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For your safety, the information in these handouts and resources should be reviewed with your healthcare provider.

Type 1 diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce any insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body to control the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood. Without insulin, sugar builds up in your blood instead of being used for energy. Insulin therapy is needed for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

All Canadians with Type 1 Diabetes Qualify for tax credit

• As of June 24, 2022, all Canadians with type 1 diabetes qualify for the Disability tax credit. See this page for more information. And this page for directions on how to apply.

   

Alberta covers CGM for all AB patients on basal-bolus insulin

Through Blue Cross non-group coverage [Application form: Blue Cross Non-group coverage Application]. Coverage information for Albertans is published online in the Continuous glucose monitor coverage for Albertans Fact Sheet and Coverage Maximums for Diabetes Supplies Fact Sheet. 

• Patients must be resident of AB, have diabetes, be on basal-bolus insulin (includes patients on pump or pre-mixed insulin)
• Dexcom and Libre covered. Medtronic CGM available by special authorization. Form is here.
• A prescription is required.

Appointment Preparation & Uploading Device Data

• Please see our Appointment Preparation page

Apps and Forgotten Passwords for Glucose Data:

• Numerous apps are available to assist those with diabetes. These include apps from companies for specific glucose meters, sensors, insulin pumps as well as third party apps. If you've set up an account and forgotten your password, please see this resource.

Resources and Handouts

• Diabetes Canada YouTube Videos on Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 1 Diabetes Review (Extensive selection of handouts)
• Diabetes Resources for People in the Calgary Zone (phone in question-line, classes, urgent help, routine 1:1 care) 
• Diabetes Canada handouts (includes selected translated resources),  Virtual Classes and their toll-free phone & email support.
• National Aboriginal Diabetes Association (NADA)
• Nutrition education materials (AHS) - click on Diabetes to find publicly available handouts 
• My Health Alberta.

Definitions and Diagnosis

• Diabetes Fact Sheet
• Type 1 diabetes: the basics (Diabetes Canada)

Safety

• Low blood sugar (AHS): English; Tigrinya ; Arabic  or Diabetes Canada Handout (English) 
• Hypoglycemia unawareness: When you don't feel your low blood sugar
• Glucagon and diabetes (AHS) 
• How to Give Glucagon
• How to Manage Illness in Type 1 Diabetes and Prevent DKA
• Diabetes and Driving (AHS)
• Drivers Medical Standards [Questions about interpretation should be directed to the CCMTA and the Alberta Ministry of Transportation].
• Foot care

Monitoring

• Lab/meter comparison: Testing for accuracy of home glucose monitors requires a lab glucose test (preferably fasting) and a meter glucose test (finger poke) within 5 minutes of drawing blood for the lab. Home meter results should be within 15% of the lab results. The formula: [(lab glucose reading - meter glucose reading)/lab glucose reading] X100 = percent that meter is different from lab.
• Food, insulin and blood sugar recording sheet (AHS)
• Blood glucose and insulin record for insulin pump therapy 
• Checking your blood glucose in the hospital (AHS)
• A1c Testing (AHS)
• To learn more about continuous glucose monitoring (glucose sensors) see CGM: The Basics (AHS). Instructional videos on how to use your CGM device are listed on our Videos page.
  • See above (Alberta covers CGM for all AB patients on basal-bolus insulin) for details on Blue Cross coverage.
  • If you use CGM, your educator might recommend that you make adjustments based on trend arrows. If so, please contact your educator for details.
• Your blood sugar log-Fillable PDF (AHS): English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Urdu, Tigrinya, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese

Management

• Managing Your Blood Sugars Worksheet (AHS)
• Medications other than insulin can sometimes be prescribed in type 1 diabetes. For more information, please view Diabetes Canada comments regarding Adjunctive Therapy for Glycemic Control in Type 1 Diabetes. These Diabetes Canada handouts may be useful if prescribed one of these. :
  • Biguanide (Metformin)
  • GLP-1 & Dual GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonists
  • SGLT-2 inhibitor
• Getting Started with Insulin (Diabetes Canada)
• For information on insulin starts please visit Diabetes Canada's Patient Resources page and click Management. Do not start insulin without consulting your healthcare team. Diabetes Canada has a series of videos on starting insulin, available on YouTube:
  • Introduction to Insulin (video)
  • Your Insulin Pen – What you Need to Know (video)
  • How to Inject Insulin – Step-by-step Guide (video)

Nutrition

• Basic nutrition guidelines for type 1 diabetes (AHS)
• Nutrition education materials (AHS) - click on Diabetes to find publicly available handouts
• Glycemic Index (Diabetes Canada)
• Matching insulin to carbohydrate (AHS)
• Carbohydrate Counting Resources
  • Your diabetes team will help you decide how to match insulin to carbohydrate. This usually includes counting grams of carbohydrate. Resources:
    • Labels: Subtract the grams of fibre from the grams of carbohydrate for the portion on the label.
    • Restaurant websites: Many fast food and other restaurants have nutrient analysis posted online for their products.
    • Diabetes Canada "Beyond the Basics" Tool. Talk to your dietitian as the full tool is not available online.
    • Nutrient Analysis Apps: Visit your smart phone's app store.  Popular Apps include Calorie King and MyFitnessPal. This doesn’t imply an endorsement, or any guarantee of accuracy or ease of use. You may want to search Appcrawlr for reviews. 
    • General carbohydrate estimates. One carbohydrate choice contains 15 grams of carbohydrate (after the fibre is subtracted). Each of the following is one carbohydrate choice: 1 slice of bread or 1/2 cup (125 mL) cooked pasta/potato/other starch; 1 medium piece of fruit; 1 cup (250 mL) of milk; 1 tbsp (15 mL) of sugar, jam or honey. A general guideline for the number of carbohydrate choices to eat per meal is 2-4 for most women and 4-6 for most men. For snacks: 0-1 for women and 0-2 carb choices for men.
    • Nutrient Analysis Websites: Canadian Nutrient File (for download), Self Nutrition Data, Calorie King 
• Alcohol and Diabetes (Diabetes Canada)

Physical Activity

• Activity and type 1 diabetes (AHS)
• Diabetes Canada Handouts and Video under Management

Diabetes in Pregnancy

• Our clients, please see our Diabetes in Pregnancy Page
• Pregnancy and Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes (AHS)
• Type 1 and type 2 diabetes after pregnancy (AHS)

Insulin Pump Therapy Handouts and Pump Reps

• Please see our Insulin Pump Therapy page

Travel and Diabetes

• See this page.

Additional Resources

• How to Manage Illness in Type 1 Diabetes and Prevent DKA
• Adjusting Your Diabetes Medicine & Diet for 
  • Fasting Blood Tests 
  • Hydrogen Breath Test (HBT) for Lactose intolerance 
  • Hydrogen Breath Test (HBT) for Small Bowel Overgrowth 
  • Gastroscopy or EGD  
  • Barium Enema or Colonoscopy 
• Skin care products to help address skin irritation sensors or pumps 
• Neuropathy Resources
  • Patient Information Sheet
  • Patient Information Trifold

Research Studies

If you are interested in being part of any diabetes research studies please visit the University of Calgary's Clinical Trials Unit website for opportunities: https://www.ucalgary.ca/diabetes-clinical-trials.

• There are 2 trials evaluating whether newer agents can slow kidney disease progression in type 1 diabetes.
• Study on Fibre and Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes: Can taking a prebiotic fiber supplement
  improve diabetes control and prolong honeymoon? Click this poster for more information.
• Study to Assess if CGM use immediately after delivery in people with Gestational Diabetes (GDM) can predict the future development of Type 2 Diabetes. Click this poster for more information.