by Maureen Pekosh

Created on: November 28, 2009

Everyone eats because they are hungry. People need to eat to get energy the way a car needs to be filled up with gas to drive. Carbohydrates in food are complex sugars. Our bodies break down carbohydrates into glucose. Glucose is the fuel our bodies use to function, whether we are running a mile, reading a good book, or sleeping. People with Type 1 Diabetes no longer produce insulin. They cannot get energy from the food they eat.

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder like celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. In Type 1 Diabetes, the immune system mistakenly destroys the pancreatic beta cells as if it was attacking an unwanted virus. Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas. It takes excess sugar (glucose) out of the bloodstream and carries it to the organs and muscles that need energy. Without insulin, glucose from food eaten remains in a person's bloodstream elevating their blood sugar above normal levels.

People with Type 1 Diabetes must regularly monitor their blood sugar. This is done by pricking a finger and applying a small drop of blood to a special strip inserted into a meter designed to measure blood sugar. People with Type 1 Diabetes need to know their blood sugar before they eat, before they exercise, and before they go to sleep at night. People with Type 1 Diabetes must prick their fingers multiple times each day. Alternately some people with Type 1 Diabetes insert a special device directly into their bloodstream and get regular blood sugar readings from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

Injecting insulin directly into the bloodstream is the only way to lower blood sugar. People with Type 1 Diabetes take insulin shots or wear an insulin pump. If they use insulin injections, they usually rely on a combination of rapid and longer acting insulin. If they wear an insulin pump, since they receive a continuous infusion of insulin, they can use rapid acting insulin alone.

Living with Type 1 Diabetes necessitates continual monitoring of carbohydrate intake. People with Type 1 Diabetes calculate their insulin needs based on their current blood sugar, the carbohydrates they eat, and their anticipated level of activity. They determine ratios between insulin required and carbohydrate intake throughout the day. They adjust these ratios higher if their blood sugar is elevated and lower if their blood sugar is low or they plan on exercising soon after eating. When a person with Type 1 Diabetes has high blood sugar,

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