Overview

Diabetes should not affect the ability of a patient with type 1 diabetes to do most things in life. However, increased planning is often required. The multidisciplinary diabetes team can provide advice and support, especially at important times such as when a patient is entering into further education or employment, or considering new sporting pursuits or forms of exercise. Other situations where extra consideration and planning are required for a patient with type 1 diabetes include:

• alcohol or other recreational drug use while socialising
• driving a motor vehicle
• planning to travel
• fasting for religious observances
• older patients who are moving to supported care.

Patients with type 1 diabetes should be encouraged to:

• wear a medical alert bracelet, carry an alert card or use MedicAlert
• inform the people around them (eg friends, coworkers, sporting team) of their condition, especially if they are at risk of hypoglycaemia
• carry or have easy access to a kit, including a fast-acting glucose source and glucagon, for emergency treatment of hypoglycaemia (see Hypoglycaemia in patients with diabetes for information about glucose sources and glucagon dosage).

For patients with type 1 diabetes, web-based resources with information and links can be found under the Living with diabetes tab on the Diabetes Australia website.