Tips For Coping With Type 1 Diabetes

Living with type 1 diabetes can be challenging and frustrating. However, there are many ways to make managing your diabetes a little easier. Here are six tips for coping with type 1 diabetes.

Establish a routine
Try to stick to a regular routine. When possible, eat at certain times and take your injections at the same times each day. It is particularly important to take your long term insulin at the same times each day.

Embrace technology
Use apps designed for people with diabetes. These can help you to: count carbs, watch your blood sugar levels, track  diet and exercise. If remembering to take your medications is a problem, it’s also easy to set reminders.

Healthy start
Start your day with a nutritious breakfast that follows your healthy eating plan. A healthy plan for type 1 diabetes typically includes foods from each food group, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats.

Weigh Foods
It can help to spend some extra time weighing or measuring out portions of foods. Try weighing foods that have a higher carbohydrate value, such as potatoes, rice, pasta and cereal. This will allow you to make more accurate judgements when making dosing decisions and when analysing your results.

Get serious about stress
Stress does many nasty things to the body, but for someone with type 1 diabetes the hormones produced as a result of prolonged stress may prevent insulin from working properly. Take care of yourself, learn to relax, incorporate mediation or breathing techniques and get enough sleep.

Patience
Be patient with yourself. You might not manage your diabetes perfectly, but your understanding of how to cope will grow every day.

Learn
Learn all that you can about type 1 diabetes. The more informed you are, the better you’ll be able to manage it.

Sources: Healthline, Diabetes UK, and MayoClinic.