Any diagnosis of diabetes will be one that causes worry and concern in the patient receiving the diagnosis. This is the onset of many questions, fears, what-if’s and what-to-do’s but there is comfort in knowing that years of research and treatment has made the prognosis of diabetes much more manageable. A diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is one that will lead to an information highway and although you won’t learn everything all at once, you will need to learn the most important facts in regards to dealing with the disease.
The easy part of discovering how to deal with diabetes is that you don’t have to learn it all on your own. However, it is imperative that you team up with your medical doctor and professional support team to learn what part of the care you are responsible for. There is a lot to be learned, understood and to do but you can do it with the right attitude and approach.
Once you’ve been given a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, ask every question that comes to mind. Of course you probably won’t remember many of the answers you’re given but this is only a part of the calming process. You’ve just been hit with a life changing diagnosis and the first and best thing you can do for yourself is to gather your composure.
Now that you’re calm, it’s time to get the facts. Meet with your medical doctor and his team to learn as much about your condition as possible. You want to know everything at this point because knowing could mean the difference between life and death. You also want to become educated on what the disease is and how it will change your life. If possible, bring a family member or friend with you to serve as a second pair of ears.
At this point, the doctor will share the plan of action to treat the diabetes and what your role is in making treatment effective. He will likely talk about the options of medication if there is more than one option, maintaining and checking glucose levels and the importance of following up with exercise and nutrition.
- Educate Yourself on the conditions of Type 1 Diabetes
- Learn what medications you’ll need and how to administer them
- Follow directions of the doctor precisely
- Create a meal and exercise plan to help with treatment
- Develop a support group to help get you through the challenging times
Dealing with Type 1 Diabetes can be made simple with attention to detail and determination. Medtronic understands the challenges of maintaining sudden lifestyle changes.
