What is it like to live with type 1 diabetes?
Living with type 1 diabetes requires daily attention to what and how much you eat, insulin injections, blood sugar monitoring, and physical exercise. These will always be a part of your daily routine and are the most important part of your diabetes treatment.

You will feel better, have a good quality of life, and may prevent, or at least delay, complications from diabetes, if you keep your blood sugar levels within a safe range. If your adolescent has diabetes, keeping his or her blood sugar levels tightly within a safe range can prevent complications from developing in early adulthood.

What symptoms do I need to watch for?
Watch for signs of high and low blood sugar.
Early symptoms of low blood sugar are sweating, weakness, shakiness, and hunger; however, your symptoms may vary, and over time you may not notice these symptoms.
Early symptoms of high blood sugar are increased thirst, increased urination, increased hunger, and blurred vision.
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) usually develops slowly over a few days or weeks; low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) usually develops within 10 to 15 minutes.

Will I have long-term complications from diabetes?
Whether you will develop complications from diabetes is not known. Some people are more prone to complications than others.

Complications from diabetes are caused by blood sugar levels that are above a safe range. High blood sugar levels affect your immune system, placing you at risk for severe infections and illnesses. Blood sugar levels that are above a safe range for months or years damage blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, resulting in eye, heart, blood vessel, nerve, and kidney disease. These complications can lead to disabilities (such as blindness, kidney failure, and amputations) and even death.

What are the signs of long-term complications from diabetes?
Although you are not likely to have signs of long-term complications until you have had diabetes for about 5 years, develop the habit of watching for symptoms. For example, watch for tingling and numbness in your feet that may indicate early nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy) and seeing floaters and flashes of light that may indicate early eye damage (diabetic retinopathy).

Since kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy) does not have early noticeable symptoms, make sure you have regular screening tests for protein in your urine.

Can complications be prevented?
You can prevent, or at least delay, complications from diabetes by consistently keeping your blood sugar levels within a safe range. Adequate treatment for high blood pressure or high cholesterol can also help prevent complications from diabetes. The longer you have diabetes, the greater your risk for developing complications.

How often should I see my doctor?
See your health professional every 3 to 4 months throughout your life. During these visits, the health professional will review your treatment and do special tests and exams to monitor how well your blood sugar levels are staying within a safe range and whether you have developed any complications.

Some exams and tests need to be done during every visit; others are done yearly, such as eye exams and tests for protein in your urine; and others may be done only if a complication develops.

How will my treatment change over time?
Your insulin dose, possibly the types of insulin, and the way you give it (injections or insulin pump) may change over time to fit your changing needs. This is especially true for adolescents with diabetes because of their rapid growth and development.

The goal of your treatment is always to keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. In order to meet this goal, you need careful daily management; frequent, regular checkups with your health professional; and ongoing education about how best to care for yourself.