The Complications Playbook
Breaking Down the Complex
Take a Deep Breath
Diabetes complications can be scary to think about—and even scarier to talk about. They tend to come with shame and blame, but complications can happen to anyone, especially if you've been living with diabetes for a long time. The bottom line—shame has no place here. We're here to give you the information you need to get the help you deserve.
Talking About Complications
The idea of diabetes complications can be scary. But when we start talking about them, learning how to prevent them...
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Most people living with diabetes will remember conversations they’ve had with healthcare professionals about diabetes-related complications, and often, those memories...
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It’s hard to deny that one of the main reasons diabetes causes fear and denial is due to the possibility...
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We have been educated, maybe warned, or even “threatened” with diabetes complications since we’ve been diagnosed. Many of us have...
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The unfortunate truth: having diabetes can significantly increase your risk of developing other health conditions. While some potential diabetes complications...
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Almost 30 years ago research found that chronic hyperglycemia (high blood glucose), as well as the length of time a...
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Neuropathy + Nerve Health
When you live with any type of diabetes, complications can happen over time—even when blood glucose control is tight. This...
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A common complication of diabetes, peripheral neuropathy affects approximately 30 percent of people with type 1 diabetes and 42 percent...
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One of the major diabetes complications everyone hears about is neuropathy. When people think of neuropathy they think of losing...
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Living with diabetes isn’t easy, and the complications that can come with it can be overwhelming, scary and painful....
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Diabetes can put a person at risk for developing a wide range of conditions. Often this is due to a...
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Technology is changing how we treat diabetes complications, from AI-powered tools to neurostimulation devices. Here’s what’s making a difference.
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Retinopathy + Eye Health
Diabetic eye disease, also known as retinopathy, is one of the most well-known complications of diabetes. People with diabetes (PWD)...
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Taking good care of your eyes is especially important for people with type 1 diabetes. No matter what your blood...
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Your annual diabetes eye exam can take anywhere between one to two hours because there are actually four parts to...
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Retinopathy is one of the most common and most serious diabetes-related eye complications. It’s actually the leading cause of preventable...
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One of the most common yet rarely talked about eye conditions in people with diabetes is dry eye, it affects...
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While anyone can develop this eye condition, floaters are more common in people with diabetes who have developed diabetic retinopathy...
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Other Complications
The effects of hyperglycemia are widespread in the human body. It is not surprising that our musculoskeletal system can be...
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Gastroparesis, also known as delayed gastric emptying, is a type of autonomic neuropathy that affects the digestion of food. Gastroparesis...
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When thinking about diabetes we don’t often think of the health of our mouth, gums, and teeth known as our...
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Diabetes nephropathy, also known as diabetic kidney disease, affects 20-40 percent of people with diabetes. The leading cause of chronic...
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Having diabetes means that you are more likely to develop heart disease and have a greater chance of a heart...
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High blood glucose due to diabetes can cause damage to many parts of the body, including the heart. Chronically high...
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The very honest play-by-play on trying a new site. Ultimate takeaway? Even if the site spot isn`t a new favorite, it inspired me to keep trying new spots. Sometimes breaking a habit cycle is half the battle.
Arm site wearers, got any tips for a newbie?
Reminder: Stories shared are personal experiences; not medical advice. Chat with your healthcare provider before making changes to your management 🙂
#diabetesmanagement #t1dlookslikeme
Every person with diabetes deserves access to the technology and care they need to survive. The DIABETES Act is one important step toward making that happen. The bipartisan bill aims to ensure Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes maintain access to the diabetes technologies and education they rely on.
As members of the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (@diabetespac) and the Diabetes Leadership Council, we support the DIABETES Act and all efforts to make technology and education more accessible.
Have you or someone you love experienced a gap in care when transitioning to Medicare? Have you navigated barriers to CGM or insulin pump access?
We’re looking forward to continuing our work with @diabetespac this year, including bringing ambassadors to Hill Day in Washington, D.C., in June 2026 to advocate for policies that improve the lives of people with diabetes. If you’re interested in lending your voice, sign up to become a Beyond Ambassador in our bio. Updates and info coming soon.
#Diabetes #Type1Diabetes #Type2Diabetes
What’s your “I have no idea how many carbs this is” bolus number?
Join us in celebrating all that nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers do at the San Francisco Giants` Nurses Night! Part of the proceeds from tickets will benefit Beyond Type 1 to help people with diabetes survive and thrive! ⚾️
Hang out with other people with diabetes in the Beyond Type 1 section and enjoy your free water bottle with your ticket purchase! (Link to the tickets in our bio) 💛
Science is only as strong as its reach. Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders helped champion health equity for us all.
Who do you want to see in the next roundup?
Calling all baseball fans in San Francisco 🗣️! The San Francisco Giants are hosting a Nurses Night on June 8, to recognize the amazing work that nurses do everyday, and Beyond Type 1 has our own section!
If you want to join our meetup and cheer on the Giants, you can buy tickets in our section in the link in our bio! See you all there ⚾️
To the moms and motherly figures who show up with love, reminders, and low snacks 💛 You make anything feel possible. Who’s been that person for you?
inspired by @typeonevibes
However you choose to move your body, join us in our Strava club (link in bio) 💛
Anybody else told they have "some diabetes" when diagnosed?
Logging bull riding and bowling on strava >>> All movement is good movement. Our 4-week challenge, Your Type of Moves, starts today. 180 minutes of movement a week as a nod to the 180+ extra decisions a day those of us living with diabetes make every day. And we`re trying to raise a little money along the way to help people with diabetes survive and thrive.
Meet us in the Strava club all month long and cheer each other on—link in bio. Powered by @betabionics #diabetesawareness #t1dlookslikeme #stravaproveit
Ever seen one of the first blood sugar meters? The Ames Eyetone meter from 1972 measured blood glucose with reflectance photometry, or reading the intensity of light reflected off a Dextrostix reagent strip. And before that, it all came down to urine.
Diabetes tech is a right, not a luxury. If you`re getting pushback from your provider, find out what to say in our profile.
Sources:
Bender, C., Vestergaard, P., & Cichosz, S. L. (2025). The History, Evolution and Future of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM). Diabetology, 6(3), 17–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/diabetology6030017
Schersten, B., Kuhl, C., Hollender, A., & Ekman, R. (1974). Blood Glucose Measurement with Dextrostix and New Reflectance Meter. BMJ, 3(5927), 384–387. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.3.5927.384
Insulin and Diabetes Management -- Glucose (Sugar) Monitoring. (n.d.). National Museum of American History. https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object-groups/insulin-and-diabetes-management/glucose-sugar-monitoring
#DiabetesAwareness #DiabetesHistory
What is your Diabetes Alert Mom known for doing? 🤔
180 minutes of movement a week. Sound like a lot? People with diabetes make 180+ extra decisions every single day. Your Type of Moves is a movement challenge dedicated to that number. Move anywhere, any way — walk, stretch, meditate, dance, breathe, etc.
If you`d like to fundraise and make an impact, each dollar we raise helps people with diabetes survive and thrive.
Challenge accepted? We`ll send you an invite to our Strava club (visit the link in our bio)
Powered by @betabionics
The diabetes rumor mill works overtime. Set the record straight.
There are way more than 2 types of diabetes. More like 20+. So stigma around type 1 vs type 2 doesn`t even tell the full story and fuels harmful narratives.
There are stages of type 1 diabetes. When you get diagnosed with type 1, you’re actually already in stage 3. In earlier stages, there may be opportunity to delay diagnosis and preserve beta cell function.
Insulin isn`t the only hormone impacted by diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes don`t make or can`t properly regulate several hormones like amylin, glucagon, and GLP-1.
Sources:
The Lancet Regional Health. Misdiagnosis of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Adults. Vol. 29, 1 June 2023, pp. 100661–100661, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100661.
Hill-Briggs, F. (2020). Social determinants of health and diabetes: A scientific review. Diabetes Care, 44(1), 258–279. https://doi.org/10.2337/dci20-0053
Taheri, S. (2023). Type 2 Diabetes Remission: A New Mission in Diabetes Care. Diabetes Care, 47(1), 47–49. https://doi.org/10.2337/dci23-0062
#DiabetesAwareness #T1DLooksLikeMe #Type2Diabetes
Healthcare gaps are more than a statistic. It’s a misdiagnosis. It`s being denied the tech you need to survive. But the future of diabetes care is being shaped right now, by you. And we want to fund it.
We`re funding the people and organizations working to close these gaps—for earlier and more accurate diagnosis, expanded access to care and education, reduced stigma and new technologies.
Grants up to $50k. Apply by April 28 in our profile or share with someone who should.
#DiabetesAwareness
This Black Maternal Health week we spoke to Lexie (@thedivabetic) about her recent experience giving birth to her daughter as a person with type 1 diabetes and the advice she would give to others on a similar journey.
Are you currently pregnant (or planning to be) and living with type 1 diabetes? The Jaeb Center for Health Research is enrolling participants for an observational study exploring how continuous glucose monitors and automated insulin delivery systems support diabetes management during pregnancy.
Find more info on the study in our profile.
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Educational content is made possible with support from Lexicon. Beyond Type 1 maintains editorial control over its content.
