Type 1 diabetes causes the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood to become too high.
It happens when your body can't produce enough of a hormone called insulin, which controls blood glucose.
You need daily injections of insulin to keep your blood glucose levels under control.
Managing type 1 diabetes can take time to get used to, but you can still do all the things you enjoy. This guide is here to help.
Symptoms and getting diagnosed
See your GP if you have symptoms of type 1 diabetes:
feeling very thirsty
peeing more than usual, particularly at night
feeling very tired
losing weight without trying
thrush that keeps coming back
blurred vision
cuts and grazes that aren't healing
Type 1 diabetes symptoms can come on quickly, particularly in children.
Getting tested for type 1 diabetes
Your GP will do a urine test and might check your blood glucose (sugar) level.
If they think you might have diabetes, they'll advise you to go to hospital straight away for an assessment.
You'll stay in hospital until you get the blood test results. This is usually the same day.
If you're diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a diabetes nurse will show you the things you need to do to start managing it, such as testing your own blood glucose and how to inject insulin.
Type 1 diabetes in children
If your child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, they'll be looked after by a children's (paediatric) diabetes care team until they're around 18.
The care team will help with the things needed to manage your child's type 1 diabetes, such as injecting insulin, testing blood glucose levels, and diet.
They can give advice on school or nursery, and talk to your child's teachers and carers.
You'll have appointments with the care team every 1 or 2 weeks at first. When you're starting to manage OK, these will be every 3 months.
This guide is for people over 18.
Helpful information for children with diabetes
Pregnancy and giving birth
You can have a healthy pregnancy with type 1 diabetes, although managing your diabetes might be harder.
It's important to have good blood sugar control before and during pregnancy.
It's recommended you have an HbA1c of below 48mmol/mol when you're pregnant.
Constant high blood glucose levels can harm your baby, especially in the first 8 weeks of pregnancy.
There's also a risk of having a large baby, which can cause complications during labour.
Before pregnancy
Speak to your diabetes team If you're planning to get pregnant. They can help you get more stable blood glucose levels and might suggest using an insulin pump.
You'll need to take a high dose (5mg) of folic acid every day from when you start trying to get pregnant until you're 12 weeks pregnant. This can help you have a healthy pregnancy.
You need a higher dose than women who don't have diabetes. You can get this on prescription.
When you're pregnant
Important
If you find out you're pregnant and it isn't planned, get an urgent appointment with your diabetes team.
Keeping your blood glucose levels stable and low can be more difficult as your hormones change and you deal with morning sickness.
You'll have extra appointments with your maternity and diabetes teams when you're pregnant. This usually means check-ups every 2 weeks, as well as extra tests and scans.
You can have a natural birth, but it's recommended you have your baby in hospital.
You might be advised to have your labour started early (induced). It's slightly more common to have an elective caesarean section when the baby is large.
Going to university
Going to university is a big change. You're likely to have a new home, new routine, new friends, and be away from your support network.
There's a lot to think about and plan, but you can enjoy your time at university and do the things everyone else does.
Tell people about your diabetes
This includes the warden at halls of residences, lecturers, flatmates and new friends – particularly if you're storing your insulin in a shared fridge or out drinking alcohol with them.
Tell them what type 1 diabetes means and what they should do if you have a hypo.
Keeping your insulin cool
Some universities offer fridges to people with diabetes, so it's worth asking.
Test your blood glucose more often
Nerves about starting university and making new friends, moving and exam stress can all raise your blood glucose.
Check your blood glucose more at first, particularly if you're drinking alcohol.
Alcohol
You can still drink alcohol, but drinking too much can cause you to a have a hypo, possibly up to 24 hours later.
A hypo can also make you look like you're drunk, so it's important your friends know about your diabetes and the signs to look out for.
If you're going to drink alcohol:
Do
try to eat a meal with carbohydrate (like pasta) before you drink
choose diet or sugar-free soft drink mixers where possible
check your blood glucose level regularly, particularly if you're dancing
make sure your friends know how to recognise a hypo – having a hypo can look like you're drunk
at the end of the night, eat some food that contains carbohydrate
check your blood glucose level before you go to bed and the next day
eat something if your blood level is normal or low
check your blood glucose regularly the next day – a hypo can feel similar to having a hangover
drink plenty of water the next day
Don't
do not drink too much
do not drink on an empty stomach
do not ignore the signs of a hypo – test and treat it immediately
Drugs
It isn't clear if taking recreational drugs affects your blood glucose levels, but their effect on you might mean you're not able to manage your blood glucose as normal.
If drugs make you feel spaced out or lose track of time, you might forget to take your insulin.
Some drugs make you lose your appetite and move around more, which can lead to a hypo.
Others slow you down and can make you eat more or feel really low the next day, so you might not manage your blood glucose as well.
It's best not to use recreational drugs at all. If you do use them, speak to your diabetes team about the best ways to stay safe and manage your diabetes.
Make sure someone you're with knows about your diabetes and how to recognise and treat a hypo.
Sex
For some people, meeting lots of new people will mean they start having sex.
Sex is like exercise and it'll affect your blood glucose. Keep carbs close by, and make sure your partner knows what to do if you have a hypo.
Contraception doesn't affect your insulin.
The type 1 diabetes charity JDRF has a toolkit for people with type 1 diabetes starting university with lots more advice.
Get support
Friends and family can help
Being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes isn't easy. It can take time to adjust to and affect how you feel.
Telling people you have diabetes can be difficult, but it'll help them understand what you're going through.
Friends, family and colleagues can give you support and encouragement when you have just been diagnosed or you're struggling to manage it.
Speak to others with type 1 diabetes
There are many people with type 1 diabetes offering support and sharing their stories on forums, social media and in group meetings.
You don't have to talk to others in online groups, but it can be helpful to look.
Important
Comments on social media are often based on personal experience and should not be taken as medical advice.
Always check with your diabetes team before changing how you manage your diabetes.
Helpful social media channels and conversations
A good place to start is the groups run by diabetes charities.
There's also the diabetes online community (#DOC). This is a group of people with diabetes and healthcare professionals.
You don't have to sign up to see what people are saying. But bear in mind that the NHS doesn't monitor these sites.
Twitter
Facebook
Forums and communities
Face-to-face support groups
Diabetes UK has regular meet-ups.
It's also worth asking your diabetes team if they know of any local groups.
Diabetes apps
Diabetes helpline
Diabetes UK has a confidential helpline for questions about day-to-day management.
Call: 0345 123 2399 Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk
Get psychological help
Managing type 1 diabetes can be hard. Constantly trying to meet blood glucose targets can lead to a feeling of "burn out".
There's also the diabetes online community (#DOC). This is a group of people with diabetes and healthcare professionals.
You don't have to sign up to see what people are saying. But bear in mind that the NHS doesn't monitor these sites.
Twitter
Facebook
Forums and communities
Face-to-face support groups
Diabetes UK has regular meet-ups.
It's also worth asking your diabetes team if they know of any local groups.
Diabetes apps
Diabetes helpline
Diabetes UK has a confidential helpline for questions about day-to-day management.
Call: 0345 123 2399 Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk
Get psychological help
Managing type 1 diabetes can be hard. Constantly trying to meet blood glucose targets can lead to a feeling of "burn out".
Source: NHS Choices