He must have it REALLY bad...

(NaBloPoMo Day 4)

I cannot even tell you how many times I have heard this one! When people hear that The Superhero is on an insulin pump, I often get the response "Oh, he must have it REALLY bad!"

*SIGH*

Type 1 Diabetes is like being pregnant, either you are, or you aren't. No one is worse off than others. Either you are pregnant, or you're not. You either have T1 Diabetes, or you don't.

ALL T1 Diabetic people MUST take insulin to survive.

The mode of injecting the insulin is individual to each person based on their personal choice and/or finances.

There are many reasons people choose to stay or go back on insulin via syringe (aka: shots). This is the cheapest mode of injecting insulin.

There are insulin pens that some people prefer too.

And there are still others who prefer using an insulin pump.

We chose to get The Superhero a pump for many reasons, mainly, we needed the small dosing the pump can provide.

Prior to pumping we attempted to draw up 1/4 units (0.25 units) in a syringe with 1/2 unit markings.

This was a joke!

Now with the pump we can administer as small as 0.05 units at a time and have gained tighter control of The Superhero's BG. (most of the time)

BUT, having an insulin pump can be costly. We paid a decent amount of money just to get the pump and spend about $100 every 3 months just for pump supplies. In our minds though, it is completely worth it because we NEED those small doses for The Superhero.


Regardless of the mode of insulin delivery, they all still MUST take insulin one way or another. And no one person has it worse than another.


(side note: Someone may have management issues that make it "look" like they have it "worse" due to complications that can be caused by out of range BG numbers)

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.