BETTER

Research is still needed to precisely understand how summer and temperature changes affect blood sugar levels and its management, here is what is known.  The season has many variables that can affect either your blood sugar directly, how your body responds to external factors, or your insulin or diabetes gadgets like pumps. 1-   Effects … Read moreSummer and type 1 diabetes: how does the heat affect my diabetes?

What is glucagon? Glucagon is a hormone that acts opposite to insulin and allows for sugar release from one’s own liver stores and into the bloodstream.  Glucagon is specifically of interest when blood sugar is very low, hence why it is usually used as a severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar requiring a third party assistance) … Read morePhysical activity and hypoglycemia: can glucagon be the key to hypoglycemia prevention?

Sunshine and T1D Canada is considered to have one of the highest rates of type 1 diabetes (T1D) alongside other northern countries such as Finland, Norway, and Sweden.(1) Some studies have reported there might be a relationship between lower duration of sun exposure and risk of having type 1 diabetes. The suspected link has to … Read moreCan vitamin D be the key to type 1 diabetes prevention?

Currently, we know that type 1 diabetes is associated with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as thickening of blood vessels, strokes, abnormal heart function, heart attacks or …

Carb counting, injecting insulin, verifying blood sugar, changing site, calibration of sensor, correcting for a low, worrying about a high or a low, timing meals, balancing diet with exercise and the list goes on! Diabetes comes with a lot of life changes that can, to some extent, become exhausting or overwhelming. Feeling the emotional burden … Read moreWork life and T1D: I feel overwhelmed

The duration of diabetes and the quality of blood sugar control affects the likelihood that one would develop complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy. Retinopathy is caused by a damage to the blood vessels of the tissue at the back of the eye (retina). It might show no symptoms or only mild vision problems.  However, … Read moreWhy are people with T1D regularly asked to measure their hemoglobin A1C?

Because all the work associated with this study has a real benefit for people like me who live with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). BETTER will conduct trials aimed at increasing our knowledge of how technology can be used to prevent hypoglycemic episodes and the treatment and reduction of those scary and tiresome episodes, that negatively … Read moreWhy do I like being a patient-partner for the BETTER study?

Hypoglycemia concerns are a reality to breastfeeding mothers living with type 1 diabetes. Worries of hypoglycemia after breastfeeding or during the night are the basis for many recommendations that involve snacking before or during each breastfeeding, including during the night, and reducing insulin doses. Unfortunately, there is no solid evidence to support specific recommendations for … Read moreAre breastfeeding mothers with T1D at higher risk of hypoglycemia?

One of the challenges of exercise for patients living with type 1 diabetes is the possibility of a hypoglycemic episode (low blood sugar). There are many ways to avoid having a low that usually involve either decreasing insulin or suspending its infusion or consuming carbohydrates. Recently a study (1) evaluated three strategies addressing when and … Read moreHypoglycemia and physical activity: Update on insulin reduction to safely perform aerobic exercise