Type 1 Diabetes

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Family and friends should be aware of the symptoms and be prepared:

• If the patient is helpless (but not unconscious), family or friends should administer three to five pieces of hard candy, two to three packets of sugar, half a cup (four ounces) of fruit juice, or a commercially available glucose solution.
• If there is inadequate response within 15 minutes, the patient should receive additional sugar by mouth and may need emergency medical treatment, possibly including an intravenous glucose solution.
• Family members and friends can learn to inject glucagon (see above).

Click the icon to see an example of a glucagon kit.

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Patients with type 1 diabetes should always wear a medical alert ID bracelet or necklace that states that they have diabetes and take insulin.

Foot Care

Measures to Prevent Foot Ulcers. Preventive foot care can significantly reduce the risk of ulcers and amputation. Some tips for preventing problems include:

• Patients should inspect their feet daily and watch for changes in color or texture, odor, and firm or hardened areas, which may indicate infection and potential ulcers.
• When washing the feet, the water should be warm (not hot) and the feet and areas between the toes should be thoroughly dried afterward. Check water temperature with the hand or a thermometer before stepping in.
• Apply moisturizers, but NOT between the toes.
• Gently use pumice to remove corns and calluses (patients should not use medicated pads or try to shave the corns or calluses themselves).
• Trim toenails short and file the edges to avoid cutting adjacent toes.
• Well-fitting footwear is very important. People should be sure the shoe is wide enough. Patients should also avoid high heels, sandals, thongs, and going barefoot. Shoes with a rocker sole reduce pressure under the heel and front of the foot and may be particularly helpful. Custom-molded boots increase the surface area over which foot pressure is distributed. This reduces stress on the ulcers and allows them to heal.
• Change shoes often during the day.
• Wear socks, particularly with extra padding (which can be specially purchased).
• Patients should avoid tight stockings or any clothing that constricts the legs and feet.
• Consult a specialist in foot care for any problems.

Click the icon to see an image of foot inspection.

Review Date: 05/05/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).