Staying Fueled with T1D

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Living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a constant balancing act—and it feels a lot like you’re walking on a tightrope to effectively manage insulin doses with fuel. As someone always on the go, balancing healthy eating with managing T1D can be a challenge, but with some thoughtful planning and the right tools, like the Omnipod DASH®, it is doable!

One of the most important parts of living with T1D is nutrition, and what you eat plays a role in how you feel during the day. I remember the early days of my diagnosis, feeling overwhelmed figuring out what to eat and how it would affect my glucose levels. It felt like a lot of work to calculate the amount of carbs for everything I put into my mouth and figure out how the food was going to affect my glucose levels with so many other factors at play, such as how active I was going to be. Although I’ve lived with T1D for over two decades, it still keeps me guessing!

If you live with T1D, here are some of my helpful tips for staying fueled and feeling great:

Plan Ahead

When it comes to T1D, meal planning is your best friend. I spend some time each week planning meals and snacks. This helps me stay on track and reduces the stress of last-minute decisions. It’s also easier to count carbs knowing exactly what’s in my food. I often make a batch of energy balls to keep on hand for a quick and healthy boost throughout the day. Chopped veggies and hummus are another go-to.

It’s All About Balance

Not every meal is perfect, but I often feel at my best when my plate is balanced with protein, healthy fats, and fibre-rich carbs. This combination helps keep glucose levels stable and provides lasting energy. For breakfast, I usually have a smoothie. Because it has both immediate and slower-acting carbs, I can set an extended bolus on my Omnipod DASH® to deliver insulin over time. The combination of carbs, healthy fats, and protein in my smoothie helps prevent glucose spikes and keeps me feeling energized all morning!

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Reach For the Water

Staying hydrated is key when it comes to managing T1D. I’ve learned that when I’m not drinking enough water, my glucose levels are more unpredictable. Did you know that if you’re dehydrated that means the amount of water in your bloodstream decreases which then makes the existing glucose in your bloodstream more concentrated?1 Being dehydrated is the last thing I want when I’m trying to stay balanced, so I always have a glass of water nearby so I can sip it throughout the day. It’s a simple but important habit.

Embrace Diabetes Tech

I love the features of my Omnipod DASH, such as the automatic bolus calculator that helps to take the guesswork out of mealtimes. I just punch in the number of carbs I’m eating into my PDM (Personal Diabetes Manager), and, based on my personalized settings, the Omnipod will calculate how much insulin I need for a given meal. It has simplified my diabetes management, a change from when I was on multiple daily injections. Another feature I use regularly is the extended bolus feature. It’s fantastic for managing meals with complex carbs. It’s important to me to avoid fluctuations in my glucose levels as it can affect my energy levels. When my glucose levels are all over the place, I often feel drained. It makes it tough to get through the day, whether I’m trying to focus on work, keep up with my daughter or just unwind at the end of a busy day.

Living an active lifestyle with T1D requires a bit of planning and the right tools, but it’s entirely doable to stay fueled and healthy. To all my fellow T1D warriors out there, here’s to eating well, staying active, and feeling great!