Reviewed by: Xubin Yang (Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University)
Type 1 diabetes is often thought of as a disease that occurs only at a young age. It has also been called juvenile diabetes, and most patients are diagnosed in childhood or adolescence.
However, about 1 in 4 people with type 1 diabetes are not diagnosed until adulthood, and some are even 80 or 90 years old when they are diagnosed.
There is no cure for diabetes, but there are some efforts that can be made to make it easier to manage.
1. Establish contact with a medical team
Everyone with diabetes needs to set up a personal plan to ensure that the plan is implemented, but it does not have to be solved on their own.
A diabetic needs a medical team to help him live a better life, which may include general physicians, endocrinologists, dietitians, and diabetes educators.
Other specialists may also be needed, such as a podiatrist (a doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the feet and calves) or an ophthalmologist (a doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the eye).
Consult with the medical team regularly to let them know about their situation.
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2. Timely discover possible problems
High blood sugar can affect organs and tissues throughout the body. Even if diabetes is well controlled, problems can still occur slowly over time.
Check regularly and pay attention to whether there are tingling, numbness or swelling of the hands and feet, blurred or diplopia, or ulcers that do not heal.
If these problems are detected and treated early, the damage can be slowed or even stopped.
3. Maintain a regular diet and a healthy diet
In addition to eating three meals a day, you may need to eat a small amount of food multiple times. Talk to your dietitian about how to eat and drink to keep your blood sugar stable.
The diet may include healthy fats (nuts) and proteins (lean meats, fish, legumes), whole grains (brown rice, oatmeal), colorful vegetables (spinach, peppers, broccoli, sweet potatoes), and low-calorie drinks (such as unsweetened iced tea or drinks flavored with fresh fruit).
4. Be diligent in exercising and pay attention to changes in blood sugar
Regular exercise can help reduce weight, maintain healthy blood sugar levels, lower blood pressure, and also help protect the eyes and kidneys.
It is important to pay close attention to blood sugar levels before, during, and after exercise because exercise can raise or lower blood sugar levels and even trigger hypoglycemia. Learn how exercise affects blood sugar levels, diet, or medications taken.
5, quit smoking, nicotine will affect blood sugar
Smoking makes it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their condition, making them more susceptible to problems such as nerve damage or blindness.
This is because tobacco can raise average blood sugar, and studies have shown that nicotine is the cause of elevated blood sugar. At the same time, you should also stay away from nicotine replacement products.
6. Vaccination to prevent other health problems
Diabetes affects the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off infections or avoid other serious health problems.
Some infections, such as the flu, can also raise blood sugar.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people with type 1 diabetes stay informed about vaccines, including annual influenza vaccines, hepatitis B vaccines, pneumococcal vaccines (to prevent pneumonia), shingles vaccines (to prevent shingles), and DTP vaccines (to prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis).
7. Persistently implement various blood glucose control measures
Paying attention to diet, blood glucose testing, and long-term insulin injections can be annoying, especially if you do it every day for years.
Bad conditions are sure to happen, but can be improved by changing the location of insulin injections or adjusting favorite dish recipes.
Remember, perfect control is impossible, and don't get off track because bad days are coming.
8. Communicate with other diabetics
Sometimes it is helpful to talk to people who have the same experience. Consult with a doctor or diabetes educator to join a support group and attend a meeting or workshop to network with other people with type 1 diabetes.
It is also a good idea to seek professional support in some cases, especially when you have depressive symptoms such as losing interest in things you liked in the past, feeling hopeless, and being prone to fatigue.
*The content of this article is a popularization of health knowledge and cannot be used as a specific diagnosis and treatment recommendation, nor is it a substitute for face-to-face consultation by a practicing physician, for reference only.
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