Intro
If you’ve just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes — or you’re trying to understand it — it can feel overwhelming.
There’s a lot to learn, and not all of it matters at once.
This page is here to help you find the right place to start, depending on where you are.
Key Points
- Type 1 diabetes requires lifelong insulin treatment
- Day-to-day management is about patterns, not perfection
- The most important risks are hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
- It becomes more manageable with time, structure, and support
Where to Start
🟢 Newly diagnosed
- Newly Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes — First Steps
- The Honeymoon Phase
- Early Signs of Type 1 Diabetes
🔵 Day-to-day management
- Carbohydrate Counting — Matching Food and Insulin
- Insulin Administration — Pens, Syringes, and Pumps
- Insulin Types Explained
- Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)
- Managing Type 1 Diabetes During Exercise
🔴 Safety and emergencies
- DKA Quick Reference (Type 1 Diabetes)
- Hypoglycaemia — Fast Treatment Guide
- Sick-Day Management (Type 1 Diabetes)
- Alcohol and Type 1 Diabetes
🟣 Making decisions
🟡 Long-term health
- Long-Term Complications of Type 1 Diabetes
- Living with Type 1 Diabetes: The Daily Reality and Mental Load
What Type 1 Diabetes Is (Brief Overview)
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body stops producing insulin.
Without insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of entering cells for energy.
It is not caused by diet or lifestyle, and it requires ongoing management with insulin.
How does Type 1 differ from Type 2?
FAQ
Q: Can Type 1 diabetes be prevented? A: Currently, there is no proven way to prevent Type 1 diabetes. Research into immunotherapy (such as teplizumab, which can delay onset in high-risk individuals) is ongoing.
Q: Is Type 1 diabetes caused by eating too much sugar? A: No. Type 1 is an autoimmune condition. Diet does not cause it. This is a common misconception that conflates T1D with Type 2 risk factors.
Q: Can people with Type 1 diabetes eat sugar and carbohydrates? A: Yes. People with T1D can eat a varied diet including sugar and carbohydrates, as long as they adjust their insulin accordingly. There are no foods that are strictly off-limits.
Q: What happens if someone with Type 1 diabetes stops taking insulin? A: Without insulin, blood glucose rises rapidly, the body breaks down fat for energy, and ketones accumulate — leading to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is life-threatening without urgent treatment. People with T1D must take insulin every day.
Q: Is a cure being researched? A: Yes. Active areas include islet cell transplantation, stem-cell-derived beta cells, and immune modulation to halt the autoimmune process. No cure is currently available for routine clinical use.
Q: At what age is Type 1 diabetes typically diagnosed? A: T1D can be diagnosed at any age. There are two peak periods — ages 4–7 and 10–14 — but roughly half of all diagnoses now occur in adults.