What is type 1 diabetes?

What is Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is when your body can't make something called insulin. Insulin helps your body use sugar from food for energy. When you don't have insulin, sugar stays in your blood instead of going to your body cells.

If you have Type 1 diabetes, you need to get insulin from a needle or a pump. This helps keep your blood sugar safe.

It's important to talk to a doctor if you have Type 1 diabetes so they can help you stay healthy.

Using pictures and videos can help you learn more. You can also ask someone you trust to explain things you don’t understand.

What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes: The body cannot make insulin. Insulin is important because it helps the body use sugar for energy. People with Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day.

Type 2 diabetes: The body has trouble using insulin or does not make enough insulin. This means sugar builds up in the blood. People with Type 2 diabetes may need to take medicine or change their diets to control their blood sugar.

Helpful tips: Use pictures or videos to learn more about diabetes. Talk to a doctor or nurse if you have questions.

What are the signs of Type 1 diabetes?

How do doctors know if you have Type 1 diabetes?

Doctors can find out if you have Type 1 diabetes by doing some tests. These tests check how much sugar is in your blood.

Here’s how it works:

1. Blood Test: Doctors take a small amount of your blood to check the sugar levels.
2. Symptoms: Doctors also ask if you feel thirsty a lot, need to pee often, or feel very tired. These can be signs of Type 1 diabetes.
3. Special Test: Sometimes, doctors do another test to see how your body uses sugar.

If you need help understanding, you can ask a parent, teacher, or doctor. There are also apps and pictures that can make learning about diabetes easier.

What makes Type 1 diabetes happen?

Can we stop Type 1 diabetes before it starts?

Type 1 diabetes is a condition that you are born with. It means your body does not make something called insulin, which helps keep your blood sugar at the right level.

Right now, doctors do not know how to stop Type 1 diabetes from happening. But they are working hard to find ways to help.

Here are some things that can help:

• Going to the doctor regularly for check-ups.
• Learning about diabetes and how to manage it.
• Using tools like glucose meters to check blood sugar.

How do you take care of Type 1 diabetes?

Taking care of Type 1 diabetes means keeping your blood sugar levels in balance. Here are some simple ways to do this:

• Check Blood Sugar: Use a small device to check how much sugar is in your blood. Do this a few times a day.
• Take Insulin: Insulin helps to lower blood sugar. You can take it with a needle, insulin pen, or a pump. Your doctor will help you know how much to take.
• Eat Healthy Foods: Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Try not to eat too much sugar or junk food.
• Exercise: Move your body every day by playing, walking, or dancing. Exercise helps to keep your blood sugar levels steady.
• Talk to Doctors: Regular visits to doctors will help you learn how to take care of your health better.

If you find reading hard, ask someone for help or use a reading tool that reads the text out loud. You can also use a picture guide or app that helps explain diabetes.

What problems can happen with Type 1 diabetes?

How often should I check my blood sugar?

Check your blood sugar as your doctor tells you. You might need to do it once or many times a day. It helps you know how you are doing.

Ask a nurse or doctor to help if you are not sure how to do it.

Using a chart or diary can help you keep track.

What should I eat if I have Type 1 diabetes?

Eating well can help you feel good and stay healthy. Here are some tips:

• Eat a variety of foods: Try to eat different fruits, veggies, grains, and proteins.
• Watch your sugar intake: Try to eat less sugary foods like sweets and sugary drinks.
• Balance your meals: Have a mix of carbs, proteins, and fats in each meal.
• Check your blood sugar: Use a blood sugar monitor to see how foods affect you.
• Plan your meals: Plan meals to help manage your blood sugar levels.
• Ask for help: Talk to a doctor or dietitian for advice on what to eat.

These steps can help you manage Type 1 diabetes better.

Can you get Type 1 diabetes from your family?

How does exercise help people with Type 1 diabetes?

Exercise is moving your body to stay healthy.

For people with Type 1 diabetes, exercise can help in many ways:

• It helps keep blood sugar levels steady.
• It makes the body use insulin better.
• It can make you feel happier and less stressed.
• It helps your heart stay strong.

Always talk to your doctor before starting new exercises.

Here are some tips:

• Check your blood sugar before and after you exercise.
• Have a snack with you in case your blood sugar gets low.
• Drink water to stay hydrated.
• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

Can people with Type 1 diabetes live normal lives?

Yes, people with Type 1 diabetes can live normal lives. They need to do some extra things every day to stay healthy.

• They need to check their blood sugar levels often.
• They need to take insulin medicine every day.
• They should eat healthy food.
• They should try to do some exercise.

There are tools and tips that can help:

• Blood sugar testing kits help check sugar levels.
• Insulin pumps give insulin when you need it.
• Doctors and nurses can give good advice.
• There are apps for diabetes to keep track of things.

With these steps, people with diabetes can feel good and do the things they love.

What is an insulin pump, and how does it work?

An insulin pump is a small machine that helps people with diabetes. It gives your body the insulin it needs.

How does it work? The pump is worn on your body. A tiny tube goes under your skin to give you insulin.

The pump can give insulin all the time or before meals. This helps keep blood sugar levels just right.

Some pumps can tell when sugar is too high or too low. They may beep to tell you or even give more insulin if needed.

If you have trouble reading, ask someone to read with you. You can also use apps that read text out loud.

Are there new ways to help people with Type 1 diabetes?

Is there anything new to help people with Type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes happens when the body can’t make insulin. Insulin helps turn sugar into energy.

Here are simple ways to learn more:

• Ask a doctor for help.
• Read simple books about diabetes.
• Watch videos for children about diabetes.

What is Type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is when your body can't make something called insulin. Insulin helps your body use sugar from food for energy. When you don't have insulin, sugar stays in your blood instead of going to your body cells.

If you have Type 1 diabetes, you need to get insulin from a needle or a pump. This helps keep your blood sugar safe.

It's important to talk to a doctor if you have Type 1 diabetes so they can help you stay healthy.

Using pictures and videos can help you learn more. You can also ask someone you trust to explain things you don’t understand.

What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes: The body cannot make insulin. Insulin is important because it helps the body use sugar for energy. People with Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day.

Type 2 diabetes: The body has trouble using insulin or does not make enough insulin. This means sugar builds up in the blood. People with Type 2 diabetes may need to take medicine or change their diets to control their blood sugar.

Helpful tips: Use pictures or videos to learn more about diabetes. Talk to a doctor or nurse if you have questions.

What are the signs of Type 1 diabetes?

How do doctors know if you have Type 1 diabetes?

Doctors can find out if you have Type 1 diabetes by doing some tests. These tests check how much sugar is in your blood.

Here’s how it works:

1. Blood Test: Doctors take a small amount of your blood to check the sugar levels.
2. Symptoms: Doctors also ask if you feel thirsty a lot, need to pee often, or feel very tired. These can be signs of Type 1 diabetes.
3. Special Test: Sometimes, doctors do another test to see how your body uses sugar.

If you need help understanding, you can ask a parent, teacher, or doctor. There are also apps and pictures that can make learning about diabetes easier.

What makes Type 1 diabetes happen?

Can we stop Type 1 diabetes before it starts?

Type 1 diabetes is a condition that you are born with. It means your body does not make something called insulin, which helps keep your blood sugar at the right level.

Right now, doctors do not know how to stop Type 1 diabetes from happening. But they are working hard to find ways to help.

Here are some things that can help:

• Going to the doctor regularly for check-ups.
• Learning about diabetes and how to manage it.
• Using tools like glucose meters to check blood sugar.

How do you take care of Type 1 diabetes?

Taking care of Type 1 diabetes means keeping your blood sugar levels in balance. Here are some simple ways to do this:

• Check Blood Sugar: Use a small device to check how much sugar is in your blood. Do this a few times a day.
• Take Insulin: Insulin helps to lower blood sugar. You can take it with a needle, insulin pen, or a pump. Your doctor will help you know how much to take.
• Eat Healthy Foods: Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Try not to eat too much sugar or junk food.
• Exercise: Move your body every day by playing, walking, or dancing. Exercise helps to keep your blood sugar levels steady.
• Talk to Doctors: Regular visits to doctors will help you learn how to take care of your health better.

If you find reading hard, ask someone for help or use a reading tool that reads the text out loud. You can also use a picture guide or app that helps explain diabetes.

What problems can happen with Type 1 diabetes?

How often should I check my blood sugar?

Check your blood sugar as your doctor tells you. You might need to do it once or many times a day. It helps you know how you are doing.

Ask a nurse or doctor to help if you are not sure how to do it.

Using a chart or diary can help you keep track.

What should I eat if I have Type 1 diabetes?

Eating well can help you feel good and stay healthy. Here are some tips:

• Eat a variety of foods: Try to eat different fruits, veggies, grains, and proteins.
• Watch your sugar intake: Try to eat less sugary foods like sweets and sugary drinks.
• Balance your meals: Have a mix of carbs, proteins, and fats in each meal.
• Check your blood sugar: Use a blood sugar monitor to see how foods affect you.
• Plan your meals: Plan meals to help manage your blood sugar levels.
• Ask for help: Talk to a doctor or dietitian for advice on what to eat.

These steps can help you manage Type 1 diabetes better.

Can you get Type 1 diabetes from your family?

How does exercise help people with Type 1 diabetes?

Exercise is moving your body to stay healthy.

For people with Type 1 diabetes, exercise can help in many ways:

• It helps keep blood sugar levels steady.
• It makes the body use insulin better.
• It can make you feel happier and less stressed.
• It helps your heart stay strong.

Always talk to your doctor before starting new exercises.

Here are some tips:

• Check your blood sugar before and after you exercise.
• Have a snack with you in case your blood sugar gets low.
• Drink water to stay hydrated.
• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

Can people with Type 1 diabetes live normal lives?

Yes, people with Type 1 diabetes can live normal lives. They need to do some extra things every day to stay healthy.

• They need to check their blood sugar levels often.
• They need to take insulin medicine every day.
• They should eat healthy food.
• They should try to do some exercise.

There are tools and tips that can help:

• Blood sugar testing kits help check sugar levels.
• Insulin pumps give insulin when you need it.
• Doctors and nurses can give good advice.
• There are apps for diabetes to keep track of things.

With these steps, people with diabetes can feel good and do the things they love.

What is an insulin pump, and how does it work?

An insulin pump is a small machine that helps people with diabetes. It gives your body the insulin it needs.

How does it work? The pump is worn on your body. A tiny tube goes under your skin to give you insulin.

The pump can give insulin all the time or before meals. This helps keep blood sugar levels just right.

Some pumps can tell when sugar is too high or too low. They may beep to tell you or even give more insulin if needed.

If you have trouble reading, ask someone to read with you. You can also use apps that read text out loud.

Are there new ways to help people with Type 1 diabetes?

Is there anything new to help people with Type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes happens when the body can’t make insulin. Insulin helps turn sugar into energy.

Here are simple ways to learn more:

• Ask a doctor for help.
• Read simple books about diabetes.
• Watch videos for children about diabetes.