Topic Overview Is this topic for you? This topic provides information for adolescents and their parents and for adults who have had diabetes for more than a few months. Before reading this topic, you may want to read Type 1 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed. If this topic does not answer your questions, see: Type 1 Diabetes, if you want to learn about type 1 diabetes but do not have the disease.
Type 1 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed, if you have been told recently that you or your child has type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With the Disease, if your child age 11 or younger has type 1 diabetes. Before reading this topic, you may want to read Type 1 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed.
Type 1 Diabetes: Living With Complications, if you have complications, such as eye, kidney, heart, nerve, or blood vessel disease, caused by your diabetes.
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. Cause You have type 1 diabetes because your pancreas can no longer produce insulin. The insulin you take for diabetes cannot control blood sugar levels as well as insulin produced by the body. As a result, you will experience high and low blood sugar levels from time to time. Causes of high blood sugar Skipping a dose of insulin or eating more food than usual
Feeling a lot of emotional stress or being ill (such as with a severe case of the flu) or having an infection, especially if you are not eating or drinking enough
Taking medications that can raise blood sugar levels, such as medications for sleep, some decongestants, and corticosteroids (such as prednisone)
The dawn phenomenon or the Somogyi effect, which can cause early morning high blood sugar
Adolescence, because of the hormone changes and rapid growth
Causes of low blood sugar Taking too much insulin
Skipping or delaying a meal or snack
Exercising more than usual without eating enough food
Drinking too much alcohol, especially on an empty stomach
Taking certain medications that lower blood sugar, such as aspirin and medications for psychiatric disorders
Starting your menstrual period, because the hormonal changes may affect how well insulin works
Symptoms Because you have type 1 diabetes, you will experience high and low blood sugar from time to time. Learn to recognize: Symptoms of low blood sugar, which include sweating, weakness, and hunger.
Symptoms of high blood sugar, which include increased thirst, increased urination, and blurred vision.
High blood sugar usually develops slowly over hours or days, so your symptoms can be treated before they become severe and require medical attention. On the other hand, your blood sugar level can drop to dangerously low levels within a few minutes. Signs of complications You are not likely to develop signs of complications from diabetes until you have had the disease for about 5 years. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop complications. These may include: Burning pain, numbness, or swelling in your feet or hands, which may indicate damage to the nerves that affect sensation and touch (peripheral neuropathy). If one nerve is affected (focal neuropathy), you may have symptoms in one area of your body, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Blurred or distorted vision; seeing floaters or flashes of light, large, floating red or black spots, or large areas that look like floating hair, cotton fibers, or spiderwebs; or pain in the eyes. These symptoms may indicate diabetic retinopathy. You are also at risk for other eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts.
A wound that won't heal or that looks infected, which may indicate damage to the blood vessels that supply that area.
Frequent bloating, belching, constipation, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which may indicate gastroparesis related to damage of the nerves that control your internal organs and systems (autonomic neuropathy).
Profuse sweating or reduced sweating; feeling dizzy or weak when you sit or stand up suddenly; difficulty sensing when your bladder is full or difficulty emptying your bladder completely; erection problems or vaginal dryness; or difficulty knowing when your blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia unawareness). These also may indicate autonomic neuropathy.
You will not have any noticeable signs of kidney problems (diabetic nephropathy) until severe damage has developed. Then you may notice swelling in your feet, legs, and throughout your body. Having regular tests for protein in your urine is the only way to detect kidney damage before symptoms develop. What Happens Although your experience with type 1 diabetes will be different from that of others with the disease, treatment always includes eating a balanced diet that spreads carbohydrates throughout the day, getting regular exercise, monitoring blood sugar levels (using a home blood sugar meter), and taking insulin. If you work closely with your doctor and follow your prescribed treatment, you will feel better and more in control of your life and prevent or delay complications. Not everyone with diabetes develops complications from the disease. Keeping blood sugar levels within a safe range may prevent or delay complications. From the time you are diagnosed with diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels within a safe range. If your adolescent with diabetes does this, he or she can avoid developing complications in young adulthood. Because it is difficult to match perfectly the balance that your body would have if you didn't have diabetes, you will experience high and low blood sugar levels from time to time. If your blood sugar levels stay above a safe range for long periods of time, the blood vessels and nerves throughout your body will be damaged, although you may not begin to notice the signs until you have had the disease for 3 to 5 years. This damage can result in: Microvascular disease, which affects your eyes or kidneys. Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy develop without early noticeable signs. For more information, see the topics Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Nephropathy. You are also at risk for other eye diseases, such as cataracts and glaucoma.
Macrovascular disease, which affects your heart and the large blood vessels throughout your body. Diabetes damages the lining of large blood vessels, allowing them to become clogged with hard, fatty deposits called plaques. This process, called atherosclerosis, narrows the vessels, decreasing the blood supply to the affected area. It also increases the pressure in the blood vessels, resulting in high blood pressure. When the blood vessels that supply your heart and brain are affected, a heart attack or stroke is more likely to occur. When the large vessels in your legs are affected, peripheral vascular disease develops, leading to problems with blood circulation in your legs and feet and causing changes in the skin color, decreased sensation, and leg cramps. For more information see the topics Heart Attack and Unstable Angina and Peripheral Vascular Disease of the Legs.
Diabetic neuropathy, which affects the nerves in your body. Diabetic neuropathy can decrease or completely block the movement of nerve impulses through the organs, legs, arms, and other parts of your body. Nerve damage can affect both the functioning of internal organs, such as the stomach (gastroparesis), and your ability to feel pain when injured. When blood vessels and nerves are affected, bone and joint deformities can develop, especially in your feet (Charcot foot). See the topic Diabetic Neuropathy for more information on this condition.
People with diabetes often already have other health problems, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, or develop them as diabetes progresses. These conditions can contribute to developing and worsening of complications from diabetes. Adequate treatment for these conditions can help prevent or help slow the progression of diabetic complications. Other health problems in adolescents Studies have found that adolescent girls are at higher risk for diabetic ketoacidosis. Health professionals find this is often related to skipping insulin doses in order to lose weight. 1 Eating disorders are also common among adolescents and young adults with diabetes. The behaviors associated with eating disorders and the tendency to omit insulin injections can cause swings in blood sugar levels outside a safe range. Eating disorders need to be identified as quickly as possible to prevent serious health problems. What Increases Your Risk Risk factors for high and low blood sugar Your risk factors for very high or low blood sugar related to type 1 diabetes may include: Age. Adolescent girls are at greater risk for high blood sugar, leading to diabetic ketoacidosis. This may be because girls are often concerned about their weight and body image and so may skip insulin injections to lose weight. 1
Tight blood sugar control. Although keeping your blood sugar level tightly within a safe range is important, you are at risk for frequent low blood sugar levels. 2
Adolescence. The rapid growth spurts and changing hormone levels that occur during this time make it difficult to keep blood sugar levels within a safe range.
Psychiatric conditions. People with eating disorders, depression, anxiety disorder, or panic disorder are at increased risk for frequent high and low blood sugar levels. 1
Risk factors for complications Why some people with type 1 diabetes develop complications (eye, kidney, heart, blood vessel, and nerve disease) and others do not is not known. The following factors contribute to your risk for developing complications: Persistent high blood sugar over time. The higher your blood sugar and the longer it remains too high, the greater your risk for developing complications.
Length of time you have the disease. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop complications, even if blood sugar levels are controlled.
About 60% of people with type 1 diabetes develop diabetic retinopathy after 10 years, and almost all have it to some degree after 20 years. 3, 4 About 53% develop the advanced stage, proliferative retinopathy, after 20 years. 5
Diabetic nephropathy eventually occurs in 20% to 40% of all people with diabetes. 6 Adults with type 1 diabetes who develop diabetic nephropathy usually show early signs of the condition 5 to 10 years after their diabetes is diagnosed. Children who develop nephropathy usually show the first signs of the condition after puberty.
Most people with diabetes develop some diabetic neuropathy over the years, but only about 13% to 15% have noticeable symptoms. 7
Having one complication. Having one complication from diabetes increases your risk for developing other complications.
Other risk factors. Smoking, psychiatric disorders (such as depression), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a family history of diabetic complications may increase your risk for developing a complication. Adolescents need to be encouraged not to smoke because smoking increases their risk for developing complications in early adulthood. Not having health insurance coverage for supplies and other medical expenses related to diabetes care can contribute to poorer control of the disease and eventually developing complications. When To Call a Doctor Call 911 immediately if you or your adolescent is becoming sleepy or lethargic and the blood sugar level is less than 60 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Follow the: Emergency care for low blood sugar.
Call a health professional if: Your or your adolescent's blood sugar level is staying above a safe range after following the steps for high blood sugar.
Your or your adolescent's blood sugar level is staying below a safe range after eating some quick-sugar food.
Your or your adolescent's blood sugar level stays high after taking a missed dose of insulin or taking an extra dose of insulin (if prescribed by the doctor).
You or your adolescent has frequent problems with high or low blood sugar levels. The insulin dose or schedule may need to be changed.
You or your adolescent is having problems following the meal plan or getting physical activity, and you want help.
You or your adolescent is sick for more than 2 days (unless it is a mild illness, such as a cold), and you:
Have been vomiting or had diarrhea for more than 6 hours.
Have followed the advice of your doctor but it has not worked. See when you are sick and have diabetes for general information about what to do when you are sick.
Have blood sugar levels consistently above 300 mg/dL and your urine tests for ketones show you have more than 2+ or moderate or higher ketones.
You begin to notice symptoms of long-term diabetes complications, such as:
Burning pain, numbness, or swelling in your feet or hands.
Blurred or distorted vision; seeing floaters or flashes of light, large, floating red or black spots, or large areas that look like floating hair, cotton fibers, or spiderwebs; or pain in the eyes.
A wound that won't heal or that looks infected.
Frequent bloating, belching, constipation, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Profuse sweating or reduced sweating; feeling dizzy or weak when you sit or stand up suddenly; difficulty sensing when your bladder is full or difficulty emptying the bladder completely; erection problems or vaginal dryness; or difficulty knowing when your blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia unawareness).
Watchful Waiting Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you have frequent high or low blood sugar levels. See your health professional. Your treatment may need to be changed. If you begin to notice symptoms of complications from the disease, see your health professional. Early treatment of complications can prevent or delay worsening of the condition. For signs that may indicate complications, see the Symptoms section of this topic. Who To See Health professionals who may be involved in your treatment for type 1 diabetes include: A family practice doctor or general practitioner, an internal medicine doctor, an adolescent medicine specialist, or a pediatrician.
A nurse practitioner or physician's assistant.
A certified diabetes educator (CDE). A CDE is a registered nurse, dietitian, doctor, pharmacist, or other health professional who has special training and experience in caring for people with diabetes.
A registered dietitian.
An endocrinologist.
Who to see for complications If you begin to have symptoms of complications from diabetes, you may be referred to: A cardiologist or vascular specialist, for treatment of heart and/or circulation problems.
A nephrologist, for treatment of kidney disease.
An ophthalmologist or optometrist, for diagnosis and treatment of eye disease; ophthalmologists treat retinal complications from diabetes.
A neurologist, for treatment of nerve damage.
A gastroenterologist, for treatment of problems in the stomach and intestines.
A urologist, for treatment of problems with sexual function or the urinary tract.
A podiatrist, pedorthist (a certified technician who can make special shoes or shoe inserts), or orthopedic surgeon, for foot and ankle problems.
Exams and Tests You need to see your health professional about every 3 to 4 months throughout your life for tests and exams to monitor your condition and adjust your treatment. After you have had diabetes for 3 to 5 years, you will need annual annual tests to monitor for signs of eye damage (diabetic retinopathy) and kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy). Other possible tests You may also need: Continuous ambulatory blood glucose monitoring, if your doctor recommends it. This is a new test in which you wear a monitor that checks your blood sugar level continuously for 24 to 72 hours. The results are stored in the monitor and can be used to determine your blood sugar level pattern and spot any unrecognized low or high blood sugar levels.
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) if you have had a heart attack or have heart disease.
An exercise electrocardiogram (treadmill EKG test) before you begin a vigorous exercise program, if indicated. If you have risk factors for coronary artery disease or symptoms of heart problems, your doctor may want you to have this test done to see whether there are signs of heart disease.
An examination by a cardiologist, if you develop heart problems related to diabetes (cardiac autonomic dysfunction).
A thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test to check for thyroid problems, which are common among people with diabetes.
An electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction study if your health professional suspects that you may have diabetic neuropathy. Treatment Overview The goal of your treatment for type 1 diabetes is always to keep your blood sugar levels within a safe range. Daily diabetes care and regular medical checkups will help you accomplish this goal. Daily care Your daily care includes: Home blood sugar monitoring.
Preparing and giving insulin injections or using an insulin pump.
Counting carbohydrates or using the food guide for diabetes.
Dealing with your feelings about your diet.
Dealing with low blood sugar levels.
Preventing high blood sugar levels.
Caring for your feet.
You will also need to: Get 30 minutes of active physical exercise on most days. Take steps to exercise safely.
Take precautions when you are driving and not drive if your blood sugar is below 65 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
Take care of your skin and your teeth and gums.
Know what to do when you are sick.
Learn how to prevent problems while traveling.
Grieve the things you feel that you have lost because you have diabetes.
You may also want to know: What needs to be done if you want to become pregnant, such as changing your treatment or additional screening tests.
How to use fat replacers in your diet.
Where to find a support group or camp for people with diabetes.
How to stop smoking, or how to discourage your adolescent with diabetes from starting.
How to limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink a day for women (none, if you are pregnant) and two drinks a day for men.
What immunizations you need. See the topic Immunizations for the recommended immunization schedule.
How to deal with a rebellious adolescent who has diabetes.
How often should I see my doctor? See your doctor about every 3 to 4 months for the rest of your life. During these checkups, your doctor will evaluate and make adjustments to your treatment. Other exams and tests will be done according to a recommended schedule. After you have had diabetes for 3 to 5 years, you will start having annual exams and tests to monitor for eye and kidney damage. What if my blood sugar level is very high? If you do not take enough insulin, have a severe infection or other illness, or become severely dehydrated, your blood sugar level may rise very high, causing diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is usually treated in a hospital and often in the intensive care unit (ICU). There you are closely observed and receive frequent blood tests for glucose and electrolytes to monitor your condition. Insulin will be given to you through a vein (intravenous, or IV) to bring your blood sugar levels down. Fluids will be given through the IV to correct the electrolyte imbalance in your body. You may have to stay in the hospital for a few days to get your blood sugar levels stabilized back into a safe range. 8 What To Think About The 10-year Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and follow-up Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study showed that keeping blood sugar levels within a safe range helps decrease your chances of developing complications from diabetes, such as eye, kidney, heart, blood vessel, and nerve damage. As a result of this study, experts recommend that you carefully control your blood sugar levels. This is often referred to as strict or tight blood sugar control. If you tightly control your blood sugar levels, you reduce your risk for long-term complications, but you are also 3 times more likely to have very low blood sugar. Very low blood sugar can be dangerous unless you treat it early. Studies to find pain-free ways to give insulin, such as through insulin pumps and improved needles, and to test blood sugar levels are ongoing. Ways to prevent or decrease complications from diabetes also are being studied. People who would like to participate in these diabetes studies should talk with their health professionals. Prevention Preventing high and low blood sugar Because you have type 1 diabetes and take insulin, you will have low and high blood sugar levels from time to time. However, you can prevent many of these episodes by: Taking your insulin as prescribed.
Eating meals according to your meal plan.
Exercising about the same amount and about the same time each day.
Checking your blood sugar level several times a day and whenever you think it may be high or low.
Recognizing and treating high or low blood sugar quickly.
Preventing high blood sugar emergencies
Dealing with low blood sugar
Preventing complications The most effective way to prevent complications from diabetes is to keep your blood sugar levels carefully within a safe range. The higher your blood sugar level, the greater your risk for developing complications is. 9 If your adolescent with diabetes keeps his or her blood sugar levels tightly within a safe range, it will prevent complications from developing in early adulthood. 10 You can also help prevent these complications by: Having yearly screening for protein in your urine after you have had diabetes for 5 years. This is the only way to detect early kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy). If evidence of kidney damage is found, medication can help slow, or possibly reverse, the damage.
Having yearly exams by an ophthalmologist or optometrist after you have had diabetes for 3 to 5 years. This is the only way to monitor your eyes for signs of damage (diabetic retinopathy), glaucoma, and cataracts.
Wearing medical identification to let medical personnel know that you have diabetes. You can buy medical identification in bracelets, necklaces, or other forms of jewelry at your local pharmacy.
Not smoking. Smoking increases your risk for damage to the blood vessels caused by diabetes. 11 Smoking could increase your adolescent's risk for developing complications in early adulthood.
Keeping your immunizations up-to-date. Diabetes affects your immune system, increasing your risk for developing a severe illness, such as influenza or pneumonia. See the topic Immunizations for the recommended immunization schedule.
Treating high blood pressure and high cholesterol. These conditions increase your risk for developing diabetic complications, especially heart and blood vessel diseases. 12
Taking aspirin, if indicated. People with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely than people who don't have diabetes of developing fatal heart and blood vessel diseases. If you have had a heart attack, stroke, or other large blood vessel disease, you may need to take aspirin, unless there are other health reasons why you cannot take it. If you are age 30 or older and are at risk for heart and blood vessel disease, you may want to take aspirin to help prevent these complications. 13 Do not give aspirin to your adolescent with diabetes because of its association with Reye's syndrome. Talk with your doctor about whether you need to take aspirin.
Home Treatment Type 1 diabetes requires daily attention. You may have times when this job feels overwhelming, but you will feel better, have a better quality of life, and prevent or delay complications from diabetes if you: Spread carbohydrates in your diet throughout the day.
Take insulin as directed.
Get physical exercise.
Monitor your blood sugar level.
Know how to handle high and low blood sugar.
Deal with your feelings about having diabetes.
Protect your feet.
Educate yourself about the disease.
Spread carbohydrates throughout the day Use one of the following meal planning methods: Food guide for diabetes
Carbohydrate counting
Using fat replacers may seem like a good idea, but talk with a registered dietitian before you do. Take insulin If you are taking insulin injections, use the following information: Preparing and giving an insulin injection
If you are using an insulin pump, make sure you know how to use it properly. Get physical exercise Try to get 30 minutes of exercise a day for most days of the week. However, exercise safely. Monitor your blood sugar Monitoring your blood sugar level is a significant part of carefully controlling your blood sugar level and keeping it in a safe range. Home blood sugar monitoring
Handle high and low blood sugar levels Be sure you: Always wear medical identification to let medical personnel know that you have diabetes.
Take precautions when you are driving and do not drive if your blood sugar is below 65 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
Recognize and treat high and low blood sugar levels.
Dealing with low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) emergencies
Preventing high blood sugar emergencies (hyperglycemia)
Deal with your feelings Because you have a chronic illness, which creates a major loss in your life, you will need to grieve your losses from time to time. In addition, you may feel resentful, deprived, or angry about having to pay attention to the kinds and amounts of foods you eat. See: Dealing with your feelings about the diet for diabetes
Protect your feet Foot problems caused by diabetes are the most common cause of amputations. Foot care for people with diabetes
Learn more about diabetes Diabetes is a complex disease and there is a lot to learn, such as: How to better care for your skin and your teeth and gums.
Precautions to take when you are sick.
How to prevent problems while traveling.
What to do if you want to become pregnant.
Where to find a support group for people with diabetes. Camps are also available for adolescents who have diabetes.
How to stop smoking, or how to prevent your adolescent with diabetes from starting.
How to limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink a day for women (none, if you are pregnant) and two drinks a day for men.
What immunizations you need. See the topic Immunizations for the recommended immunization schedule.
How to deal with a rebellious adolescent with diabetes. Medications Insulin is the only medication that can treat type 1 diabetes. You are probably taking more than one type of insulin, either as an injection or using an insulin pump. The amount and type of insulin you take will likely change over time, depending on changes that occur with normal aging, changes in your exercise routine, and hormonal changes (such as during rapid growth of adolescence or pregnancy). You may need higher doses of insulin when you are ill or experiencing emotional stress. You should: Know the dose of each type of insulin you take, when you take the doses, how long it takes for each type of insulin to start working (onset), when it will have its greatest effect (peak), and how long it will work.
Never skip a dose of insulin without the advice of your doctor.
Medication Choices Insulin
What To Think About You may need other medications at some point in your life. If small amounts of protein are found when your urine is tested (microalbuminuria, indicating diabetic nephropathy), you may be given an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). An ACE inhibitor may actually reverse early kidney damage. 14
If you have had a heart attack, stroke, or other large blood vessel disease, you need to take aspirin, unless there are health reasons why you cannot. If you are 30 years of age or older and are at risk for heart and blood vessel disease, you also may want to take aspirin to help prevent these complications. 13 Do not give aspirin to your adolescent with diabetes because of its association with Reye's syndrome.
If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you may need other medications to treat these conditions. Adequate treatment may help prevent complications from diabetes.
Surgery Surgery is not a routine way of treating type 1 diabetes. You are eligible for surgery only if you meet specific criteria. You may have a pancreas transplant surgery if you have had or plan to have a kidney transplant or, rarely, if you meet other requirements.
You may have islet cell transplant surgery if you meet the criteria for inclusion in one of the ongoing studies.
Surgery Choices Pancreas transplant surgery
Pancreatic islet cell transplantation
What To Think About Pancreas and islet cell transplants are very expensive. After having one of these surgeries, you must take immunosuppressive medications for the rest of your life to prevent your body from rejecting the new tissue. The success rate for pancreas transplants has improved with new surgical techniques and new immunosuppressive medications. Islet cell transplants may replace pancreas transplants in the future.
Other Treatment You will hear about products that promise a "cure" for type 1 diabetes. Avoid them. No such cure exists. Also, avoid products for diabetes that are advertised only by testimonials of satisfied customers. These products or remedies may be harmful and costly. They also might cause you to delay or avoid getting other forms of treatment that have been proven to work. If you have questions about a product for diabetes, check with your local American Diabetes Association office, your doctor, or a diabetes educator. Other types of meal plans You may hear of people with diabetes following other types of meal plans or using low glycemic index foods to prevent high blood sugar levels after meals. Talk with a registered dietitian before choosing one of these to plan your meals. Complementary therapies Other types of treatment for diabetes are provided by therapists or others who do not operate within mainstream medical practice. Their unconventional approaches may be attractive, particularly if you are not having much success with conventional medical treatments. None of these complementary therapies are proven to effectively treat diabetes. However, you may benefit from safe nontraditional therapies that complement conventional medical treatment for your disease. Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, or biofeedback, for instance, may help relieve stress, relieve muscle tension, and improve your overall well-being and quality of life. You should not use complementary therapies alone to treat your diabetes. Talk with your doctor if you are using the following or other complementary or alternative therapies: Acupuncture
Massage therapy
Biofeedback
Chiropractic therapy
Herbal medicines and natural substances, such as antioxidants, vanadium, magnesium, or chromium. Studies indicate that soluble fiber may help you keep blood sugar levels within a safe range.
Osteopathy
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