“How can diabetes type 1 be controlled?”

Hello,

Type 1 diabetes requires insulin, because the lack of insulin production is the cause of this disease. Islet-cell transplant and pancreas transplant can also be considered at some point, but insulin is immediately needed.

BR
Dr. Lalani

follow your endocrinologist recommendations with her insulin dose

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune track on the pancreas, specifically the beta cells where insulin is produced. This stops automatically controlling the sugar levels when the beta cells can no longer make sufficient insulin and this causes the diabetes symptoms to show up. At the moment, controlling the sugar levels is difficult and involves getting insulin by injection, pens or mini-pumps multiple times each day based on what's eaten, activity, stress, infections and other hormonal factors. It's gotten more and moe semi-automatic with pumps and glucose sensors that communicate with the pumps. This makes type 1 diabetes somewhat different than type 2 diabetes because weight excess and older age are not key issues with type 1 but as younger kids are gaining excess eight around the world, we are also seeing type 2 diabetes increase dramatically in youngsters too. The most important factor is having excellent educational support from a multidisciplinary diabetes team with a diabetes specialist, nurse educator, dietician and sometimes social worker or psychologist as well and to make sure that there is developmentally appropriate education for the person with diabetes (PWD) as well as the parents and others in the family. As the PWD gets older and takes on more self-care responsibility, the education and support needs to continue so that weekend programs with peers an family as well as summer camp programs are extremely helpful. Website support programs like CWD (childenwithdiabetes) also are great for moms meeting other moms, dads meeting other dads, and for kids meeting other kids their own age to support each other. Deciding how best to administer insulin, what typeof meal plan works (and why), what to do with school staff, after-school staff, family members and peers all are very important aspects of diabetes care in type 1 diabetes. Adolescent and young adult issues also are important to be acknowledged and specific support for type 1 PWD needs to address those as well. College diabetes support groups also play an important role too. Best book for education, in my opinion, is Ragnar Hanas' Type 1 Diabetes (in its latest edition revision) which can be ordered at his website and ordered through most bookstores but there are lots of excellent education options that should be a big part of ongoing diabetes care. The new pumps and sensors, the newest insulins and attention to the education and psychosocial challenges for the PWD all come together to help achieve optimized glucose control for the PWD. Best wishes for reaching your goals. Stuart Brink, MD Senior Endocrinologist, New England Diabetes & Endocrinology Center (NEDEC) c/o NEDEC, 196 Pleasant Street, Newton Centre MA 02459-1815, USA phone 1-781-572-4533, e-mail: stuartbrink@gmail.com

Type 1 diabetes can only be treated with insulin. The amount of insulin required changes from individual to individual based on carbohydrate intake, body mass index, and activity level. She should see a endocrinologist to help with her management

It needs to be controlled by controlling diet, exercise, checking blood sugars, A1C, and taking proper medications. The patient will want to limit sugars and carbohydrates. This is going to include but not be limited to limiting bread, pasta, starchy foods, candy, ice cream and more. It would be helpful to see a nutritionist and endocrinologist for more.