Supporting health by eating
A person with type 1 diabetes can enjoy normal healthy food according to their preferences. With regard to diabetes, the quality of diet should be the same as for the rest of the population. There is no need to plan a special diet, use diabetes products or stick to a sugar-free diet. The amounts of carbohydrates can vary from meal to meal, as long as you factor it in in the mealtime insulin dose.
As type 1 diabetes involves a higher risk of coronary artery disease, the overall healthiness of food should also be assessed from the perspective of the risk of coronary artery disease, i.e. preventing and treating high blood pressure and lipid metabolism disorders.
Exercise
Regular exercise is good for the general fitness and heart health of everyone.
Endurance exercise or other muscular work consumes sugars stored in the body and increases the absorption and efficacy of the injected insulin. As a consequence, blood sugar may drop too low during or after exercise. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and strength training may also increase the blood sugar level immediatly after the exercise. Exercise related low blood sugars can be prevented by consuming extra carbohydrates and/or reducing active insulin amount during the exercise.
You can read more about food recommendations and exercise with diabetes in the section Self-Management.