For family, friends and caretakers

If someone you love has type 1 diabetes, you don't need to know their doses. You do need to know a few practical things — and a few things that, however well meant, make daily life harder. This page is for you.

Worth knowing

Medicines belong on this list because a new prescription can change their numbers for days, through no fault of theirs. If they seem to be fighting their numbers after starting a steroid or an antibiotic, that may well be the medicine, not a lapse in effort — and a good moment to offer help rather than advice.

Sweating and confusion matter especially if the person takes a beta blocker: for some people on one, those may be the only warning signs left. The page on glucagon and treating a low explains what to do if you ever need to act.

Worth not doing

If you take only one thing from this page, make it this list. Most of what is on it comes from good intentions.

• Commenting on what they eat
• Reading their numbers back at them
• Moving or rationing their supplies
• Blaming a bad mood on their blood sugar, out loud
• Changing meal times without telling them

Type 1 diabetes is managed roughly a hundred and eighty times a week, for life. Being watched and checked on wears people down faster than the condition itself does.

Better phrasing

Small changes in wording make a real difference.

• "Have you checked?" lands better than "you look low".
• "What do you need?" beats guessing and handing them the wrong thing.
• "I'm eating at seven" is more useful than "are you allowed this?"

The first version of each is information or an offer of help. The second is a judgement, even when it isn't meant as one.