Type 1 Diabetes: An Information Sheet
Find out more about Type 1 diabetes

What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes impairs your body’s ability to make insulin. Without insulin, sugar piles up in the blood and can damage internal organs, the nervous system and blood vessels.
Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes. It is sometimes called juvenile diabetes because it is usually discovered in children and teenagers, but adults may also have it.
Those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are more likely to have heart disease, high blood pressure, blindness, nerve damage, stroke, kidney failure, and gum disease. These events happen 2 to 4 times more often in people with diabetes than in people without diabetes. Blood may not move as well through your legs and feet in those with type 1 diabetes. If left untreated, this condition can become very serious and lead to amputation (removal) of your feet. Untreated type 1 diabetes can cause a person to go into a coma or even kill you.
How can I prevent serious problems from occurring?
Follow your doctor's advice about diet and exercise to help prevent these problems. Also, carefully follow your doctor's instruction for taking your insulin. Quit smoking and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels. You can cut your risk of health risks from diabetes by 75% if you follow these instructions.
What is the healthiest diet for type 1 diabetes patients?
The ideal diet for people with type 1 diabetes is low in fat, low in salt and low in added sugars. The diet may be rich in complex carbohydrates (like whole-grain breads, cereals and pasta), fruits and vegetables. This diet will help you control your blood sugar level, as well as your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for those diagnosed with diabetes.
How can I control my blood sugar level?
Taking insulin to keep blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible is required of all type 1 diabetes patients. Many people with type 1 diabetes take short-acting insulin before each meal and the amount of insulin you take before every meal may vary with the amount of carbohydrates you are about to consume. Counting the carbohydrates in your food may help you plan your meals, especially if you take insulin. If you eat the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal, you can keep your blood sugar from getting too high or too low. To keep their blood sugar levels from rising in the middle of the night, most people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes need to take an insulin dose before they go to sleep.
Symptoms of low blood sugar may include feeling tired for no reason, yawning, being unable to think clearly, losing muscle coordination, twitching, or becoming very pale. Diabetes patients with low blood sugar should drink something sugary, like juice.