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6 Strategies for Living With Type 1 Diabetes
Each year in the United States, 1.2 million people are diagnosed with diabetes — mostly type 2 diabetes. Mixed in there in smaller numbers are those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, which shares some similarities with its more common type 2 cousin, with a few key differences.
If you or a family member has type 1 diabetes, life may be a little more challenging. But it’s certainly manageable, especially if you follow some smart strategies.
As an endocrinologist who specializes in metabolic disorders like diabetes, Dr. Sean P. Nikravan is using this month’s blog to address type 1 diabetes and how you can lead a perfectly healthy life despite the autoimmune disorder.
1. Pay close attention to glucose levels
When you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin, which is the hormone that regulates the levels of glucose in your bloodstream. Your body’s cells need glucose for energy, and it relies on insulin to deliver the glucose and to cart off any extra blood sugar.
This issue is more challenging than the insulin resistance associated with type 2 diabetes as people with type 1 have no natural insulin to work with and therefore no way to regulate glucose.
This means you have to pay very close attention to your glucose levels and measure them frequently. We’d like to see your A1C levels (a glucose measurement) below 7%.
2. Take your medications
Because your pancreas isn’t producing insulin when you have diabetes, it’s up to you to make sure that there’s enough of this hormone on hand to regulate glucose. Make sure that you understand your medications and when to take them, and stay on top of this schedule so you don’t get behind the curve.
3. Count those carbs
Many think people with type 1 diabetes just need to stay away from sugar, but carbohydrates are just as dangerous. As far as your body is concerned, carbohydrates = sugar and energy.
Most people get about half of their calories from carbs (or more), but people with type 1 diabetes should be well below that mark. For a more specific number, we can sit down with you and review your diet and A1C numbers to come up with a good carbohydrate target.
4. Exercise is important
Type 1 diabetes has some serious complications associated with it, such as cardiovascular disease and peripheral neuropathy. A great way to stay one step ahead of these potential side effects is to literally get your steps.
When you exercise and move, you get your blood flowing and you can burn off glucose, which is far better than having it floating around your bloodstream.
5. Get support
It can be tough navigating a disease like type 1 diabetes on your own, so we suggest that you join some support groups, whether in person or online. Click here to find resources in your area.
6. Get the right diabetes team
There’s no cure for type 1 diabetes — yet — so management is key, as is having a medical team on your side that helps you in this.
Dr. Nikravan provides vigilant oversight, helping patients to find the right combination of medications, diet, and exercise to live life to its fullest, regardless of a type 1 diabetes diagnosis.
If you want to control your type 1 diabetes, and not the other way around, please contact Sean P. Nikravan, MD, in Newport Beach, California, today to schedule an appointment.
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