This section is packed with advice on the practical side of controlling your diabetes, and dealing with everyday questions and problems.
So whether it's checking your blood glucose levels, taking your insulin, deciding what to eat, telling your mates or handling a job interview, you should find all the info you need here.
Your comments
Hi I'm Louisa and I've been diagnosed since 2010 up untill then -exept from when I was born,i had never been in hospital,so it was all a bit or a shock.
I'm in S1 at high school and on 4 times aday injections without a ratio although I'm ment too be getting one soon so I can go on a pump- I'm looking forward too getting the freedom back and not having too eat certain amount of carbs. I have these other conditions called: simultagnosea and dorsal stream dysfunctions so I get agatated a lot which makes my bloods go high and when I go hypo I get REALLY silly and cheeky and then also when I get exited/ am anticapating somthing I go hypo so its.like a.vicious circle, but all my friends and class know about it and are really under standing!
I will admit that life with diabetes isn't easy at times but I do try too think of the.positives and not let it hold me back. When I get the cold and things I go high and feel really bad expecially when I've got too keep within target too get a ratio but I get through! I would really talk too someone just like.me my age! But too everyone out there keep pushing on there's more too life than diabetes!… THANK YOU!
– Louisa
My names Abi. I am 15 and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 2 so i dont really remember life without it. I have had some trouble recently as the the fact i cant stop having a hypo early hours of the morning e.g. 4 am etc. i have reduced my lantis by 5 units so far and still it makes minimal effect. if anyone has any advice i would love to hear of it also. I have also been wanting to launch a blog. if anyone has any advice on starting blogs i would love to hear of it. Thank you. – Abi
hey guys, im 16 years old and in December 2010 I was diagnosed with diabetes. I would love to get to know others my age who also have diabetes :) – Megan
I'm 16 years old,I've had diabetes since I was eight.I hate diabetes.It makes it hard for me to lose weight etc. I just want to meet someone going thourgh the same experience and I always wonder whether diabetes scares people into not having a realationship with me. I wish I had a diabetic boyfriend etc :) keep strong people.I know how it feels to feel terrible. xxx – Chloe
Hey! I'm thirteen and I've been having some trouble with my diabetes lately. I don't know anyone else my age that has diabetes, and I sometimes feel really alone. I started a blog recently to meet other people, and I would really love if you would check it out. I'm thinking of starting on the pump, and would like some advice. Thanks! – Mary
Hiya, im 16 and have had diabetes for just over 5 months so pretty new, but coping very well! I've started to notice that my bm is constantly higher in the morning when i wake up and think im having a hypo in the middle of the night, and i find myself chasing the perfect glucose levels (they were great but recently have gone up the wall) so i am really considering the pump.
I would just like to, from anyone who has the pump, what is it like, are there any pros or cons to it, did you have any problems getting it and any general advice about living or getting the pump? Thanks guys!!! x – Becky
I was diagnosed the day after my 8'th birthday. i am nearly 16 now. half of my life i have had diabetes. i just want to say to anybody who is fed up, tired of it, and feels like they can't carry on with it.. you can! i've been in a coma from ketoacidosis, had kidney failure, and slight brain swelling. that all happened because i didn't take my insulin!
so if anyone reading this has ever considered stopping their medication, i highly recommend you don't! it will not make you feel any better, in fact it will make you feel A LOT worse!
i hope what i have shared with you has helped, i wouldn't wish what i went through on anybody. x – Aysha
Hey, I'm Hiba, I'm 13 nearly 14 years old and I've had diabetes for 7 years now. I could jut lie about everything and say my life's fine with diabetes and I control it well but me a diabetes are worst enimies. I've always been slim and tall science I was a little girl but because I've had it for so long the weight gain and limbs aching are catching up on me.
Having diabetes is the most depressing thing in the world for A teenager like me. I rebel against everything anyone tells me I should do. I've never had a person in the same surcumstances as me and same age I'd really live to meet some one my age with type 1 diabetes. For the last week I've relished that I'm letting diabetes take I've my life and I should not let it win this battle With diabetes. I've kind of accepted it now but I still need to know much more :) xx – Hiba
Hey, I am currently 16 years old and found out that I have type 1 diabtes not too long ago. I am finding it slightly difficult to change from my old lifestyle to consently measuring my blood sugar levels. Quite often I forget as I am not use to it and have had 3 hypos :/ but I am just starting to get use diabetes. I find setting reminders/alarms on my phone really helps as 75% of the time, I forget to take the medication/test myself.
I am taking a dance course at College and I am really nervous about what sugar levels I am at when dancing, as it is a very physical activity and I tend to dance 2 hours a day. Although it is scary, I just want to say well done for everyone with diabetes as people seem to manage it really well, also the complications of diabetes can be annoying but I believe in you :) Thanks x – Alice
hi, i'm gabby. i'm 12 and was diagnoed earlier this year...i'm finding it ok to deal with , as my mum is great... i'm on novo rapid and levemir (4x daily injection) i'm about to go stay with my nana for a week and mum is a bit nervous. hope to find diabetic friends , x – Gabriella
Hey guys!! I'm 13 years old and was diagnosed almost 3 years ago.
First started off having 4 insulin jabs a day. I took and still take 6-8 blood sugars a day by pricking myself with a small needle. Now I have been on the Insulin Pump for a year and a half. Life is a lot easier with the pump. I have to change the canula under the skin and the tubing every 3 days. Not so much of a big deal! I take my pump off for sport, showers and baths. Thanks guys and i hope they find a cure really soon!! – Sam
I'm Skai and I've had diabetes since i was 7 and I'm 12 now. It's not all that bad except the spots and scars and stuff and that some of my classmates tease me about it. They make me cry cause I'm very emotional and I would love to have someone to talk about it to. I've never known anyone who has diabetes b4 except my friend's mom and there has never been anyone in my school who had it b4 so I'm kinda depressed sometimes and just feel like I'm an outsider.If there's anyone in my age group who wants to talk to me thanks. – Skai
hello, i'm beth:) i've had diabetes since i was 7, i'm now 13 and i would also like to talk to someone my own age about having diabetes. i dont really know anyone my own age who has it, a couple of boys in my school do, but we dont hardly talk. be great to talk to someone:) – Beth
Hi I've had diabetes since January. I just want to say that I'm going to a diabetic camp this summer to meet with other diabetics. I'm hoping I will make some friends. Is anyone else going to something similar? It would be really appreciated!! – Gina
Hi I'm thirteen and I'd love to chat with someone my own age who has diabetes!!! I don't know anyone with the condition apart from my granny, and we get on great, but I'd love to know someone my own age who goes through highs and lows and everything like that!!!! Thx for reading!!! :) – Gina
I'm proud to be a diabetic :) – Alissar
i am soo like becky the way she got told all that and i am type 1 to, what i would like to say is that from day 1 i hav been doing the injections all by my self no help at all because if my mum does it once ill want her to do it again and agian and agian,anyway back 2 the point i don't mind any of it exspect the brushes and spots after the injectiosn they really really annyoy me uurrrghhh!! :( but when my pink leather id braclet comes it will cheer me up cose i <3 jewlrey – Edie-Mea
Hi georgia, I have been on the pump for almost 5 years now and I would advise you to go on it. It gives you so much more freedom and much better control. I used to have HBA1C's of 11 and 12 but since I have been on the pump they have been getting lower and lower, and now I have HBA1C's of 7. I would advise you greatly to go on the pump, but if you want a disadvantage then it is that the canula's leave scars, but these are scars that you can put up with, what do you think is better......a couple of scars on your stomach or legs (or where ever you decide to where your canulas) or still having to go and do your injections etc. With this, you do your injections at the press of a button, its so easy, and you have much more freedom. – Becky
Ive had type 1 diabetes for 12 years,since i was 4. Ive never really known any different, but i remember thinking everyone had it (cos my mum does as well) but when i was young i remember being taken out of lesson for an injection, and since then, ive known ive been different.
Different is something everyone tries to find in someone else. And ive had people remind me im diabetic, and i find it annoying because i want to be like everyone else! at one point, i stopped doing my injections all together and lied for years. I was desperate to get out of that situation,because i wanted to be healthy when i was older.
I have a supportive hospital team, but i refuse there help,silently, but I know in myself i need that help. I think more should be done. I know they have places where diabetics can meet,but they could so easily be doing a better job at thier diabetes than me. I think it would help to talk to people my own age, and not people who dont know what im going through. – Bex
hi my name is annie and im nearly 18 years old. iv had diabetes type 1 since i was 6years old. i am still not used to it. im usually extremely embarrassed. i hate everything about it.
i disagree with people saying you cant eat sugary foods. i do, i just take extra insulin. i control it really well, but i just hate it. all the hassle of doing tests and the painful injections. i didnt ask for it. i was wondering maybe talking to others that have it might help me. – Annie
i have had diabetes for about 8 and a half monthes now and i am understanding everything quite well but i was thinking about getting the pump but its a big dision to make i need to know more about it the risks the good side the bad can anyone help me is it a better opision or not? – Georgia
I wrote in to Diabetes UK's magazine 'On the Level' about my frustration over medical equality (I live in the Scottish Borders and it seemed that people south of the border were getting pumps when people north of the border, including myself, weren’t). This time I write to put across the fact that saying your piece does have an impact.
Even if it isn’t world changing, it will be noticed. Proof of this came a week ago in the form of an insulin pump. Anything you put in the media will be subconsciously noticed.
So, I urge anyone out there with a point to put across or a complaint to write to someone. It can be the local paper, a minister or a magazine. Your message will
be noticed. No matter what your problem, no matter how small it is, make it heard.
This is a fail-safe method that has changed lives. Try it. Who knows, maybe it will
better yours forever. – Samuel Maybury, 13
Hi, I'm Anna and I'm 11 nearly 12 in May! I already wrote a comment on Nick Jonas's page about my diabetes but I wanted to talk to you about something else!
'' WHY ME?''/ '' I HATE DIABETES!''/ '' I DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE!'' We all have times like this even me, I have had plenty of them and the 1st when I was diagnosed, the last probably sometime last week, I have one at least every week about ''It's not fair, why me, I hate it'', but don't we all and if you are like this you are not alone, there are millions more with Diabetes and everyone hates it, but it's something that happens in life and you have to beat it deal with it like it was homework. You may hate it but you have to do it! So thats why I ''try'' and so should you to keep your life and diabetes healthy and strong by doing Blood's every time you should/ having the right amount of insulin when you eat and all this will make a big difference, it really will!
There are plenty of people you can talk to about your diabetes and if you are having problems with it! Your parents, family, your doctor your nurse and diabetic nurse, friends and other people with diabetes your age maybe feeling the same as you! Together make it better build your control up to maybe solve your problems and worries!
BUT JUST REMEMBER YOU ARE NOT ALONE! – Anna
I was diagnosed with diabetes 6 years ago when i was 17 I controlled it by diet first but it got out of hand i was put on tablets. One day after school I led on the sofa but when I came to get up I couldn't move and every muscle in my body ached so I ended up going into hospital and it was time to go on insulin I was worried at first because I have Prader will syndrome which causes me to put on weight. Since being on insulin my life has improved so much and I wouldn't want it any other way. Diabetes is not a bad thing but it does take time to get used to it. – Faye
hi I was diagnosed when i was 16 years old just before my gcse's. I know it is not easy being a diabetic and most of the time you feel like nobody understands how hard it is but if i say anything on here it is to talk to your specialist when you feel like things are getting on top of you don't be scared or feel like you are just wasting time it is your health not just now that you are looking after but your health in the future
You need to try and take care of yourselves while you are young because you wont feel the effects now but you will suffer later....... i hope this helps a little bit. You are not alone and there are people that you can talk to . – Declan
Hello, I am 16 years old (nearly 17, woop) and I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1999. So basically, I have lived with the disease all of my life, I now don't know any different, i couldn't imagine my life without it. I have been on pump therapy for about 3 years now and was one of the first teenagers to go on it, if you are not on it and are insulin based, I would advise you to ask your diabetes specialist about it. Trust me, it is a real life changer, things at school got so much easier for me and my social life did too, I am now at college and it doesnt even feel like i have the disease anymore, it has made such a big change, im now more independant and can eat sweets :D – Becky
I am 16 years old and I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2006 when i was 11. Diabetes has been known to make you put on weight because of the starch you need to eat with your meals. But with the right kind of lifestyle and diet there is no reason why you can't keep a healthy weight you are happy with.
Diabetes can sometimes be annoying and I will soon be moving on to 4 injections. It is so hard to believe that nearly 5 years ago I was only on two injections a day. But I count myself lucky that it is not life threatening. Being diabetic does not stop you from doing what you want to do and being who you want to be. You have to take control and not let it control you.
That's all i wanted to say.
PS. Don't be ashamed to tell your friends you are diabetic, it's part of you and there is nothing wrong with it. You did not inflict this upon yourself. So stop worrying about what others may think :) At the end of the day, if they have a problem with it, they're not real friends ! – Vivien
Hi. I'm 10. I was diagnosed 3 years ago. It was quite hard at the beggining but I got used to it. If anyones haveing problems out there, then ask your nurse about the insulin pump.I reccomend the animas pump because it is waterproof and has quite a big and clear screen.You can get them in different colours. Hope u all get on well :-) – Safiya
Hi my name is Grace and I am 15 years old. I was very recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I have a younger sister who has also got Type 1 Diabetes, she is 11 years old and has had it for 3 years. It was a really big shock, but not just for me but for my parents, sister and family too. We just didnt think that both me and my sister would get it. I didn't realise how many children in the UK had Type 1 diabetes.
I was just windering if anyone else was diagnosed in their teens and wondered how you coped with it in school and out, and also how you explained it to your friends, because my friends have a hard time undersatnding diabetes. Sometimes they offer me chocolate and forget I have diabetes and I have to explain to them why I can't eat anything sugary. xxx – Grace
hey, i have recently had a blood test to see if i have got diabeties. the night before i didnt think anything of it and i just thought i do not have diabetes. But then i checked on this website to see the symptoms and unfortunatly i have most of them. is it still diabeties if i don't have all the symptoms? and also do you have to be skinny to have it and does it make you put on weight? because im not fat but im not skinny so i was just wondering?
thankyou ;)- Lizzie
Hi i am joe and i am 13 years old and would like to get in touch with people like me! i have just found out i am allergic to insulin and wanted to know is there anyone else who is allergic to insulin as well!
Oh and i just wanted to say to people who are nervious about secondry school yes you will be nervious but trust me you will be fine i was nervous but most people accept you for who you are in secondary school as people start growing up but i can promice you 1 thing u will be fine if you have any problems in school go speak to a teacher of firstaider or message on here for help and support !
if anyone needs a friend i am always on here so you can allways get in touch with me! My name is Joe!
Have fun and dont fret or frown you will be okay! :D- Joe
I am 12 years old coming onto 13, and i have recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes!
I suppose it was a good thing to find out before anything happened! We planned to go away a couple of weeks after i was told about diabetes and me and my family were worried as we was not a phone call away!
I had fun on my holiday but I always I had to get out the pool and do a test when i felt funny or test when it was dinner or tea time...
I was worried about my injections and that was the only thing that bothered me!
There's a boy in my class and he gets to leave early because he has a problem and my friends dont think its fair that he doesnt have to stay behind like the rest of the class, and i leave 5 minutes early to go and do my injection and this was another thing i was bothered about... leaving class all my class would call this boy and i worried if they would call me! But no one did :)
I am a cheerleader and having type 1 diabetes doesnt stop me doing what i love... Which is a good thing! But im worried now because in november i have competitions and i have to dance and run about and i could get low in the middle and i dont want this to happen! Is there any way i could stop this happening?
All i have to say is, that if you have type 1 diabetes or just been diagnosed with type 1, dont let it worry you, live your life like normal with a few changed to normal life! Think of it as a rollercoaster it wouldnt be much fun if life was straight, you need bums and curves, up and downs! you just need to know how to deal with them
Thanks :) x- Charlotte
im just about to go into year 8 and am struggling but all of the advice i have received from you has really helped me thanx- Conner
Hi my name is Ryan. I'm 13 and I have had diabetes for about 1 year and a half. I don't like having it at times but other times I don't mind so muc. I think it is much easier in high school because you have your freinds to help you because in primary school u are only much younger and dont really get how to control it. You do more sport which helps your levels and people won't bully you. I have never been bullied for being Diabetic. Stay fit active and healthy from all the sport and healthy food and don't be nervous about going into high school it will be fine!- Ryan
I was 12 half way through year 7 when i got at first i didn't take it in at first and then i thought about it and then i thought all the stuff. But i dnt like living with it but i guess i have to :(- Den
Hi Alethea. I have the exact same problem: I am starting secondary school this year and I am really, really, really nervous about what people will think or say about me. My Mum and Dad are concidering to let me on the pump, but I don't really want to. If I was you I would keep trying to persuade your parents, eventually it will pay off! Even if you have to have injections 4 times a day! So do I!!!- Harriet
Heyy , I Am Laura And I Have Had Diabetes For 6 years and im struggling with my blood sugars , My Levels Are Going 1 exteme to another, Low One Minute , Then Off The Scale, I Am Hoping To Control Them When Needed,But My Levels Are Getting Out Of Hand, I Hate Living With Diabetes and i wish i neva had it, I Hate Having Injections,And I Always Miss Out On Things My Friends Are Doing Because Of It,I Just Hope One Day They Find A CUre For Diabetes (:
- Laura
hi xx. im alethea and i am goin into secondary schol in september but im realy nearus. im nervus of what people might say or do to me. im 11 years old and i realy want to go on the insulent pump but my mum said that she wouldnt let me and i realy dont like geting my injection 4 times a day! is there anyone that has the same problem?
- Alethea
Ive had diabetes for 5 years this year in august its not that nice to cope with and i hate having to have my injection but i see myself as brave becasue all my mates are scare of needles and i hate it when im out with my mates and there all eating sweets but for the last few weeks my blood sugar had been very low and im very proud of myself and so are all of my family :) x- Loghan
i have only been diagnoised recently and at first i couldnt do it but now i feel happy i can now control it a when people take the mik out of my i just say im happy with my life.- Kam
i am happy with my diabetes and blood tests are beiing good now but when i found out that i was this, i was hi loads of times. bye- Kelly
it may seem tuff at the start but it helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle long term- Dov
i haven been diabetic for 5 years now. i was diagnosed at the age of 6 and since then my blood levels have been all over the place. at the moment though they are really good, i only have the occasional high now but i guess i will have to cope with this for the rest of my life :P- Lucy
I have lived with diabetes for 8 yrs and was diagnosed at the age of 21! It was the worst timing as i was just having fun and didn't care about having diabetes. It's no wonder i haven't developed any complications. It has been the hardest thing to deal with and only now am i starting to take care of myself. It's a long road ahead but i've realised i have to take responsibility for my life and the way i treat my diabetes. I truly believe there will be a cure and have to ensure i am still healthy when that happens.- Natalie
hi ive been diabetic for 6 years now and its still hard to live. i have great blood sugar control but still have my down days. but i just want to say it does get alot easier with time and the way i think people should look at it is its just one of them things!!! Keep smiling :)- Tiffany
Hi, i have had type 1 diabetes for 3 years now and struggle to keep them down time to time, but hey you've got to accept that you will have this for the rest of your life. keep strong and keep well. :)- Jason
Hey I have had diabetes for 7 years and I'm 14 now. I am also a coeliac. Don't worry things will get better as long as you have supportive friends and family. Mine are the best and my friends totally understand. - Keisha
Hi, I got diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I had just turned 15. this was such a shock for me as it is not in my family at all. I have now had it for 3 years and it has bin really hard as in 2008 i had DKA which 4 those of u that dont no what it is it is ketones alot of them, This put me in a coma for 2 days and made me extremly ill, luckily i am gettin better.
But still findin it soo hard as i am 18 and love goin out and drinking and havin a good time, but the results of this are giving me high blood sugar levels and that is scary cause i do not want to get DKA again. I also have counselling sessions because it has really made a difference to me and my life. But i want to just say to newly diagnosed people that you need to look after yourself and keep strong it is hard and sumtimes its easy and sometimes its hard but you will get through it x - Vicky
im a teen and i have had it for 6 yrs and im fine wth it but it is just the high blood's i keep gettin. =] - Joe
I am 14 and I've had type 1 diabetes for nearly 10 years now. Because I was so little when I got it, having diabetes never really bothered me that much. I haven't known anything different, so it's not hard to lead the life I lead now. Sure, there were ups and downs, but the more experience we have, the stronger the person we become. Read more- Jessica
Hello I'm 14 and have ben diabetic for 7 years. I was diagnosed in Nepal a country near India. I was in hospital for 9 days then spent 3 day in hospital in the uk. I'm also coeliac and have a hypothyroid. I get fed up with it sometimes but last May we went on a sailing holiday in Greece.- Amy
Hi, this is just a message for all of you that have posted comments asking 'does it ever get easier?'
After being ill from the age of 13 I finally found out when I was 17 that I had type 1 diabetes, I had been so ill for so long that it was actually a relief to find out what was wrong even if it was diabetes! To begin with I just got on with it, I was injecting 4 or 5 times a day but I didn't really mind because I had my energy back and I had put on weight so I was a normal size again!
It took a few months for it really to hit me, I was diabetic and I was always going to be diabetic! As you all know its not a nice feeling!
I'm now 22 and although I have good days and bad days I no longer see diabetes as a huge' problem' in my life, its just part of me. I've got so much to look forward to and I'm certainly not going to let having Diabetes stand in my way. I have a full time job and also a part time job as a dance teacher which is something I have always wanted to do. I am also marrying the love of my life next summer! So it just goes to show that diabetes certainly doesn't have to stop you doing anything that you want to do!
So yes it does get easier! There will always be times when you will think 'I wish I wasn't diabetic' but thats completely normal. Just don't ever think that it has to stop you getting on with a normal life and doing all the things thats you've wanted to do!- Charlotte
Hi, I got diagnosed with diabetes Type 1 three days ago, and I'm fourteen years old. And first it came to me as a big shock because it's so random? And then it settled in and then that's when I got upset. I think the thing that is the most upsetting is that it won't ever go away and I'll have four injections for the rest of my life, no matter how much I dont want them. But I'm getting there. I don't really care about sweets thaaaat much. Don't get me wrong, I do love sugar but it's evil so mer.
I'm glad that it helps you gain weight because I'm very skinny and hate it, so I'll look better 8.
I hope all you guys are coping well xx- Ellen
Hey, my names Zoe. I'm 16 and i've had Type 1 diabetes for two and a half years. I used to be really controlled, but recently I've struggled and I find it hard injecting. I forget on a regular basis to inject and it frustrates me that I've only started doing it now. I just find the whole situation hard and I hate it. Does it get easier and, if people can relate to me, what did you do to make it better?
I hope everyone's well :)- Zoe
I think growin' up wih diabetes it's quite hard being different from your friends and family makes you feel kind of like an alien because you're really different from everyone else...
Whenever doctors and family tell you that you're not, I kinda get annoyed 'cause they don't understand what I go through every day.- Simone
I'm Mallz, I'm 12 and I've had Type 1 diabetes for nearly seven years. I feel it can be so difficult to deal with. My friends and family are great and I feel that really helps.- Mallz
Hi, this summer it has been a year since I found out I had diabetes. I find it so difficult and some days I think, will it ever get easier? Does it?- Jillian
Hi, my name is Grace. I am 10 years old. I have had diabetes for four years. If you have been diagnosed, don't be worried, there is someone out there just like you.- Grace
Heyy I have only been diagnosed with diabetes (Type 1) for four weeks. Now I'm 14 and never thought that diabetes was something I would get. No one else in my family has it and I don't really know anyone else with diabetes so if anyone has some tips or anything please do share :L- Karla
Hi im Ashley - I have only been diagnosed with diabetes for 11 days and im 13 if there is anyone out there like me i would really like to chat with them :) - Ashley