*Disclaimer: All content and information in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only.
Everyday with type 1 diabetes looks different even when you eat the same foods and take the same amount of insulin. There’s no doubt that it is frustrating when you don’t get the result you desired. If you are tired of troubleshooting on your own without any real results or tired of living in a rigid routine, keep reading for 3 actionable steps you can take to troubleshoot the trial and error process with T1D.
Start with Tracking
At some point or another, you likely have been told to keep a food and blood sugar log where you jot down how many carbs you ate and how much insulin you took. There are many different variables that aren’t being included with these simple logbooks. Being intentional about tracking not only how much insulin you took and how many carbs you ate, but the behaviors and variables that may be influencing your blood sugar. The Keeping It 100 Journal can be a usual tool in navigating the numerous variables and support you with easily identifying trends. Here’s what you can expect inside the journal:
● Reflecting on decision making patterns and behavioral defaults
● Testing & assessing your basal rates, insulin-to-carb ratios and correction factors
● Assessing daily nutrition and dosing strategy
● Navigating exercise and blood sugar strategy
● Understanding insulin sensitivity shifts
● Break down patterns around all of life’s factors.
Assess the Information
Now that you have started to bring awareness to the various factors that are influencing your blood sugar, a crucial next step is looking at the information and considering what adjustments can be implemented. During this step, it is essential to consider your priorities, lifestyle, behaviors, and preferences when reflecting on your data. As tempting as it may be to look at what others are doing in their management, their strategies may not always align with your lifestyle. Thinking critically and problem-solving how you can make changes that fit your style of living will create new habits and behaviors that are sustainable long-term.
Get Additional Support
When going through the trial and error process, it can be really overwhelming going at it alone. Getting adequate support from friends, family, the T1D community or from your diabetes care team can keep you going when you start to feel discouraged. Having a team of cheerleaders behind you can make the troubleshooting process a bit easier knowing you have others to bounce ideas off of or vent your frustrations to.
If you are living with diabetes, you know that trial and error is an essential part of life at this point. Being able to roll through the troubleshooting process without getting burnout is ideal for sustainability in your diabetes management in the long-run. Curious to learn more? Check out Keeping it 100 Radio: Uncensored Diabetes Conversations Episode 55: Getting Through the Trial and Error with Type 1 Diabetes Without Throwing in the Towel. Available now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
