I’m going to open the hood on basic diabetes management so you can see the nuts and bolts of how a type 1 diabetic uses blood glucose measurement and insulin injections to manage their blood sugar.

This explanation of diabetes and insulin therapy covers the basics of a Diabetic’s How To:

1. Establishing a basal rate of insulin
2. Establishing a ratio of insulin-to-carbohydrate
3. Learning to judge carbohydrate content of food and the effect of what you eat on your blood sugar
4. Learning to correct high blood sugar with a bolus of insulin

CrossFit Litchfield Park: Diabetes 101

The above page is a long article (3,000 words, about 5 pages). It includes brief explanations of:

• blood sugar and insulin
• the two types of insulin, long- and fast-acting
• how a diabetic establishes a basal rate of long-acting insulin
• how a diabetic decides how much insulin to take for food: the official, theoretical model, and the actual practice of experienced diabetics
• how corrective boluses work
• insulin injections versus the insulin pump
• hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
• fitness and nutrition for the diabetic

For the non-diabetic, this article is a sound, informative explanation of how a diabetic must survive, cope with his disease and manage his insulin. The more informative ‘under the hood’, nuts-and-bolts view is extremely helpful for type 1 diabetics’ loved ones, coaches or trainers, significant others, or just well-informed and caring friends.