Diabetes Management
WRITTEN BY: BT1 Editorial Team
2017-12-04
What is diabetes management?
Diabetes management is about how lifestyle, daily routine and technology can affect blood glucose levels of someone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Keeping blood glucose levels in range greatly improves the health of someone with diabetes and prevents long-term complications or short-term risks that come with blood sugars out of range.
Diabetes can affect every part of the body and blood sugar control is dependent on many varying factors such as environment, stress and hormones. There is no one formula that works for everyone and so through trial and error, along with the application of new technology, those with type 1 can have improved diabetes management.
Learn the many devices and tools available today for people with diabetes. Become well-versed in the basics of diabetes care that includes how to administer insulin and what is an A1C test. Discover what affects your blood sugar control on a daily basis, how to better manage and teach others about what having type 1 is really like.
When it comes to diabetes management there’s a lot to consider in terms of equipment. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the varying gadgets and manufacturers; it’s time consuming to keep up with the newest technology and medical advancements. Beyond Type 1 is searching out what tools are available and asking what people think of them—we have guides and feedback from other type 1s that will help you make more informed decisions in your care. We’re also talking to the leading developers of cutting-edge equipment and platforms that make the day-to-day management of this disease easier and more efficient. We’re looking forward to the ground-breaking innovators in science to learn about the possibilities of a cure. Here’s the pulse on the biotech world and what it means for type 1.
The Basics►
What is Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)?
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a complication from diabetes that can be serious and life-threatening. DKA is often a common factor when first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.MORE
How to Give Yourself an Insulin Injection
For those with diabetes who must inject insulin, here is a quick reference guide with video.MORE
How to Test Blood Sugar
This is a practical step-by-step guide for how to test blood sugar. Share it with your family or friends who might be testing your child's blood for the first time, or use it as a guide for yours...MORE
Understanding Your A1C
The A1C is a blood test that helps determine if your diabetes management plan is working well. (Both type 1 and type 2 take this test.) It’s done every 2-3 months to find out what your average bloo...MORE
Guide On How to Give an Insulin Injection
Use this step-by-step guide with instructional video to give yourself or a loved one an insulin injection.MORE
Ketones — The 6 Must-Knows
Ketones are chemicals that build up when your body starts to burn fat for energy. The most common cause of ketones in diabetics is insulin deficiency.MORE
What to Expect During a Hospital Stay with Type 1 Diabetes
Preparing for a hospital stay can be overwhelming for anyone. Preparing for a hospital stay and having type 1 brings up so many more questions such as blood sugar control and insulin levels. MORE
Hypoglycemia and How to Treat It
If you take insulin to manage your diabetes, learning how to prevent or safely manage hypoglycemia is a must!MORE
Hyperglycemia and How to Treat It
Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, occurs when glucose is trapped in the bloodstream due to lack of insulin.MORE
Clinical Trials and the Type 1 Diabetes Cure
Genetic risk and environmental factors are part of the cure for type 1 diabetes conversation. Learn about clinical trials and risk factors.MORE
Donating Blood With Type 1 Diabetes
Many are under the assumption that a diagnosis means they can’t donate. Wrong. While it depends on where in the world you live, where your blood sugar levels are, and what type of insulin you take, ...MORE
Understanding the Honeymoon Phase in Type 1 Diabetes
The Honeymoon Phase, or “Honeymoon Period,” which can last for as long as a year, occurs when the body makes a partial recovery from its autoimmune attack. MORE
Open Enrollment Guide: Health Insurance Plan Types
As we launch into another open enrollment season for both Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans and Medicare, Beyond Type 1 is here to help you navigate the glut of overwhelming options.MORE
Guide: How to find LGBTQ-affirming healthcare
If you want to make your healthcare team more gender-affirming and LGBTQ-friendly, consider these resources.MORE
Diabetes Holiday Gift Guide
Looking for a gift for a loved one with diabetes? Our 2022 holiday guide is here to help!MOREInsulin + Equipment►
Daily Diabetes Care Kit
The type 1 diabetes (T1D) Daily Kit is full of the everyday supplies that you need living day-to-day with type 1 diabetes. For emergency care tips, check out the Natural Disaster Emergency Kit. Your d...MORE
All About Insulin
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood, effectively turning food into fuel for the body. A person is diagnosed with diabetes once the body is n...MORE
Glucagon
Glucagon raises your blood sugar (treating hypoglycemia) while insulin lowers it (treating hyperglycemia or preventing it when taken before eating).MORE
Blood Glucose Meter Rundown
And we all know what we need to do: know our numbers and keep them in safe ranges. In order to accomplish this, we depend on the blood glucose meter, which measures and displays the amount of sugar (g...MORE
Insulin Pump Rundown
Choosing an insulin pump doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process. Should you go with a more traditional pump where you can monitor your insulin levels directly? Are you looking for a model that w...MORE
CGM: Continuous Glucose Monitor
A continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) is a small wearable device that tracks your glucose levels in real-time throughout the day and night.MORE
All About Diabetic Alert Dogs
You've heard of them, those super hero dogs who are helping detect blood sugar changes in their diabetic owners. Perhaps you've even seen them in action. Before you add in that canine compan...MORE
Dexcom SHARE
Over the past few years, Dexcom has been making it simpler than ever to closely monitor your blood glucose levels and trends. One helpful feature that is now available with your Dexcom technology is t...MORE
Why You Might Switch From An Insulin Pump Back to Shots?
There are a number of reasons why switching from your insulin pump back to shots (MDI), using insulin pens or syringes, is sometimes necessary.MORE
The Evolution of T1D Technology
Considering how quickly Type 1 diabetes technology has been advancing over the recent years, it is very easy to get comfortable with those tools available to us today. There isn’t much of a reason t...MORE
T1D Device Malfunctions and What to Do
As much as we try to “live in the moment,” the fact remains that technology is not perfect, so we need to take a little extra time to plan and anticipate what might go wrong so that we can stay he...MORE
Mini-dosing of Glucagon in Everyday Diabetes Management
If the pancreas of someone without Type 1 uses glucagon naturally to help maintain stability of blood sugars, can people with Type 1 also benefit from using glucagon in non-emergency situations? What ...MORE
How Do I Safely Get Rid of My Sharps?
People with type 1 encounter sharps every day, and precautions for disposing of sharps don’t just apply to the diabetes world.MORE
How to Give an Insulin Pen Injection
Injections can seem intimidating at first, but practice makes perfect. Whether you are learning to inject for the first time using a pen or you’re already an accomplished injector via syringe, there...MORE
The Medical ID Guide
If the situation ever arises, wearing a medical ID can make sure that you receive the attention and care you need in the event of an emergency. Consider these medical ID options!MORE
The Guide to DIY Looping
It’s important to follow the directions! Read up on your desired DIY Looping setup before getting started to make sure you don’t miss out on any key info.MORE
CGM Access for Veterans
Educating and raising awareness of CGM among veterans with diabetes who access care via the VA, arming them with the information they need for better diabetes management.MORE
Finding Peace of Mind
How experience and access to new treatment options gave the Harrisons more flexibility and peace of mind.MORE
Test Strip Subscription Guide
We compiled a rundown of popular companies that offer test strip subscription services and researched each of them to give you some important info.MORETeaching Type 1 to Others►
The Boyfriend/Girlfriend Guide to Caring for Someone with Type 1
Congratulations! You're dating someone amazing, funny, beautiful and strong, who also has type 1. Here are tips that can help.MORE
The Friends & Family Guide to Type 1 Diabetes
Maybe it's the friend's child next door or a member in the family who has type 1 diabetes. Perhaps you'll be in charge of care at some point or are simply interested in learning more ab...MORE
A Coach’s Guide to Type 1 Diabetes
As a coach, you want to push each member of your team. Don’t see type 1 as a roadblock; see type 1 as a challenge that your athlete takes on everyday. Here is what you should know about type 1 diabe...MORE
The Grandparent’s Guide to T1D
The greatest gift that a grandparent can give to their type 1 grandchild is support. Support can come from a variety of ways. Of course, there is the medical terminology and making sure that you can h...MORE
The T1D Guide for Mental Health Care Providers
If you’re going to be caring for a person with type 1 diabetes with regard to their mental health, there are some important things to know about the various emotional impact of having T1D and the ma...MORE
A Teacher’s Guide to Kids with Type 1 Diabetes
Being a teacher comes with the responsibility of taking care of 20-30 children on a daily basis. In your career, you may have a student with Type 1 diabetes in your class. Although you may feel overwh...MORE
Employer’s Guide to Type 1
Editor’s Note: This content is a part of Beyond Type 1’s guidebook, which includes guides for everyone who has a type 1 in their life. Check out the rest of our customized guides for the different...MORE
The Sibling Guide to Type 1 Diabetes
So what happens when a newly-diagnosed sibling of yours suddenly learns they have Type 1 Diabetes? How can you help? Whether you are a T1D or not, here are 5 simple ways you can help your recently-dia...MORE
The BFF Guide to Type 1 Diabetes
I can do anything other kids can do. I just have to check my blood and bolus (take insulin) if I’m eating. I can ride my bike, play baseball, run, and do all those types of fun activities. Just plea...MORE
The Co-Worker’s Guide to Type 1 Diabetes
Perhaps you will work with someone who has type 1 diabetes, or you are simply interested in learning more. Consider this guide to help you learn the ins and outs of type 1 diabetes in the work force.MORE
The Professor’s Guide to Type 1 Diabetes
Unlike elementary and secondary schools, colleges have no responsibility to identify disabilities. Therefore, it is the student’s job to let his or her school know about a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis....MORE
The RA’s Guide to Type 1 Diabetes
As an RN, here is everything you need to know about your resident with type 1 diabetes and how you can be helpful to their success in college/university.MORE
The Babysitter’s Guide to Type 1 Diabetes
As a babysitter, you need to be prepared for anything that comes your way. When you're babysitting a child with type 1 diabetes, there's an entire extra layer of preparation to consider.MORE
The Guys Guide to Type 1 Diabetes
Let’s talk guy stuff ... and diabetes. This guide is aimed at any dude newly diagnosed with T1D, or any guy just needing to revisit the basics. MOREYour Body►
Birth Control & Type 1 Diabetes
The subject of birth control with relation to type 1 diabetes has always been a tricky subject, with inconsistent results. Hormones have been known to have an impact on blood glucose levels, but hormo...MORE
Sex and Type 1 Diabetes
Sex is a unique form of physical exercise in that most of us usually look forward to doing it. Like any other activity that requires physical exertion, getting it on will most likely affect your blood...MORE
How Medications Can Impact Type 1 Diabetes Management
Being sick stresses the body, and when your body’s stressed it releases blood-glucose raising hormones. These hormones can even prevent insulin from properly lowering your levels. Consider the follo...MORE
Acupuncture and Type 1 Diabetes
The blood sugar lowering effects of acupuncture are believed to be due to the down-regulation of corstisol, a stress hormone that encourages the liver to create glucose, and by decreasing free-fatty a...MORE
How Can Type 1 Diabetes Affect Sleep?
40-50% of people with diabetes complain of poor sleep. At this point we know, medically, that a diabetes diagnosis itself increases the risk of sleep disorders, but the problem doesn’t stop there. MORE
How to Prevent Eye Complications with Diabetes
In 1921, the introduction of insulin revolutionized the treatment of diabetes. Yet, as Eliot P Joslin himself noticed, as patients lived longer, they developed unexpected complications. One of the mos...MORE
Can diabetes affect your hair growth?
Can Type 1 diabetes can affect your hair growth? The answer: yes. On a daily basis, our bodies undergo an enormous amount of physical stress to keep up with our daily life of eating, exercise and emot...MORE
Dental Health and Diabetes: Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums
Everyone wants a winning smile but nobody likes the sound of a dentist’s drill. If you have type 1 diabetes, however, research shows that you may be more predisposed to certain types of gum and teet...MORE
Tattoos & T1D
People with Type 1 diabetes often wonder whether or not getting a tattoo is a safe option for them. We have good news – you can safely get “inked,” but just like anyone else, there is certain pr...MORE
The Truth About Flu Shots
While flu shots are an effective step an individual can take to protect themselves, vaccines are most effective when everyone gets them. By getting vaccinated for the flu, you are protecting not only ...MORE
Foot Complications and Diabetes
Have you checked out your feet today? Your feet go through a lot on a daily basis. As a person with diabetes, you need to pay extra attention to them! Even the smallest of problems could get worse an...MORE
Heart health & T1D
February (and every month) is Heart Month! Heart disease and stroke (CVD) are the leading cause of death both in the US and worldwide, in particular for people with diabetes (PWD).MORE
Should you wear contact lenses with Type 1?
For years the popular rhetoric around diabetes and contact lenses has been pretty limiting. In a nutshell: nope, don’t, can’t do it. But what’s the truth here? Can you safely wear contacts? What...MORE
Gastroparesis and Diabetes
Gastroparesis is a condition in which your stomach muscles' motility is impaired, meaning the muscles are not strong enough to empty the stomach properly.MORE
Type 1 Diabetes and UTIs
While a UTI might typically be something that is easily treated, it can become dangerous for someone with type 1 diabetes. MORE
The Honeymoon Phase in Diabetes
What does "honeymooning" actually mean? Check out our guide to find out!MORE
Type 1 Diabetes and Women’s Health
If you are a woman with type 1 diabetes, it is important to advocate for your own health and be aware of these conditions. If you are a healthcare provider, be sure to screen for the following conditi...MOREFood►
The Five Most Common Party Foods and What It Means for Blood Sugar Management
Here's how some common party foods impact blood sugar management—hint: it's not just about carbs! Learn about fat, protein, and more!MORE
Type 1 Diabetes & Celiac Disease
10% of the population with Type 1 diabetes also have celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which suffers are unable to eat gluten because it causes their body’s immune system to...MORE
What To Eat
Understanding what you are eating, how much you are eating and knowing how to match your insulin are good basics to come to the table with.MORE
Navigating the BBQ with Diabetes
It's BBQ time. Yet another gathering that revolves around food — and maybe a sprinkler — but don't sweat it. Navigating the BBQ with type 1 diabetes can be as easy as pie. Beyond Type ...MORE
Caffeine and Type 1 Diabetes
Have you ever noticed a difference in your blood sugar after drinking a big cup of coffee or tea? Some studies show that caffeine can indeed have an affect on your blood glucose levels – exaggeratin...MORE
The Gluten-free Diet—Fad or Necessity?
The Gluten-free diet has been on the rise for the past few years and currently about one in five Americans follow it. In my experience, there is still a lot of confusion around this diet, its purpose ...MORE
The Alcohol and Diabetes Guide
Cheers! We're not going to tell you that you can't drink; we will however, give you some general pointers on how to stay safe.MORE
Glycemic Index Diet and Diabetes
The Glycemic Index Diet was designed to help people with diabetes control their blood sugar levels. The diet focuses on carbohydrates, with the goal of eating foods that produce a steady rise in blood...MORE
Diabetes and the Paleo Diet
The paleo diet is a way of eating that is meant to mimic the way earliest humans ate. Essentially, those following the paleo diet eat things that our hunter-gatherer ancestors would be able to eat —...MOREThe Elements►
Cold Weather and Type 1 Diabetes
Climate and temperature are suspected to affect diabetes at nearly every stage, from a type 1 diagnosis to a typical day in the life of someone who’s had the condition for years.MORE
Altitude and Type 1 Diabetes
As you may already know, travel in general can have a big impact on Type 1 diabetes management. This is typically due to elements such as stress hormones, time change and other shifts in routine that ...MORE
Heat and Diabetes: Why It’s Crucial to Monitor Blood Sugar in Hot Weather
Have you ever noticed your blood sugar either spiking or dropping rapidly in severe temperatures? Many people with Type 1 diabetes run into this issue and have been baffled as to why. Heat may have mu...MOREAdministration►
Insurance — Navigating Denials
If your doctor has prescribed it, isn't that enough? In many cases, it isn't and people are faced with denials for life-saving and life-improving equipment. Here is our run down if you'...MORE
Getting Your Driver’s License
Getting your driver’s license is an exciting milestone unlike any — it gives you the freedom and independence to go wherever you want, whenever you want. You know you’re ready for this respons...MORE
Employment and Type 1 Diabetes
As a person with type 1, you are protected under several laws in the United States from discrimination on the job. It is important to get a clear overview of how you are protected so that you can make...MORE
