BETTER

How Can I Prepare for a Critical Emergency With Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)?

01/21/202001/22/2020 by BETTER

This is the question that a medicine professor from the University of South Carolina, Dr. Anne L. Peters, tried to answer in the wake of the California wildfires and evacuations in 2019. She noted two types of critical emergencies that people living with T1D should get ready for: immediate evacuation and longer-term evacuation, where you … Read moreHow Can I Prepare for a Critical Emergency With Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)?

Why is peer support so important?

01/14/202001/15/2020 by BETTER

Parents, siblings, partners, friends, teachers, coaches, and even our endocrinologists don’t get it. Although many people may know the science about our disease, they just don’t get it. When living with type 1 diabetes, we often feel alone. Nobody understands the daily struggle of fighting to stay healthy and alive. Nobody understands the worry you … Read moreWhy is peer support so important?

Premature Birth as a Risk Factor for Developing Type 1 Diabetes

12/23/201901/02/2020 by BETTER

Right now, about 1 in 10 adults lives with type 1 diabetes in the United States and other parts of the world. But we don’t nearly know as much about risk factors for type 1 diabetes as we do for type 2 diabetes (such as age, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, etc.). Past studies have shown a … Read morePremature Birth as a Risk Factor for Developing Type 1 Diabetes

Better Blood Sugar Management with CGM Alerts

12/23/201912/26/2019 by BETTER

People living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) need to inject insulin to control their blood sugar and are faced with the daily challenge of avoiding both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Some continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems (Medtronic, Dexcom) will send a sound and/or vibration alert when blood sugar variations require … Read moreBetter Blood Sugar Management with CGM Alerts

Strategies for Safer Physical Activity for People Living With Type 1 Diabetes

12/11/201912/18/2019 by BETTER

The many benefits of physical activity People living with type 1 diabetes who engage in physical activity on a regular basis are more likely to reach their target blood sugar levels, improve their blood pressure and better manage their weight than those who have a sedentary lifestyle. Physical activity also helps reduce the total amount of … Read moreStrategies for Safer Physical Activity for People Living With Type 1 Diabetes

Disturbed eating behaviours and type 1 diabetes

12/09/201912/11/2019 by BETTER

It has been shown that type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with an increased risk of developing disturbed eating behaviors (DEB) such as skipping meals, binge eating and purging (eg. vomiting, excessive exercise), as well as the risk of developing an eating disorder (eg. boulimia, anorexia). This problem is more important during adolescence, where DEB … Read moreDisturbed eating behaviours and type 1 diabetes

What Do We Know About the Dawn Phenomenon and Type 1 Diabetes?

12/04/201912/04/2019 by BETTER

The blood sugar increase that people with type 1 diabetes experience in the morning’s early hours is called the “dawn phenomenon.” This increase is caused by various hormones, like cortisol, that boost production of sugar by the liver. A common occurrence A recent Canadian study measured the frequency and impact of this phenomenon among … Read moreWhat Do We Know About the Dawn Phenomenon and Type 1 Diabetes?

Nasal Glucagon Now Available in Quebec!

12/04/201911/30/2019 by BETTER

At the end of September 2019, Health Canada approved the BAQSIMI™ nasal glucagon, a new treatment for severe hypoglycemia. The highly anticipated drug is now available in Quebec pharmacies. With hypoglycemia being insulin’s main adverse effect, anyone living with type 1 diabetes is at risk. This risk affects their everyday life and their ability to … Read moreNasal Glucagon Now Available in Quebec!

Achieving Optimal Blood Sugar Control: A Real Challenge for People Living with Type 1 Diabetes

12/04/201911/27/2019 by BETTER

A study that was presented at the September 2019 EASD Annual Meeting showed how difficult it is to achieve optimal blood sugar levels for those living with type 1 diabetes. As part of this study, data was collected in 17 countries in Western and Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East (North America and … Read moreAchieving Optimal Blood Sugar Control: A Real Challenge for People Living with Type 1 Diabetes

Closed Loop Insulin Delivery: Impact on Blood Sugar in People Living with Type 1 Diabetes.

12/04/201911/20/2019 by BETTER

Since the year 2000, many studies have looked at the impact of closed-loop insulin delivery systems. We had mentioned this method of insulin administration, also called “artificial pancreas”, in a previous article. When using this technology, the basal insulin rate automatically adjusts according to the blood sugar level measured with a continuous blood glucose monitor … Read moreClosed Loop Insulin Delivery: Impact on Blood Sugar in People Living with Type 1 Diabetes.