Everything You Need To Know About Type One Diabetes

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It never fails to baffle me just how little people know about Type One Diabetes, so I guessed a quick-one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about T1D, whether you're an employer, friend, family member, partner or just nosy, may be of some use to direct people.

So here it is, your quick guide if you know a person living with Diabetes and want to clue yourself up. Read below some short, simple statements in attempt to answer your questions and cover the basics.

What is Diabetes?

Insulin injection pens, needle and blood glucose meter

Type One Diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the pancreas stops producing a hormone called insulin. Insulin is used by the body to turn food into energy, which your body then uses as fuel so you can go about your normal day. Insulin keeps your blood glucose levels in range so you can function and perform everyday activities. 
People with type one diabetes need to manually input insulin into their body every day by using insulin injections or an insulin pump and have to monitor their blood glucose levels using a blood glucose meter. They have to take a dose of insulin every time they eat.

Insulin Pump

Type Two Diabetes, is substantially different, and develops when the body cannot produce enough insulin or for whatever reason, the insulin that is produced doesn't work properly. Type two diabetes can be treated with lifestyle changes, diet and medication. 
People living with T2D may be moved to insulin injections in some circumstances.

What does living with type one diabetes mean?

Each time a person with Diabetes eats they need to take a dose of insulin. This is calculated manually by a ratio agreed with their medical team. People with Diabetes can eat whatever they want, as long as they calculate the carbohydrate content in every meal, snack or sugary drink.

After a diagnosis of type one diabetes you need to ensure your blood glucose levels are at a safe level so you can go about your usual activities. As those with diabetes are replacing what is an automatic function from a healthy organ in a non-diabetics body, the room for error with insulin doses and meals is increased. This means we can have high blood sugar (HYPERGLYCEMIA), when there is too much glucose in our body, or low blood sugar (HYPOGLYCEMIA) , when there is not enough glucose in our body. Each are treated differently.

Symptoms of  high blood sugar include but are not limited to:

• Extreme Thirst
• Tiredness
• Irritable

High blood sugars usually require what is called a 'correction insulin dose', this is usually a small amount of insulin to bring down your blood glucose level into a safe range. Drinking fluids may also be used to re-hydrate the body.

Symptoms of low blood sugar include but are not limited to:

• Shaking
• Slurred Speech
• Confusion

Low blood sugars require fast acting glucose, like Lucozade, to stabilise the blood glucose level into a safe range. People experiencing a low blood sugar may need 15-20 minutes in a quiet room to treat their levels.

Will I ever need to ring 999?

There is two circumstances where you may need to ring the emergency services. 

1. If a low blood sugar becomes so low that the person with diabetes cannot give themselves fast acting glucose. If blood glucose levels drop too low the individual will have a hypoglycemic fit, because the brain is starved of glucose, and in turn cannot function properly. 

The general rule is if the person becomes unresponsive, call an ambulance.

2. If a high blood sugar goes too high, the glucose in the blood will turn acidic and may lead to a fatal condition called DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS. If you are aware the person with Diabetes has a high blood sugar, and cannot keep food or liquids down, they need to go to hospital. 

Once admitted through A&E, they will be treated with IV insulin and fluids to re-hydrate the body.

Anything else?

Most importantly, having type one diabetes is not a label, and it does not stop you from doing anything.

Insulin Pump Therapy And Me - Week 1

About two weeks ago, by the time you're reading this, I started insulin pump therapy. Below are notes that I made at the time, when I was aiming to do bi-weekly posts, but it turns out starting on a pump takes a fair share of my energy. Take a read of my mutterings.

5th February, 2017 - The Night Before The Big Day

I feel like I have a great deal of pressure on my shoulders, and the reality that this new treatment may not suit me is all to apparent in my mind. 'What if it's not been worth it? What if I hate it? What if I've wasted everyone's time?' seems to be circulating my mind. A cycle of self doubt, if you will. There is so much uncertainty and I'm not one for gambling, especially when it comes to my life in my hands. These worries have no evidence, just irrational and out of proportion. I guess it's the devil on my shoulder.
I've had a quiet day, ironically with it being my last day on injections, my blood sugars have been perfect, no highs or lows. What I like to think of as 'the calm before the storm'. I opted for a lower carb dinner in hopes for a stable overnight.
Early bedtime, I want to be rested for tomorrow.
I feel calm.
Oddly so.

6th February  - The Big Day

❝I cried because for the first time in my life, I felt genuinely well and capable and healthy..❞

I wake early, tired, but treat a hypo and drag myself out of bed. I shower, run my hand over my stomach and thought this is it, this is the last time I'll do this without a cannula attached to me for a while. I feel an ache of sadness, but only for a second. I am sure this is what I want to do, however many times I've tried to talk myself out of it. I finish getting ready and grab a banana for breakfast whilst taking my last injection. Before I have time to doubt myself further, Mum and I are out the door and on our way to the hospital.

The beautiful sunrise on my way to the hospital

Whilst on our way, Mum kept asking if I was excited, and was looking at my face for some kind of physical reaction. It doesn't feel real and it won't until I can see everything with my own eyes. On our walk to the hospital we walked to a hill that overlooks the city. I've always had a thing for sunrises/sets, so seeing this beautiful mix of blue, purple and orange seemed pretty poignant. It was a new day, a new dawn and I'm feeling...well, anxious.

We arrived at clinic, where I met the other lady starting pump with me (S I'm not sure you wanted to be named, forgive me!), we filled in lots of paperwork, made some small talk, and off we went. The next 4 hours are a bit hazy in my memory if I'm honest, so much information.

By 11am, I had inserted my first cannula, primed my first infusion set, navigated my way around the insulin pump and was officially.. pumping insulin! Off I went on my merry way, trying to soak every snippet of advice like a sponge. For the rest of the day my body was running solely on endorphin's and insulin. I felt so good, every emotion I felt over the past year suddenly became worth it.

God bless the NHS

Mum and I went to a local pub for lunch, where I took my first 'big' bolus dose, the amount of trust you have to put in this small box is absolutely insane, and something that will take a bit of getting used to. We then walked home, my bloods behaving beautifully. I sat down for a grand total of an hour, and spent my evening with my sister, her best-friend and my girlfriend, a celebratory drink was had, and I learnt how to handle alcohol on an insulin pump. Okay, I lied, it didn't go that smoothly, but I kept myself safe and that is all that matters!
I ended the night with an albeit not entirely sober cry, it had been an emotional day and I was so tired. 

And so the adventure begins, the next few days were glorious, I was the picture of health and boy did it feel good.
My blood glucose levels were perfectly in range as I still had basal insulin in my system. I cried because for the first time in my life, I felt genuinely well and capable and healthy. As opposed to being exhausted and anxious about my blood glucose levels all the time. That feeling I felt on those initial days is my driving force.

Over the next few months I will be fine-tuning my rates, factors and ratios in hopes to re-gain control of my bloods. I've had a fair few wobbles, and my bloods are running extremely high whilst I work with my nurses and consultants to get things right, but I am okay. I am excited for where this journey will take me, and how good I will feel as a result of my hard work and resilience.

My insulin pump and I, a work in progress

Diabetes Is An Invalid Excuse.

Diabetes is an invalid excuse. It's 3am and I'm crying on my bedroom floor. This is the 4th time today my body has failed me, I don't know what else to do. Somehow the only comfort I get from this disease is knowing other people are in the same shit-storm. After 14 years I still go to bed each night praying my body will wake me if my glucose drops too low. How will I know if it doesn't alert me? Well I guess I'll find myself in a hospital ward with an IV glucose line.

Diabetes is an invalid excuse. I was supposed to go out today with my friends, we had a good day planned followed by an evening of cocktails but guess who's exhausted? I've been awake all night giving myself correction doses to lower my blood glucose levels. For whatever reason those two injections didn't work. The fractions of sleep I did get were rudely interrupted by the burning sensation of my dry throat and the dread of getting out of the warm bed to use to bathroom. Again.

Diabetes is an invalid excuse because I am labelled as 'lazy', 'unreliable' and 'a killjoy'. I cancel plans so often 'friends' have stopped making plans with me. I would apologise, but I don't really want to be up all night injecting every limb in my body either. I would much rather be out enjoying my life like any other 18 year old, but apparently I just 'cant be bothered'. "It'll be fun" they said. "You never come out anymore." Thanks for the reminder, buddy.

Diabetes is an invalid excuse because other people are worse off. "At least you can walk, talk and do as you please", it even feels bad to bring this subject up. Correct, people have it worse off but pain is all relative. Everyone's worries, concerns and anxieties are valid.


Diabetes is an invalid excuse due to the misconceptions. "It's not all that bad".. says someone with a fully functioning pancreas. "All she has to do is take a few shots a day" .. remind me of the pure terror you experience before you get vaccinations so you can jet off to the Mediterranean. I take the place of an organ, it's like asking someone who has an amputated leg why they may walk slowly on their prosthetic. Be mindful.


Diabetes is an invalid excuse.. I've begun to believe it myself. My whole life I've been told "diabetes will not stop you doing anything", so every time my body feels heavy, my head is pounding and I feel like I'm about to throw up, that all too familiar cycle of 'but diabetes shouldn't stop me from doing anything' starts. And so I convince myself I am lazy and unpredictable. I'm a crap friend, maybe I should just suck it up and get on with my life. Perhaps I should, but that feeling of being completely absorbed within the extreme fluctuating glucose levels is just so prominent.


Diabetes is an invalid excuse because I do (sometimes) believe it. Using diabetes as an excuse makes me feel weak, incapable and irresponsible. I'm 18 I should be able to cope on 6 hours sleep. My body is always so tired, there's not one morning I wake to feel fully rested. Even posting this I know will stir comments from the diabetes community, because for a lot of people, diabetes is an invalid excuse.

Diabetes is a valid excuse. I will say there are times that diabetes gets in the way of life and it's taken me 14 years to admit that and tell myself that is okay for now. If you're lucky enough that you have not had that experience then please be respectful of my journey and my diabetes.

This post has been inspired by Kelly Wynnes' "Anxiety Is An Invalid Excuse."