Monitoring

• Type 1 diabetics need to monitor their blood sugar levels several times each day, typically using a device called a glucose monitor that measures the glucose in a drop of blood. Alternately, a newer device called a continuous glucose monitor uses a needle under the skin and registers the glucose content of the blood every few minutes.
  
  

Insulin Injections and Inhalants

• Type 1 diabetics require insulin supplements throughout their lives. Typically, insulin is self-administered through an injection, but it can also be taken as an inhalant in some cases.
  
  

Insulin Pumps

• An alternative to regular insulin injections is the insulin pump, a device worn on the outside of the skin that administers insulin to the body through a catheter. Before meals, type 1 diabetics input dosage information into the machine, which then dispenses the appropriate amount of insulin automatically.
  
  

Diet

• Type 1 diabetics learn to count the carbohydrate content of the foods they eat, because, as they are digested, carbohydrates break down into blood glucose.
  
  

Physical Activity

• Regular exercise helps control Type 1 diabetes by burning glucose in the bloodstream. Aerobic exercise such as walking is most often recommended.