Type 1 diabetes mellitus: therapy

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Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is much change for those affected. An overview

Training: What to know patients

Typically, a person with type 1 diabetes leads his therapy in everyday life by independently as long as no problems or discomfort. In children take parents this task. The diabetologist and his team are looking for patients then usually on only to follow-up, with specific questions or problems. For newly diagnosed patients is recommended at training participate. There they provide expert practical knowledge necessary that matters in everyday life. These training courses are proven to increase the quality of life and reduce the risk of late complications.

agree therapy goals individually

Patients with type 1 diabetes have a lifetime replace the missing insulin - usually by spraying it. So they can lower elevated blood sugar levels. This in turn is important in order to avoid complications. Excessive sugar levels can cause damage in the body forever on organs, nerves, and in the vessels.

Doctor and patient should therefore common short- and long-term treatment goals agree on how the blood sugar in individuals is best adjusted. Treatment should not only prevent late damage, but also improve the quality of life and prevent acute complications. Here a happy medium must be found: If the blood sugar long-term value HbA1c , the information on the blood glucose levels of the last eight to twelve weeks is too high, which promotes long-term sequelae. But if he is too low, the probability may rise of dangerous hypoglycemia.

In the considerations between doctor and patient, several factors are incorporated with. Firstly, the target values must be chosen realistically, so that the patient can achieve this. The age and the circumstances of the person concerned play a role, as well as its ability to cope with the therapy in everyday life.

measure blood sugar

Good long-term values are important - but also the current blood sugar levels should not be too high and not too low. The patient can check by measuring their blood sugar levels themselves. Usually they have to this side prick with a lancet into the fingertip to obtain a drop of blood. Based on the determined one meter then the current value. As measured correctly, to detect patients with type 1 diabetes by a physician, a nurse or in the training show. Instructions can be found also in our online guide to the glycemic control .

People with type 1 diabetes should control at least four times a day their blood glucose levels - with poor metabolic control or in the pregnancy more often. The number of required measurements is best discussed with the doctor. In everyday life, also during and after strenuous exercise, according to on special occasions, such as before, hypoglycaemia and for car journeys , additional measurements may be useful.

insulin syringes

Since the body of people with type 1 diabetes does not produce own insulin, it has to be supplied from the outside - usually by patients inject it with the pen. Various treatment regimens are available. The appropriate insulin therapy puts the doctor determines, together with the patient. The correct use of the pen concerned can also be show by diabetologists or in training (more on this in the next chapter or in our insulin-special ).

food

First things first: Who has type 1 diabetes, will be without eating anything. He does not have access to special diabetic foods, and sugar is not taboo. For people with the disease, the same recommendations as for Healthy apply.

However, they must adjust their insulin treatment and their diet each other. If the body carbohydrates on from food, this in the intestine to be dextrose (glucose) decomposed and discharged from there into the blood vessels. The blood sugar rises then. In healthy individuals, the pancreas releases insulin from now strengthened to reduce the values again. In people with type 1 diabetes this compensatory mechanism is omitted. You need to inject their insulin to regulate glucose levels after meals.

These sufferers have to learn to judge the carbohydrate content of their food properly. Thus, they can determine the amount of insulin needed and prevent falls at too high a dose values too low or too low a dose can not be sufficiently lowered. The knowledge necessary to be patient mediated by type 1 diabetes in the training.

Physical activity

Sport has the type 1 diabetes no specific therapeutic benefit - unlike the type 2 diabetes. Movement is but generally important for the physical and psychological well-being and therefore also for type 1 diabetes recommended to better cope with the burden of the disease. Strenuous activities like prolonged cycling, jogging or weight training must be coordinated with the treatment by the athlete adapts his insulin dose or its amount ingested food. The rules for the individual case should always clarify patient with the attending physician. Read more about this in our guide Sport in diabetes .