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Type 1 diabetes is a serious, lifelong autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Without insulin, the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels, leading to dangerously high glucose levels without treatment.
The condition can develop at any age but is most commonly diagnosed in children, teenagers, and young adults. People with Type 1 diabetes rely on daily insulin therapy and regular blood glucose monitoring to manage their condition and prevent complications.
About Type 1 Diabetes
Diagnosis typically happens after a person develops symptoms such as extreme thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, tiredness, and blurred vision. If left undetected, it can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening emergency.
Blood tests are carried out to check blood glucose levels. If these are high, further tests may be done to detect autoantibodies, confirming an autoimmune cause and a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes.
How Is Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosed?
Insulin Therapy:
As the body can no longer produce insulin, people with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to survive. This is usually delivered either through multiple daily injections using insulin pens or via an insulin pump. The aim is to keep blood glucose levels within a target range, balancing insulin with food intake and physical activity.
There are different types of insulin — fast-acting to cover meals and long-acting to maintain background levels. Treatment plans are personalised based on individual needs and lifestyles.
Blood Glucose Monitoring:
Regular blood glucose testing is essential for people with Type 1 diabetes to check that levels stay within a safe range and to adjust insulin doses if needed. This can be done through:
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Finger prick blood glucose tests using a blood glucose meter
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Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems that track glucose levels in real time
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Flash glucose monitors (like the FreeStyle Libre), which scan glucose levels without finger pricks
The NHS increasingly supports the use of CGM and flash monitoring to help people manage their diabetes more effectively and reduce the risk of long-term complications.
Managing Type 1 Diabetes
In the UK, around 8% of people with diabetes have Type 1 diabetes, with an estimated 400,000 people currently living with the condition, including over 29,000 children.
The NHS provides full support for people with Type 1 diabetes, from diagnosis and education to ongoing care. Specialist diabetes services include consultants, specialist nurses, dietitians, and podiatrists, working together to help people manage their condition and avoid complications.
Programmes like DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) provide structured education to help people learn how to balance insulin, food, and lifestyle choices. The NHS Long Term Plan continues to prioritise improving access to technologies like insulin pumps and CGMs to support better self-management.
Diabetes care accounts for around 10% of the NHS budget, with a large proportion spent on treating preventable complications, highlighting the importance of effective day-to-day management and early intervention.
Type 1 Diabetes and the NHS
People with Type 1 diabetes rely on regular blood glucose testing and insulin injections or insulin pumps to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Thanks to advances in technology like continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), insulin pumps, and closed-loop systems (sometimes called artificial pancreases), managing Type 1 diabetes is becoming safer and easier. The NHS continues to expand access to these technologies, with a focus on early diagnosis, patient education, and reducing long-term complications.
There is currently no cure for Type 1 diabetes, but with the right treatment and support, people with the condition can lead full, active, and healthy lives.
