What are the treatment options for type 1 diabetes?

In type 1 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin to control glucose. Insulin must therefore be supplied through injections or a pump, with doses matched to food, activity, illness and glucose readings. Treatment is ongoing and individual; the aim is to support day-to-day wellbeing while reducing the chance of glucose becoming too high or too low. See [Type 1 Diabetes](/conditions/type-1-diabetes/) for background.

A diabetes team can help you use insulin, check glucose, recognise patterns and plan for exercise, travel and sick days. [Diabetes Medication Management](/treatments/medical-management/diabetes-medication-management/) supports dose review and medicine safety. A [Diabetes Education Programme](/treatments/lifestyle-and-wellness/diabetes-education-programme/) can cover carbohydrate awareness, injection technique and treating low glucose. Regular [Chronic Disease Review](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/chronic-disease-review/) checks progress and updates the plan.

Seek urgent help for confusion, inability to stay awake, severe weakness, repeated vomiting, deep or rapid breathing, or glucose that remains very high with ketones or feeling unwell. Treat low glucose promptly using the plan provided by your diabetes team, and seek help if the person cannot swallow or does not recover.

Ask which insulin schedule suits you, how to adjust doses during illness or exercise, when to check ketones, how to manage low glucose, and how often your wider diabetes health should be reviewed.