5 Tips for Living with Type 1 Diabetes

If you have type 1 diabetes, day to day life can be a struggle, especially if you aren’t getting the right help and support. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and having a team of medical experts on hand to help you cope is important. If you are struggling with how to manage type 1 diabetes, here are 5 useful tips.

Eat the Right Carbs

We all know how important it is to follow a balanced diet, but for those with type 1 diabetes, you must pay close attention to how many carbs you have on your plate and whether you are taking enough insulin to process the food. Thankfully, the type 1 diabetes diet is similar to most healthy eating programs, so incorporating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unsaturated fats in your diet can help. If you are prone to eating foods high in fat, salt, and sugar, swapping to a balanced diet is strongly advised. To help make this easier, you may want to create a food journal, which will enable you to note down your current diet and help you to make the right changes.

Exercise

If you are living with type 1 diabetes, exercise can cause your blood glucose levels to dip. This can occur for various reasons, such as not stocking your blood glucose levels due to not eating enough. If you’ve noticed a dip in your glucose levels, this can cause dizziness and mental confusion, but try not to let this stop you from exercising. Performing moderate exercise is good for your physical and mental well-being as well as your cardiovascular health. Even going for a stroll around the block can help keep your fitness levels up.

Preventing Health Complications

For those who have type 1 diabetes, the risk of getting cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, and vision loss is higher. To help prevent health complications, there are several things that you can do. Being vigilant about managing your blood sugar, keeping in regular contact with your doctor or other medical professionals, getting annual sight and kidney function tests, and having your feet examined by a doctor once a year for signs of nerve problems can help you stay in control and reduce your risk.

Lifestyle Changes

Making small lifestyle changes can play a major part in warding off health complications. High-stress levels can take its toll on those with type 1 diabetes, so quitting smoking, improving your sleep, and practicing relaxation techniques can all be a huge help in managing your condition. Living as clean a lifestyle as you can is important, so make sure that you have a close network of family and friends around you who can provide love and support through the difficult times.

Seek Help

Tackling type 1 diabetes alone can be a daunting prospect. If you have any concerns or need some urgent advice, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor. To provide a greater amount of comfort and flexibility in managing diabetes, you may be interested in insulin pump therapy. Byram Healthcare can provide you with more information on insulin pump therapy and help you find an insulin pump that best fits your life. Byram Healthcare are the top national provider of insulin pumps and are able to provide support for all your diabetes therapy needs.

Eating right, incorporating moderate exercise into your routine, and making small but subtle lifestyle changes can help you better manage your type 1 diabetes. If you need further help and advice, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor, who will be able to provide support.