Illness and Type 1 Diabetes

(NaBloPoMo Day 15)

Having Type 1 and getting an illness (especially a stomach bug) CAN be dangerous!

For D Blog Day, Kris from My Sugar Bugs posted this as one of her 6 Things she wanted people to know about Diabetes...

"I am not overreacting when I am extra worried because it IS a big deal! Trying to keep her BG up while she is not able to keep food down is hard. It causes lows. Scary lows. And there isn't much we can do. That's when the Mini Glucagon Doses help, but we really hate doing that. It makes it all a lot more scary. Illness can also cause Ketones which can be very dangerous as well. Bee has not had a stomach bug yet that has not caused her to end up in the ER for some extra help. Managing D alone is hard. Managing D on top of an illness is hard and even more scary."


Hallie just posted about how Sweetpea ended up in the hospital because of Diabetes and bad pump sites which caused high ketones.


The Superhero has landed back in the hospital 2 times since he was diagnosed, October 2009 (Part 1 and Part 2) and February 2010. One of the times he was in mild DKA, just from high blood sugar and ketones.

Every cold. Every tummy bug. Every medication. They ALL affect blood sugar and ketone development. And they all cause us D Parents to WORRY. And rightfully so.

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Diabetes Fact #9: The term "Juvenile Diabetes" is outdated.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.*