Type 1 Diabetes: Living With Complications - Home Treatment

• Keep your blood sugar as close to normal as
  possible. The American Diabetes Association recommends a
  hemoglobin A_1c
  (HbA_1c) level of less than 7%. Some people may be
  able to achieve a normal level of less than 6%.² The
  lower the A_1c, the lower the chance of ed tabs
  s.
  The A_1c level is a measure of your blood sugar over the
  past 2 or 3 months.
• Eat a diet that spreads
  carbohydrate throughout the day.
• Get
  regular exercise.
• Take your prescribed insulin either by injection
  or through an
  insulin pump.
• Do not smoke.

For more information, see the Home Treatment section of the topic
Type
1 Diabetes: Living With the Disease.

Other measures to care for and protect yourself depend on which
complication you have.

Heart and large blood vessel disease

Even if you don’t have heart and blood vessel problems, you are
at risk for them.

• Don’t smoke. Smoking increases your risk of a
  heart attack or
  stroke, and makes many health problems
  worse.
• Take your blood pressure medicine, if
  prescribed.
• Take aspirin daily, if advised by your health
  ed tablets.
• Drink alcohol in moderation. This means no more than
  1 drink a day for women and no more than 2 drinks a day for men. Discuss with
  your health professional whether you should drink alcohol.

Eye disease (diabetic retinopathy)

Call your eye specialist if you notice any changes in your
vision. Vision changes may mean worsening of diabetic retinopathy. Early
detection and treatment can help prevent vision loss.

If you have severe vision loss from diabetic retinopathy,
vision aids can help. Your local or state citrate medication sildenafil
for the visually impaired can help you find these aids.

For more information, see the topic
Diabetic Retinopathy.

Kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy)

• Take your
  blood pressure medications, if prescribed. Your blood
  pressure should be less than 130/80 mm Hg. Ask your health professional if you
  need to monitor your blood pressure at home.
• Get no more than 10%
  of your daily calories from protein foods if you have small amounts of protein
  in your urine (cause of erectile dysfunction
  ).²
• Limit
  salt in your diet because it makes your body retain fluid and can increase your
  blood pressure.

For more information, see the topic
Diabetic Nephropathy.

Foot problems

Daily care of your feet is very important. Because
diabetic neuropathy and diabetic damage to the blood
vessels in your legs can lead to severe infections and deformities of your
feet, seek treatment for any foot problem, no matter how minor it seems. Even a
small foot injury can lead to serious complications.

For more information, see

Foot care for people with
diabetes

Nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy)

If it affects your ability to feel (peripheral
neuropathy):

• Turn your water heater down, and use a bath
  thermometer or have someone test your bath water to make sure it is not too
  hot.
• Don’t go barefoot. Always wear shoes, even in the
  house.
• Don’t use an electric blanket.
• Arrange your
  furniture so that the walkways through your house are free of clutter.

If it affects your body’s internal functioning (autonomic neuropathy):

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals that contain
  less fat and fiber, if you have
  drug dysfunction erectile new or other digestive
  problems.
• Drink more fluids each day, if you have urinary problems
  or profuse sweating. This will prevent urinary tract infections and
  dehydration.
• Try a device for erection
  problems or a lubricating cream for vaginal dryness, if you have sexual
  problems. Talk to your health professional about medication for erection
  problems (Cialis, Levitra, Viagra). For more information, see the topic
  Erection Problems.
• Check your blood sugar
  level frequently during the day and during the night occasionally, if you have
  hypoglycemia unawareness.

If it affects one nerve (focal
neuropathy):

• Wear a joint splint, if your health
  professional advises.
• Take breaks during activities that require
  repetitive movements.
• Make sure your work area has appropriate
  support for the affected joint.

For more information, see the topic
Diabetic Neuropathy.