A Family Disease

(NaBloPoMo Day 22)

Diabetes is NOT an individual's disease. It is a whole FAMILY disease. It affects EVERY person in the Diabetic person's life. This can be the parents, SIBLINGS, grandparents, children, aunts, uncles, FRIENDS, EVERY ONE.

Everyone involved in The Superhero's life is exposed to his Diabetes care. There are different levels of their involvement, but they are all involved in one way or another.

As his mommy, I am obviously involved in ALL of his day to day (and night to night) care. I do everything including changing sites, poking fingers, adjusting ratios, changing basals, and carb counting.

Rod takes care of the night checks most nights. He can do the daily care of counting carbs and giving insulin, etc, but I am usually the one who is home with The Superhero so I tend to do most of the nitty gritty. And to be honest, I am a little bit of a control freak and feel like managing D is something I can "manage" (control never happens with Diabetes). Rod has also done several site changes over the last almost 2 years, so I am sure he can handle them if I am not around to do them.

The Princess...THIS definitely affects her A LOT. I will get into this more specifically on Sunday, November 28. This day was set aside as D Sibling Day. The Princess is VERY affected by Diabetes.

My parents help with diabetes A LOT. They can count carbs, bolus insulin, treat highs and lows. My dad is a pro at changing both pump and Dexcom sites. They can do night checks on nights they keep The Superhero. They are simply amazing to have in our lives and Diabetes definitely affects them.

My brothers both live far away and only come visit a few times per year. They, along with the women in their lives play a part in Diabetes care when they are in town. Asking to see Dexie, learning about finger checks and carb counting.

Friends of ours, Non-Diabetes families are involved as well. They may not participate in the care of The Superhero, but they are exposed to a little more Diabetesness (is that a word? It is now!) every time we are together. They ask questions and learn a little more each time we are together. They are supportive, and that is what counts.

They are all involved in one way or another and I don't know how we would make it through without each and every one of them.

Diabetes Fact #22: Diabetes is a family disease and affects every person in the family, near and far.

Diabetes Fact #21:Having Type 1 Diabetes means finger pokes 8-10 times per day (or more) and YES that means using BLOOD to do this.

Diabetes Fact #20:Despite always injecting the proper amount of insulin, people with type 1 Diabetes face many other factors that can adversely affect efforts to tightly control blood sugar levels. These factors include stress, hormonal changes, periods of growth, physical activity, medications, illness/infection, fatigue, and EVERYTHING they do or don't do every.single.day.

Diabetes Fact #19: T1 Diabetes is a 24/7/365 disease. It NEVER sleeps and neither do the parents of the children who have it (or the T1 people themselves).

Diabetes Fact #18: T1 Diabetes can happen to ANYONE, it is not necessarily hereditary. This means that yes, it CAN happen to YOU or to someone YOU know.

Diabetes Fact #17: People with T1 or T2 Diabetes (and their caregivers) are more likely to experience depression than their peers without Diabetes.

Diabetes Fact #16: The out of pocket cost of managing T1 Diabetes is EXPENSIVE.

Diabetes Fact #15: Having Type 1 and getting an illness (especially a tummy bug) CAN be dangerous.

Diabetes Fact #14: Without insulin, a person with T1 Diabetes would DIE within ONE week.

Diabetes Fact #13: Type 1 Diabetes usually strikes children, adolescents, and young adults, but it CAN be diagnosed in adults as well.

Diabetes Fact #12: It is important for families of Diabetic children or the people with Diabetes themselves to genuinely try to understand what we go through, to learn about Diabetes along with us, and to support us through encouraging comments.

Diabetes Fact #11: Diabetes is ALL consuming. It is NOT our life, but it is a HUGE part of it.

Diabetes Fact #10: Parents of children with Diabetes HATE when people say "I could NEVER do it!" when referring to the management of their kid's disease. In reality, YOU could, and WOULD do it if you HAD to. We probably had the same thoughts as you and now look at us, doing it 24/7.

Diabetes Fact #9: The term "Juvenile Diabetes" is outdated. We now call it "T1 Diabetes" or "Insulin Dependent Diabetes". People with this type of Diabetes will NEVER outgrow it. EVER. They will have this relentless disease until a CURE is found.

Diabetes Fact #8: A cure would be great, but a long life without complications is a close second for people with T1 Diabetes.

Diabetes Fact #7: Diabetes kills more people each year than cancer and AIDS combined. It is serious. We NEED a cure!

Diabetes Fact #6: While people with T1 Diabetes strive for blood glucose (BG) numbers from 80-120, it is NOT uncommon to see numbers MUCH lower or MUCH higher. There are SO many factors that go into each number and it is very challenging to see readings that are “in range” for EVERY reading.

Diabetes Fact #5: Type 1 Diabetes strikes 15,000 children every year in the US. That's 40 children per day. On July 10, 2008 The Superhero was one of the 40. Today, it could be YOUR child, or someone you know. This is why it is SO important to take the time to learn about the disease.

Diabetes Fact #4: Type 1 Diabetics may take insulin through syringes, insulin pens, or insulin pumps. What they use is a reflection of their choice and/or finances, NOT disease severity.

Diabetes Fact #3: People with Diabetes CAN eat anything they want as long as they match the carbohydrates with insulin.

Diabetes Fact #2: T1 Diabetes is NOT caused by eating too much sugar or being over weight. It IS an autoimmune disease and cannot be prevented.

Diabetes Fact #1: T1 Diabetes CANNOT be treated with medication. The only way to manage T1 Diabetes is with insulin. Without insulin, T1 Diabetics would die. Period.

*Disclaimer: I am a mom of a T1 Diabetic child. I am NOT a doctor. I just play one in real life. Please do not take anything in this post or any other post on this blog as medical advice. If you have questions or concerns of your own, please seek advice from your doctor.*