My Truths About Living With Type 1 Diabetes

As you may already be aware, the theme for this year's Diabetes Week, as it draws to a close is 'Setting the Record Straight' about 'Diabetes Truths'. So here are some of my own diabetes truths, which are the things that I would like people who aren't aware of the condition to know!

Diabetes Truth: We CAN Eat Fruit

Although diabetes is a condition that can be closely linked to food and nutrition, whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This does not mean to say that there are food groups that we have to avoid. In fact, the 'diet' for someone with diabetes is a healthy and balanced one, and the same for someone without the condition. I've heard the myth said before that people with type 1 can't eat fruit. But there are so many benefits to eating fruit and vegetables, from the potential for cardio-protective properties, to the way they could help fight free radicals. I love eating fruit, the more colourful the better!


Diabetes Truth: We CAN Influence Policy

Growing up I think that I always thought that rules were rules, made by the government, and that there was no changing or influencing those rules. But actually, the way that a democratic society works, is that the laws or rules, to some extent, reflect what the population needs and wants. Therefore, if we want to influence health policy to in turn help our diabetes, we need to speak to our politicians and communicate what it's like to live with diabetes.


Diabetes Truth: We CAN Use Technology to Manage Our Condition

Although having a chronic condition such as type 1 diabetes can be very difficult to manage, I feel very fortunate that technology can help us treat the condition as much as it does. It was technology that helped mass produce synthetic insulin, that brought us insulin pens and pumps and now blood-less glucose monitoring. It will probably even be technology that helps us find the cure one day.


Diabetes Truth: We CAN Do Sport

Well, unless you're a new reader to my blog, you'll know that sport is absolutely something that can be done alongside having diabetes in my opinion. Yes it takes close blood glucose monitoring and good planning, but the benefits from doing sport are amazing.


Diabetes Truth: We Are a Community

Sometimes with type 1 diabetes you can feel a bit alone, but whether it's online or in the real life, we're not alone really. We're a community that are able to support and encourage each other as we get through managing the condition we all have.