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If you have type 1 diabetes, you'll need to look after your health very carefully.

As well as treating yourself with insulin and monitoring your blood glucose levels, there are many other ways that you should manage your condition.

Eat healthily

Some people think that having diabetes means that you have to follow a diet of special foods, but this is not true. If you have diabetes, your diet should be the same as that of anyone else - high in fibre, fruit and vegetables, and low in fat, salt and sugar.

However, different foods will affect you in different ways, so it's important to know what to eat and when to get the right amount of glucose for the insulin you are taking. A diabetes dietitian will be able to help you work out a dietary plan that can be fitted to your specific needs.

Get regular exercise

Physical activity lowers your blood glucose level, so it is particularly important to exercise regularly if you have diabetes.

Like anyone else, you should aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, at least five times a week. This can be any activity that gets you slightly out of breath and warmer than usual. However, you should not start a new activity without first seeing your GP or care team.

As exercise will affect your blood glucose level, you and your care team may have to adjust your insulin treatment or diet plan, to keep it steady.

Let others know about your condition

If you have type 1 diabetes, you should wear an identity bracelet to let others know that you have the condition. This will ensure that if you collapse, emergency medical professionals will be quickly made aware that you have diabetes.

You should also carry a glucagon kit with you, in case of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose). Your diabetes care team should train you and several of your family members and close friends on how to use it.

Do not smoke

If you have diabetes, you have an increased risk of developing a cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack or stroke. If you also smoke, you are increasing this risk even further, as well as increasing your risk of other smoking-related conditions, including lung cancer.

If you smoke, your GP can provide treatment and support to help you to give up.

Drink alcohol in moderation

You should only drink alcohol in moderation if you have diabetes, and you should never drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Depending on the amount you drink, alcohol can cause either high or low blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia).

Drinking alcohol may also affect your ability to carry out your insulin treatment, or blood glucose monitoring, so always be careful not to drink too much.

Look after your feet

Having diabetes means you are more likely to develop problems with your feet, including infections and foot ulcers (see 'complications').

To prevent this, you should keep your nails short and wash your feet with warm water every day. Wear shoes that fit properly and see a podiatrist or chiropodist (a specialist in foot care) regularly, so that any problems are found early.

You should also check your feet often for any cuts, blisters or grazes because you may not be able to feel them if there is damage to the nerves in your feet. See your GP if you have a minor injury to your foot that does not start to heal within a few days.

Have regular eye tests

If you have type 1 diabetes, you should have your eyes tested at least once a year to check for retinopathy.

Retinopathy is an eye condition where the small blood vessels in your eye become damaged (see 'complications'). It can occur if your blood glucose level is too high for a long period of time (hyperglycaemia). If it is untreated, retinopathy can eventually lead to blindness.

Having regular eye tests should mean that any signs of retinopathy are picked up as soon as they appear.