We live in a society where fashion, social media and advertising play an important role in our relationship with food. Phrases such as “eating healthy” and “controlling your weight” can also affect our relationship with food. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic illness in which diet plays an important role. Because the pancreas no … Read more
The impacts of diabetes on mental health are often overlooked when set against the physical impacts. Yet, diabetes management places a heavy burden on patients, whose attention and mental and physical energy are constantly solicited. Here’s an overview: people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have to take medication, check their blood sugar, cook and … Read more
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a complex illness that can intrude on all aspects of daily life and impact patients physically (e.g., when experiencing hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia), psychologically (e.g., stress, anxiety) and socially. The many impacts of T1D reach beyond patients and can also affect friends and loved ones. In fact, managing T1D often requires … Read more
When a child gets a type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis, the news can be unsettling to both the child and their parents. The diagnosis usually follows a sudden onset of symptoms (e.g., thirst, weight loss, frequent urination) or unusual behaviour (e.g., fatigue, restlessness). These symptoms can be a cause for concern for the family, but … Read more
On top of coping with the significant burden of their treatment, people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) also have to deal with a slew of unsolicited comments and suggestions in relation to their health from their friends and family, healthcare professionals and even other people with T1D. Even though the intentions may be good, these … Read more
Body image is a lot more than what you see in the mirror. It’s about how you perceive your body, and also how you think other people perceive your body. This image changes over the course of your life based on your experiences, and is built on your thoughts, values, feelings, as well as messages … Read more
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is the main side effect associated with insulin injections in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The harder they work on maintaining or bringing their blood sugar levels close to the recommended range, the higher the risk of hypoglycemia. With the busyness of everyday life and the many factors that … Read more
While living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is challenging, accepting it might be even more so. It’s quite a load to take on: understanding the illness, reorganizing your daily life around it and being mindful of all that needs to be done on a daily basis to optimize blood sugar management. Each person with T1D … Read more
Living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) means constantly trying to keep your blood sugar levels in range to avoid complications. T1D is a demanding condition that involves a complex day-to-day routine. However, trying to keep your blood sugar levels in range puts you at risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). While many studies have been … Read more
Living with a chronic illness such as type 1 diabetes (T1D) is no easy feat. You have to be in a constant sate of alertness, and that’s often stressful and exhausting. There are several sources of stress: blood sugar management, financial cost, stigma, judgment from others, etc. This side of T1D and the need to … Read more
