【Common Diseases】Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes Treatment Guide in Hong Kong | Causes, Daily Management, and Latest Medical Developments
Hello everyone, I've recently received a lot of inquiries from readers regarding type 1 diabetes . Many people often associate diabetes with high blood sugar and a lack of sweets. However, there are actually different types of diabetes. While type 1 diabetes is relatively rare in Hong Kong, it can have a significant impact on patients' daily lives, requiring lifelong insulin control. This time, I've compiled a super detailed guide to treatment, drawing on information from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, private medical institutions, and international medical journals.
What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the pancreatic beta cells, resulting in a near-complete inability to produce insulin. Since insulin is essential for blood sugar to enter cells for energy, a lack of insulin can lead to chronically elevated blood sugar levels, causing a variety of acute and chronic complications.
Key Features:
- It is more common in children and adolescents, but can occur at any age.
- It has little to do with lifestyle habits and more to do with genes and immune response
- Acute onset and obvious symptoms
Common symptoms
According to the Hong Kong Diabetes Association, typical symptoms of type 1 diabetes include:
- Three mores and one less : drinking more, eating more, urinating more, and losing weight
- easily tired
- blurred vision
- Slow wound healing
- In severe cases, ketoacidosis may occur, including vomiting, deep breathing, confusion, and even coma.
⚠️ If you suspect any of these symptoms, you should immediately test your blood sugar and seek medical attention, as ketoacidosis can be life-threatening.
Core Principles of Type 1 Diabetes Treatment in Hong Kong
Since patients cannot secrete enough insulin on their own, the core of treatment is lifelong insulin supplementation , combined with blood sugar monitoring, diet control and lifestyle management.
1. Insulin Therapy
Insulin injections are the standard treatment for type 1 diabetes in both public and private healthcare institutions in Hong Kong.
Common types of insulin:
- Rapid-acting : Injected before meals to quickly lower blood sugar after meals (e.g., Insulin Lispro, Aspart)
- Short-acting
- Intermediate-acting
- Long-acting : Maintains basal insulin levels (e.g., Insulin Glargine, Detemir)
Treatment Mode:
- Multiple daily injections (MDI) : multiple injections per day, including long-acting and fast-acting
- Insulin Pump : Continuous infusion of fast-acting insulin to simulate pancreatic secretion
Hong Kong situation:
- Public hospitals: MDI is the main treatment method, and pump therapy is mostly used in pediatrics or specific specialties.
- Private healthcare: Pump therapy and the latest insulin formulas are available, but the cost is higher.
2. Blood Glucose Monitoring
- Traditional fingerstick blood glucose meter : multiple measurements per day
- Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) : such as Freestyle Libre and Dexcom, which can instantly view blood sugar trends
- CGM can be purchased at some private clinics and pharmacies in Hong Kong, but the cost must be paid by the individual
3. Dietary management
- Carb Counting : Calculate daily carbohydrate intake and coordinate with insulin dosage
- Eat small meals frequently to avoid large blood sugar fluctuations
- Reduce refined sugar, sugary drinks, and choose high-fiber foods
Hong Kong dietitians generally prepare personalised meal plans for patients with type 1 diabetes, especially young patients and their parents.
4. Sports and Lifestyle
- Regular exercise can help improve blood sugar control, but you need to pay attention to changes in blood sugar before and after exercise
- If your blood sugar is too low before exercise, you should first replenish carbohydrates
- Bring sugary snacks or glucose tablets to prevent hypoglycemia
5. Prevention of acute and chronic complications
- Hypoglycemia : Symptoms include cold sweats, hand tremors, palpitations, dizziness, and coma if not treated promptly.
- Ketoacidosis : caused by lack of insulin, requires immediate hospitalization
- Long-term complications (requires regular monitoring): retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, cardiovascular disease
Latest medical developments in Hong Kong
- Hybrid Closed-Loop System : Combines an insulin pump and CGM to automatically adjust insulin output. Some private hospitals have introduced this system.
- Smartphone application : Helps record blood sugar, diet and exercise data for easy analysis by doctors
- Needle-free insulin research : Although currently focused on type 2 diabetes, research is working to develop more convenient delivery methods.
Editor's warm summary
Although type 1 diabetes requires lifelong treatment, modern medicine offers a variety of options that allow patients to lead near-normal lives. The key lies in self-management —knowing how to monitor blood sugar, count carbohydrates, administer insulin on a regular basis, and manage hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia emergencies. Public hospitals in Hong Kong offer comprehensive specialist support, while private healthcare offers more flexible equipment options. For newly diagnosed patients, we recommend actively participating in diabetes education courses to learn daily management techniques and reduce the risk of complications.
This article is for reference only and does not constitute any medical advice. The source is referenced from major medical articles
