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An autoimmune disease that kills the cells that makes insulin in the pancreas, type 1 diabetes is a force to be reckoned with. When the body can control blood sugar levels no more, insulin injections on a daily basis becomes necessary to stay alive. While genetics and environmental factors are key, the exact cause is still unknown.

Millions of people suffer from the disease and they are all susceptible to the complications that come with it. Cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, vision problems, nerve damage, foot and skin problems and depression are a few of the major complications associated with it. Because of the seriousness of these complications a diabetes self management program is mandatory for people who are give a type 1 diagnosis.

Some common type 1 diabetes symptoms are: excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss in spite of excessive hunger, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue and absence of menstruation.

Fortunately, diabetes self management programs have been created to assist patients with type 1. These programs offer expert help from certified diabetes educators (CDE) and dietitians who are skilled in diabetes control. Patients must learn how to check blood sugar, control the amount of carbohydrates in their food intake, modify or implement diet and exercise plans and self-inject insulin. These experts design a plan of diabetes self management that is tailored to their individual needs. With close adherence to these plans complications are often held to a minimum. Patients tend to have more energy and their outlook improves too. Referrals from ones doctor is the usual path to a diabetes self management program.

It is usually easier to implement a type 1 diabetes self management plan for people who maintain a consistent schedule in their lives. Those who have jobs that require traveling, work different shifts, or have others that they have to care for like children or elderly relatives have a more difficult time.

Insulin self-injection is a skill that must be learned when undertaking diabetes self management. Many patients however prefer using an insulin pump that is worn around the waist. About the size of a pager, this device which is connected to a catheter implanted under the skin and injects insulin as needed in small doses. This often feels more natural to the patient and the pump is simply detached when needed for activities like taking a shower or swimming. And when blood sugar levels change it's easy to adjust the dose.

Pregnant women with diabetes should become knowledgeable of diabetes self management. Babies born to mothers with diabetes are not born with the disease. However, if the mother's diabetes was not controlled during pregnancy, the baby can very quickly develop low blood sugar after birth and must be watched very closely until his or her body adjusts the amount of insulin it makes.

Your health is one of your most important assets and those with diabetes need to be extra vigilant about it. A good type 1 diabetes self management plan is critical for those with the disease. In the years to come we will undoubtedly see more progress made in the treatment of type 1 as well as other forms of the disease. Doing everything possible now to avoid complications will only enhance the benefits of the future.

This Diabetes article is provided by Articleteller - The Free Article Directory http://www.articleteller.com

Daily diabetes self management is mandatory for those with diabetes and John Richmond who writes for YourDiabetesInfo.com has done extensive research on the topic. Please check out this site for more information.

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