Management of Type 1 Diabetes

Tight control of blood glucose levels and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension, hypercholesterolemia) can substantially reduce the incidence of microvascular and macrovascular complications from type 1 diabetes. Physicians can play an important role in helping patients make essential lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of these complications.

Key recommendations for diabetic patients to optimize their outcomes include:

• take control of daily decisions regarding your health,
• focus on preventing and controlling risk factors for cardiovascular disease,
• tightly control your blood glucose level, be cognizant of potentially inaccurate blood glucose test results,
• use physiologic insulin replacement regimens,
• and learn how to manage and prevent hypoglycemia.