Living With Type 1 Diabetes

Posted on by Jordan Soblick

Receiving a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes can be shocking and difficult to accept. But once the initial shock wears off, it is time to get to work. Living with type 1 diabetes does not mean a life that is any less long, full, active, and vibrant than it was before. All it takes to keep the condition at bay and avoid its more severe complications is some knowledge, effort, and vigilance.

Understanding Type 1 Diabetes

The first step in learning to live with type 1 diabetes is to understand what it means to have type 1 diabetes.

Previously called juvenile diabetes, an inaccurate moniker because it can develop in people of all ages, type 1 diabetes afflicts about five percent of the estimated 422 million people around the world who have diabetes.

When the body is functioning properly, insulin-producing cells in the pancreas called islets detect the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Islets then release the right amount of insulin to normalize blood sugar levels and facilitate the release of glucose to be used as energy. However, in type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks the islet cells in the pancreas.

Without islet cells, the body cannot produce its own insulin. As a result, the sugars stay in the bloodstream, essentially starving the cells of the energy they need to maintain the body’s essential functions.

Monitoring and Controlling Glucose and Insulin Levels Is Key

These imbalances in blood glucose and insulin levels are why monitoring and maintaining the right levels of both are so critical to living with type 1 diabetes.

Traditional glucose monitoring involved pricking a finger multiple times a day to get and test blood samples, an undoubtedly inconvenient and uncomfortable process. Now, finger-prick glucose monitoring is no longer necessary due to advancements in technology. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is a tested, approved, accurate, and easy-to-use transceiver device that helps those with diabetes monitor keep abreast of their blood sugar levels 24/7 without any need to stop what their doing to take a blood sample.

To keep insulin levels where they need to be, individuals with type 1 diabetes typically need to receive insulin by injection or insulin pump before engaging in various activities, such as sleeping or eating.

Eating Healthy

Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is good for everyone, including folks with diabetes. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, dairy products, unsaturated fats (such as olive oil and avocados), and proteins (poultry, fish, and lean meat).

But people with type 1 diabetes need to pay particular attention to their carbohydrate intake and ensure that they take enough insulin to process their food. This can be tricky and involve some trial-and-error with the insulin-to-carbs ratio as every person’s body chemistry is a bit different.

Exercising

As with diet, exercise is as important to the health and well-being of people with type 1 diabetes as it is for everyone else. But be careful and speak with your doctor before starting any exercise regimen. Too much exertion can cause blood glucose levels to drop too low. Make sure you eat before working out and check your blood sugar levels before and after exercising.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Is A Game-Changer For Those With Type 1 Diabetes

With easy-to-use features that can help each person proactively record and track glucose levels—as well as provide valuable insights on data that helps manage exercise, meals, and daily health status— Continuous Glucose Monitoring is a game-changer for individuals with type 1 diabetes.

Contact us today to see if you qualify for CGM and access our guide to continuous glucose monitoring.

CALL US TO QUALIFY NOW

If you are not insured, or have a high deductible health insurance plan, you can still purchase the Freestyle Libre Reader and Sensors at extremely competitive prices. Prices starting as low as $99 per month

1-888-308-0094

*Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings when you suspect readings may be in accurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

Reference 1: Data on file. Abbott Diabetes Care. 2, FreeStyle Libre 14 day User’s Manual

Indications and Important Safety Information

FreeStyle Libre and FreeStyle Libre 14 day Flash Glucose Monitoring systems are continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices indicated for replacing blood glucose testing and detecting trends and tracking patterns aiding in the detection of episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, facilitating both acute and long-term therapy adjustments in persons (age 18 and older) with diabetes. The systems are intended for single patient use and require a prescription.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Remove the sensor before MRI, CT scan, X-ray, or diathermy treatment.

WARNINGS/LIMITATIONS: Do not ignore symptoms that may be due to low or high blood glucose, hypoglycemic unawareness, or dehydration. Check sensor glucose readings with a blood glucose meter when Check Blood Glucose symbol appears, when symptoms do not match system readings, or when readings are suspected to be inaccurate. The system does not have alarms unless the sensor is scanned, and the system contains small parts that may be dangerous if swallowed. The system is not approved for pregnant women, persons on dialysis, or critically-ill population. Sensor placement is not approved for sites other than the back of the arm and standard precautions for transmission of blood borne pathogens should be taken. The built-in blood glucose meter is not for use on dehydrated, hypotensive, in shock, hyperglycemic-hyperosmolar state, with or without ketosis, neonates, critically-ill patients, or for diagnosis or screening of diabetes. When using FreeStyle LibreLink app, access to a blood glucose monitoring system is required as the app does not provide one. Review all product information before use or contact Abbott Toll Free (855-632-8658) or visit www.freestylelibre.us for detailed indications for use and safety information.html. . FreeStyle, Libre, and related brand marks are trademarks of Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. in various jurisdictions. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2018 Abbott. ADC-09691 vLO 10/18

*The FreeStyle LibreLink app and the FreeStyle Libre 14 day reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings, when you suspect readings may be inaccurate, or when you experience symptoms that may be due to high or low blood glucose.

The FreeStyle Libre 2 app and the FreeStyle Libre 2 reader have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol and when your glucose alarms and readings from the system do not match symptoms or expectations

‡‡‡Based on the sensor being replaced once every 14 days, and scanned at least once every 8 hours.

§§§Glucose readings are not available during 1-hour warm-up, when sensor is too hot or too cold, when you see an error or "LO" or "HI" message, or no current glucose reading