In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, which is needed to take sugar (glucose) from the blood to the cells. You can learn more about these conditions and how to prevent them in this section. You will also find helpful information about insulin, diagnostic tests and tips on what to expect from your health care provider.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose, can happen even during those times when you’re doing all you can to manage your diabetes.
Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia is a major cause of many of the complications that happen to people who have diabetes. For this reason, it’s important to know what hyperglycemia is, what its symptoms are, and how to treat it.
Ketoacidosis
Ketoacidosis is a serious condition where the body has dangerously high levels of ketones — or acids that build up in the blood — and it can lead to diabetic coma (passing out for a long time) or even death.
Managing Your Blood Glucose
Keeping your blood sugar (glucose) as close to normal as possible helps you feel better and reduces the risk of long-term complications of diabetes.
- Checking Your Blood Glucose
People with diabetes work to keep their blood glucose as near to normal as possible. Keeping your blood glucose in your target range can help prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.
- Tight Diabetes Control
Keeping your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible can be a lifesaver. Tight control means getting as close to a normal (nondiabetic) blood glucose level as you safely can.
- A1C Test
An A1C test gives you a picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months. The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan is working.
About Insulin and other drugs
In people with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer makes insulin. The beta cells have been destroyed. They need insulin shots to use glucose from meals. Learn more about insulin and other drugs.
Insulin Pumps
Learn how you can use an insulin pump to help manage your diabetes.
Transplantation
Diabetes sometimes damages kidneys so badly that they no longer work. When kidneys fail, one option is a kidney transplant. There are also pancreas transplants, as well as islet cell transplants.
