm water.
Wear shoes that fit properly, and see foot care specialists(a podiatrist or chiropodist) regularly so any problems can be detected early.
Regularly check your feet for cuts, blisters or grazesas you may not be able to feel them if the nerves in your feet are damaged.
See your GP if you have a minor foot injury that doesn't start to heal within a few days.
It can occur if your blood glucose level is too high for a long period of time (hyperglycaemia). Left untreated, retinopathy can eventually lead to sight loss.
Diabetic eye screening is specifically for diabetic retinopathy and can't be relied upon for other conditions.
If you have diabetes and you're thinking about having a baby, it's a good idea to discuss this with your diabetes care team.
Planning your pregnancy means you can ensure your blood glucoselevels are as well controlled as they can be before you get pregnant.
You'll need to tightly control your blood glucose levelparticularly before becoming pregnant and during the first eight weeksof your baby's developmentto reduce the risk of birth defects.
You should also:
Your GP or diabetes care team can give you further advice.
Patient organisations have local groups where you can meet others diagnosed with the condition.
If you want to get in touch with a trained counsellor directly, you can call the Diabetes Helpline.
People with diabetes controlled by medication are entitled to free prescriptions and eye examinations.
Some people with diabetes may also be eligible for disability and incapacity benefits, depending on the impact the condition hason their lives.
The main groups likely to qualify for welfare benefits are children, the elderly, and those with learning disabilities, mental health difficulties ordiabetes complications.
People over the age of 65 who are severely disabled may qualify for a type of disability benefit called Attendance Allowance .
Carers may also be entitled to some benefits, depending on their involvement in caring for the person with diabetes.
Your local Citizens Advice can check whether you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to. Your diabetes specialist nurse and Citizens Advice can also provide adviceabout filling in the forms.
Contact your diabetes care team or GP for adviceif you haven't received these.
The advice you're given will be specific to you, but some general measures that your sick day rules may include could be to:
Seek advice from your diabetes care team or GP if your blood sugar or ketone level remains high after taking insulin, if:
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes can develop very quickly (over a few days or weeks), particularly in children. In older adults, the symptoms can often take longer to develop (a few months).
It's important for diabetes to be diagnosed early so treatment can be started as soon as possible. If you experience the symptoms of diabetes , visit your GP as soon as possible. They'll ask about your symptoms and may request blood and urine tests.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you'll probably need insulin injections. Treatment for diabetes aims to keep your blood glucose levels as normal as possible and to control your symptoms.
If diabetes isn't treated, it can lead to a number of different health problems. High glucose levels can damage blood vessels, nerves and organs. Even a mildly raised glucose level that doesn'tcause any symptoms can have damaging effects in the long term.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you'll need to look after your health very carefully. You have to start eating a healthy balanced diet, exercise regularly, quit smoking, limit your alcohol, etc.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to control the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. Type 1 diabetes is often inherited (runs in families), so the autoimmune reaction may also be genetic.
Chandler Bennett was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in October 2004. She maintains a positive attitude to life and has learned to manage her condition.
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