Diabetes: Understanding Your Type and Daily Care
Understand the differences between diabetes types and find focused guides for meals, glucose records and prescribed care with One Food Forward.
The word diabetes can arrive with many new instructions. Before changing what is on your plate, it helps to understand which type you have and what your own care plan is asking of you.
Start your food and symptom diary
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes involves blood glucose levels becoming too high. In type 1 diabetes the body cannot make insulin; in type 2 it does not use insulin effectively or make enough. Other forms also exist. Tests and clinical assessment establish the diagnosis and type. [1]
Care and everyday food decisions
Treatment and monitoring depend on the type and circumstances. Type 1 requires insulin. Type 2 care may include changes to eating and activity, medicines and sometimes insulin. Ask your team about glucose targets, illness and treating low glucose rather than borrowing another person's plan. [1]
Keeping a useful personal record
Keep meals and prescribed medicines alongside glucose readings if your team has asked you to record them, including units and timing. One Food Forward is a personal record: it does not connect to a glucose sensor, calculate insulin doses or provide glucose alerts.
Related reading: Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes.
Where should I start after a diabetes diagnosis?
Ask your team to confirm the type and immediate care plan. Then read the focused guide to type 1 or type 2 diabetes for the details relevant to your treatment. [1] [2]
Keep the details somewhere you can find them
There is no need to tell the whole story at once. Start with today’s meal, a symptom or a few words about how you felt. Those small entries give you something to return to when it is time to talk about your care.
Sources and further reading
Your healthcare team should guide diagnosis, treatment and changes to your diet or medicines.
Spotted something that needs correcting? Contact One Food Forward support and include this page’s address.