14.9 - Diabetes

Treating Type 1 diabetes

• In Type 1 diabetes, the body produces little or no insulin of its own.
• It's treated with insulin therapy - insulin must be supplied from outside the body.
• The insulin is injected under the skin, from where it passes into the bloodstream.

Timing and amount of insulin

• Injections are usually given at mealtimes.
• This means the extra glucose absorbed from a meal is removed from the blood quickly once the food has been digested, keeping the blood glucose level from rising too high.
• The amount of insulin needed depends on the person's diet and how active they are.