Have you ever taken more insulin to correct stubborn hyperglycemia, only to unexpectedly plunge into hypoglycemia two hours later? If so, it might be that...

Living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is much more than monitoring blood sugar levels. It requires a constant commitment that involves paying attention to what...

On May 5, 2025, Health Canada approved Teplizumab (brand name Tzield), the first-ever treatment that can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in...

It has been well established that physical activity has significant health benefits (e.g., better sleep and well-being) and even more for individuals living with type...

Written in April 2024 – Last updated in April 2025 It has now been exactly one year since Health Canada approved the first tubeless “artificial...

Did you know that people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have access to a very interesting long-term savings tool? The Registered Disability Savings Plan, or RDSP,...

In addition to being a health challenge, type 1 diabetes (T1D) can be a hefty financial burden. According to Diabetes Canada, the average annual cost...

Spring break is here! Do you have plans to travel or do winter activities? Or are you planning to sleep in and relax? Remember that...

Being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) can deeply affect your and your loved ones’ everyday life. Managing T1D requires constant attention: blood sugar monitoring, carb...

Each of us can lose up to 100 hairs per day from the 100,000 or more that grow on our heads, and that’s normal. It’s...

2024 ended with the much-anticipated announcement for Canadian users of the Tandem t:slim X2 pump: The Dexcom G7 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is finally compatible...

Has your child recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and you need support? Do you want to introduce your young one or youth...

Winter is here, bringing with it the cold weather and additional challenges for managing diabetes. Have you noticed how the outside temperature can influence your...

Drinking alcohol often seems to go hand in hand with Christmas, New Year’s Eve and dinner parties with friends.  While having a drink is entirely...

While the holidays are a time for celebration for many, they can be quite a challenge for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Blood sugar...

Do you want to send your child to camp this summer? It is not always easy for parents whose child is living with type 1...

Novo Nordisk announced, in early October 2024, that it would soon cease the production and marketing of some products—including several types of insulin—from its diabetes...

You live with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and are in a relationship. Can your partner claim the Canadian caregiver credit (CCC)? You have one or more...

There are many misconceptions about type 1 diabetes (T1D). People with T1D are thought to be eating too much sugar, to be sedentary, to be...

People living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are subject, just like everyone else, to have or develop physical limitations (e.g., hearing, vision or dexterity problems)...

Do you have trouble differentiating between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D)? You’re not alone! Because of their similar name, the media often...

On October 31st, many families will be celebrating fall’s spookiest event: Halloween, or a time for candy, chips, and chocolate!  But parents with children who...

Just like many chronic illnesses, type 1 diabetes (T1D) can “open the door” to viruses and bacteria, especially when blood sugar levels are high over...

The use of cell phones in classrooms has been banned in several provinces. Cell phones should therefore be left in bags or boxes when entering...

Is your child starting a new school year living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) for the first time? If that’s the case, then you not...

It’s almost time for your kids to go back to school! As a parent of a child living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), it might...

Good news! As of June 2024, the eligibility criteria for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) have been extended from seniors aged 65 and over...

Getting ready for a trip is exciting! While travelling is often synonymous with vacation and fun, when living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) it also...

Does pizza send your blood sugar all over the place? Does your favorite smoothie send it soaring? If you’re living with type 1 diabetes (T1D),...

During summer, there will be countless opportunities to go for a swim in pools, lakes, rivers, the sea, and even water parks. But if you,...

First published in July 2021. Updated in June 2024. Summer is officially here, and for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), this means having to remember...

In November 2023, we asked registry participants what priorities researchers, decision makers and associations should focus on in the coming years to improve life with...

(Written in March 2022; updated on May 1, 2024) While living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is challenging, accepting it might be even more so....

Do you use a mobile application on your smartphone to receive your continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data? If you do, you may have seen warning...

While sorting domestic waste has become a common task, it can still be hard to know how to dispose of waste generated every day by...

Last March, Canada became the very first country to authorize a once-weekly “super slow” basal insulin. Novo Nordisk’s icodec insulin, which will soon be available...

Many families will soon be celebrating Easter with egg hunts and eating chocolate, but this celebration can be a headache when your child has type...

What can I eat? For sahur (meal eaten before dawn), eat complex carbs (such as beans or whole grains). For iftar (fast-breaking meal), start with...

Did you know that certain provinces and organizations provide financial assistance to students living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) during their post-secondary studies? With the help...

Hyperglycemia (blood sugar > 10 mmol/L)—just like hypoglycemia (blood sugar < 4.0 mmol/L)—is one of the many challenges faced by people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). There are...

Living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or having a child with T1D is a daily challenge. Beyond medical considerations, another essential aspect that’s often overlooked:...

The risk of developing an eating disorder (such as anorexia or bulimia) or disturbed eating behaviours (such as skipping meals or feeling a loss of...

There has been a shortage of Ozempic (semaglutide) in pharmacies for the past few months, as manufacturer Novo Nordisk has been struggling to meet the...

Until recently, insulin administration was an exclusion criteria for donating blood, meaning that people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) weren’t allowed to donate to blood banks....

People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have diabetes on their mind 24/7. Every day and every night bring their own challenges, from preventing and managing...

Many women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) will agree: blood sugar levels and insulin requirements can fluctuate greatly at certain times during the menstrual cycle.  Several...

People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have to learn how to count carbs in order to calculate their insulin doses at mealtimes. However, even with...

A lot of people were impatiently waiting for it, and it’s finally here! Dexcom G7 will be available in pharmacies, starting October 10th, 2023. The...

Exciting news! Abbott has just announced the launch of an update to the Freestyle Libre 2 application that will enable users to get real-time glucose...

If you’re living with Type 1 diabetes, you’re probably well aware of how it can impact various aspects of your health. One aspect that is...

All drivers with type 1 diabetes (T1D)–whether they own a driver’s license or are in the process of obtaining one–should know that they need to...

Novo Nordisk Canada/Paladin Labs has recently announced the end of production of its GlucaGen HypoKit, following in the steps of Eli Lilly, who also recently...

Exercise is good for the body and soul. It improves your well-being and promotes socialization. Physical activity can also reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease,...

It’s recommended that people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) keep a source of rapid-acting sugars on hand in case of hypoglycemia. According to data from...

The Eli Lilly Company recently announced that it will stop producing and selling its emergency glucagon injection kit used to treat severe hypoglycemic episodes. In...

During the school year, children spend 30—35 hours in school each week. It’s therefore essential that their type 1 diabetes (T1D) be managed effectively and...

Leaving your child with a babysitter isn’t always easy. But it’s even harder when your child has type 1 diabetes (T1D). You need to make...

We live in a society where fashion, social media and advertising play an important role in our relationship with food. Phrases such as “eating healthy”...

References: Emergency Preparedness With Diabetes: Two Rules – Anne L. Peters, MD – Medscape – December 9, 2019, accessed December 18. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/921997?src=soc_fb_191210_mscpedt_news_mdscp_peters&faf=1 Managing Diabetes During Times of...

Pregnancy comes with its fair share of challenges in terms of physical and emotional changes. When coupled with type 1 diabetes (T1D), pregnancy also affects...

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system misses its target and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells. Since insulin is...

Reference insulin products are increasingly being replaced with biosimilar types of insulin. Until recently, three biosimilar insulin products were available in Canada: Admelog, biosimilar version...

It can be difficult to keep up with diet trends. There are so many of them, and they often don’t last very long.  Although the...

Anyone with type 1 diabetes (T1D) will tell you that a cure or a technological breakthrough has been highly anticipated for years! Although no miracles...

Hypoglycemia (blood sugar below 4.0 mmol/L) is not only the most common complication for people who take insulin, but also the one they fear the...

Sweating, trembling, fatigue, hunger, palpitations, headaches, anxiety… These are all very unpleasant symptoms that occur when blood sugar levels drop rapidly and fall below a...

The immune system is the guardian of our health, defending our body not only against external aggressions (e.g., viruses, bacteria, parasites), but also against abnormal...

When a child gets a type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis, the news can be unsettling to both the child and their parents. The diagnosis usually...

On top of coping with the significant burden of their treatment, people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) also have to deal with a slew of...

Since June 14, 2022, Admelog insulin (Humalog biosimilar) is out of stock in 10 ml vial. This situation could continue until September 2022!!! IMPORTANT: The...

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an invisible disease that requires constant vigilance and is impossible to take a vacation from. Since there is no cure...

Body image is a lot more than what you see in the mirror. It’s about how you perceive your body, and also how you think...

People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who use a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system (e.g., Dexcom, FreeStyle Libre) and/or an insulin pump (e.g., Medtronic, Omnipod)...

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an illness in which the immune system produces antibodies that attack the body’s own cells (insulin-producing pancreatic cells). Just like...

Whether you’re attending in person or virtually, preparing for your appointment (appt) will allow you to maximize the benefits and address any important issues you...

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is the main side effect associated with insulin injections in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The harder they work on...

One thing that people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) know for sure is that blood sugar fluctuations can have many causes.  What about caffeine? Have...

Blood sugar control is a considerable challenge for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). As many as 42 factors affect blood sugar levels, including some...

In Quebec, most people who currently use one of the following original insulins: Lantus (Sanofi), Humalog (Lilly) or Novorapid (Novo Nordisk), are affected by the...

Prolonged hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar levels over several years in people with diabetes, can affect different organs, such as the heart or blood vessels....

Artificial pancreases, as they are commonly called, automatically administer part of the insulin that the user needs. These systems include an insulin pump, a continuous...

UPDATE February 2th, 2022: BAQSIMI ™ is now cover by the RAMQ for people who use insulin. At the end of September 2019, Health Canada...

One type of biosimilar insulin was approved by Health Canada for the first time in 2019, and many other types have been made available ever...

Blood sugar (glucose) management is a complex matter. A total of five hormones, including insulin and glucagon, are required to balance glucose levels. Insulin is...

Last summer, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) published a consensus report on the management of...

Hypoglycemia is when blood sugar levels are below 4.0 mmol/L. This is the most frequent and unpleasant side effect of insulin, which is required to...

Would you like to get more insights from your Freestyle Libre, Dexcom or insulin pump data reports? Adults who are signed up to the BETTER...

The BETTER Registry is a kind of census of people living with type 1 diabetes in Quebec. It now has more than 2000 participant. This...

Anybody can get sick from time to time, and people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are no exception, even when they do their best to...

In February 2019, Austen McDonald, from Edmonton, Alberta, became the first person with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to get a professional pilot licence in Canada....

Type 1 diabetes and the risk of hypoglycemia When you live with type 1 diabetes (T1D), the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is ever-present...

References  Canadians living with type 1 diabetes can now save lives, accessed on June 22, 2021, https://www.diabetes.ca/media-room/press-releases/canadians-living-with-type-1-diabetes-can-now-save-livesWho can donate?, accessed on June 22, 2021, https://www.hema-quebec.qc.ca/sang/donneur-sang/puis-je-donner/index.en.html...

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by the presence of antibodies that destroy the pancreas’s insulin-producing beta cells. Without this vital hormone, people with T1D...

Ever since insulin was first used in Toronto 100 years ago, the daily lives of people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have been transformed...

If you live with type 1 diabetes and have not yet entered the BETTER registry, it’s still time! The BETTER registry is a census of...

While some diabetes-related complications are well-known (e.g., potential eye, kidney or nerve damage), there are others, like auditory neuropathy, that are largely unknown. Chronic hyperglycemia...

Many women with type 1 diabetes will agree that they often see their blood sugar levels fluctuate depending on the phase of their menstrual cycle....

You could be invited to participate by filling up the two first questionnaires of the BETTER Registry. Would you like to sign up for the...

References: Emergency Preparedness With Diabetes: Two Rules – Anne L. Peters, MD – Medscape – December 9, 2019, accessed December 18. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/921997?src=soc_fb_191210_mscpedt_news_mdscp_peters&faf=1 Managing Diabetes During...

It is important to be mindful of the language that is used to identify people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their lifestyle. Many people...

References Sexualité féminine et diabète. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2020, from http://www.diabete.qc.ca/fr/comprendre-le-diabete/tout-sur-le-diabete/complications/sexualite-feminine-et-diabete/Dysfonction érectile. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2020, from http://www.diabete.qc.ca/fr/comprendre-le-diabete/tout-sur-le-diabete/complications/dysfonction-erectile/Enzlin, P., Rosen, R., Wiegel, M.,...

People with a chronic illness such as type 1 diabetes (T1D) are recommended to carry some form of medical ID, generally a bracelet, a pendant...

Diabulimia is an eating disorder that is unique to people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). A person is experiencing diabulimia when they are showing bulimia...

Reference Gradel, A. K., Porsgaard, T., Lykkesfeldt, J., Seested, T., Gram-Nielsen, S., Kristensen, N. R., &amp; Refsgaard, H. H. (2018). Factors Affecting the Absorption of...

Do you ever notice that your blood sugar is higher or lower than usual, and you don’t know why? Here’s a short list of potential...

Life is full of stressful situations, and their impacts on mental health are increasingly known and addressed. Managing type 1 diabetes (T1D) imposes a significant...

References Akturk, H.K., Taylor, D.D., Camsari, U.M., Rewers, A., Kinney, G.L., Shah, V.N. (2019). Association between cannabis use and risk for diabetic ketoacidosis in adults...

Find out more  References Carter, A. W., Heinemann, L. (2017). Insulin Concentration in Vials Randomly Purchased in Pharmacies in the United States: Considerable Loss in...

There are many reasons why a person with type 1 diabetes might have to change treatment or long-acting insulin. These reasons may include seeking an...

The BETTER registry aims to improve the access of people with type 1 diabetes to treatment and technologies in Quebec. If you or your child...

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems offer lots of benefits, including reducing—or even eliminating—finger pricks and making it easier to prevent hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia episodes. The...

Research is still needed to precisely understand how summer and temperature changes affect blood sugar levels and its management, here is what is known.  The...

In 2018, several new technologies for diabetes treatment appeared on the Canadian market. The BETTER team, which is interested in the role of new technologies...