Diabetes is a lifelong disease that affects mood, energy, and thought processes of everyday life. Type I Diabetes is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that has been defined as a chronic elevation of blood glucose due to the inability of the body to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is fundamental for transporting glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into muscles and vital organs where it is used to support bodily functions that require energy. Although usually diagnosed in juveniles and young children, type 1 diabetes can affect adults as well. Juveniles and adults diagnosed with type I diabetes are insulin dependent, requiring the continual monitoring of blood glucose with a glucose meter. Maintaining a physically active lifestyle along with adopting a healthy diet can provide effective diabetes management.

Type I diabetes is known in the medical field as insulin dependent. Insulin dependency is the result of the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin; therefore, an external method is needed to introduce insulin into the body. Persons diagnosed as insulin dependent can have the hormone administered via injections or by an insulin pump. The inhalation of insulin is a new method of administering insulin that although introduced in 1990, is still being researched today for safety as well as efficacy. Because there are different types of insulin, such as; rapid-acting, short-acting, and intermediate acting, to name a few, your physician will determine which type of insulin will work best for you.

Exercise is a big part of the lifestyle that a person that has been diagnosed as a type I diabetic needs to have and make it a habit to do some sort of physical activity to help the body use the glucose that is located in the blood. It does not mean that you have to become a professional athlete but you do have to become active with some sort of activity. The activity could be any of your choice and it does not have to be for a really long time at the beginning but activity should increase in time and intensity as the body becomes healthier and better shape.

Eating healthy is a vital part of type I diabetes treatment. Eating healthy does not mean that certain food types are prohibited, but means new eating habits must be learned. Both diabetics and their family members benefit from the awareness of the effect that all types of food have on the amount of sugar that is introduced into the bloodstream. Consulting with a dietician can be helpful for learning how to combine foods that help maintain proper sugar levels as well as creating an individualized nutrition plan. It is important to understand that one diet does not fit all when it comes to diabetes, food allergies, and glucose reaction to certain food types must be taken into consideration. Having a normal life with Type I diabetes is dependent on the diabetic’s lifestyle. A combination of a healthy diet, regular exercise, and taking physician prescribed medication can help the diabetic take control of this disease and live a long prosperous life.