In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas is unable to produce the insulin that is required to regulate blood glucose levels. For this reason, all type 1 diabetics must inject insulin one or more times per day to keep their blood glucose levels normal. Most diabetics self-administer their own insulin after learning the proper techniques for insulin preparation and injection. The parents of young diabetics usually assume responsibility for insulin administration until the child has developed the cognitive skills and the manual dexterity required for self-administration.
Many factors affect the dosage of insulin that an individual requires.
These factors include the type of insulin used, the size of the person, the amount, type, and time that meals are eaten, and the activity and exercise patterns of the person. Other factors like illness and normal growth periods can also alter insulin requirements. Persons with type 1 diabetes learn to monitor their blood glucose levels at home. This is necessary to insure that they are receiving the correct amount of insulin, since both too much and too little insulin can cause serious problems for the diabetic. Home glucose monitoring involves taking a small sample of blood from the fingertip, placing it on a strip of paper and waiting for a machine to read the glucose level.