Day in the life of a Type 1 Diabetic

     The day of a diabetic starts the same as any other person except for the fact that we have to get up and test our blood sugar to see if we are within our target range. Next, we go about getting ready. Once we are dressed, it’s time to eat. We then count out the carbohydrates we will be having. Carbs are foods like strawberries, milk, and bread. With the carbs we are eating, we need some kind of protein to go with our meal. Proteins are foods, such as eggs, cheese, meat, and peanut butter. We eat proteins because it fills us up, and we don’t have to take insulin for them. Then, we go about our day just like anyone else, but one thing no diabetic likes doing is every time they wanna eat, we have to test our blood and take our insulin. Then, we just go about our day just like any other person who does not have diabetes.
There are a bunch of terms that some people may know about, but many that they likely wouldn’t. One of these terms is “Insulin”, which refers to either the medicine that type 1 and, some type 2 diabetics, take or a hormone made by the pancreas that allows the human body to use the sugars it takes in when it eats. Those who live with type 1 diabetes require insulin injections since the beta cells in their pancreases are likely damaged or destroyed. Because of this, they may require injections of insulin to assist their body in the production of natural insulin and avoid further issues and hyperglycemia (an abnormally high blood sugar level). Insulin may not be the right option for someone with type two diabetes, as they are not likely to respond well to it or are resistant.

 
That’s all diabetes really is; we just need a little more help with the insulin side of things. Diabetics can take Insulin through an insulin pump or shots. Everybody is different and there are a couple types of insulin you can take, such as Novolog and Humalog. Insulin helps keep blood sugar from getting too high or too low. If your blood sugar is high, that can mean a couple of things. One reason could be that your insulin pump isn’t working or you didn’t count your carbs correctly. If you make this mistake, yes, it is bad, but you can always correct it. The thing that most people misunderstand is that even though we are diabetic doesn’t mean we can’t eat what you do. We just have to remember it. Most people think that diabetics can’t have sugar or eat junk food, but we can. And we don’t want to be treated any differently.

There are so many amazing opportunities for kids with diabetes. A camp I have attended, Camp Needlepoint, is a week-long camp for kids with diabetes. At Camp Needlepoint, everyone is diabetic and they don’t treat us any differently from non-diabetic people. We go swimming, rock climbing, horseback riding, we play nightly games, have bedtime snacks, ice cream, and things that most people think we shouldn’t be eating. The camp has two sessions. Each session brings around 900 kids that attend. We are technology-free and the only way to contact us is by writing letters. The last night of camp, we have a huge dance party and throughout the week, some of the cabins throw parties.

Some things you can do to help are:

• Make sure, if you have a friend who is diabetic, to always have some candy or juice available if they may come to need it.
• Try to learn the signs. By this, I mean that you should try to figure out the signs of high or low blood sugar and know what to do for each.
• If you think their blood sugar might be high or low, have them test their blood.
• If their blood sugar is high, then you need to help them figure out what to do. You may be able to call an emergency contact. Ask if the person is newly diagnosed. If not, they might know what to do.
• If their blood is low, give them some type of fast-acting sugar, such as candy, juice, or sugar tabs. If they are on a pump, ask to keep extra supplies at their house, and even insulin injections.
• If you find someone who seems to be in trouble and you notice a medical ID bracelet on their wrist or even a tattoo, call 911 immediately and stay with them until help arrives. They may have an injector in a red box. Follow the instructions on the case. This is water and sugar in injection form that you would inject into their thigh. If they are able to swallow, there is also sugar that comes in an edible form. The entire dose should be squeezed into their mouth. Once helps arrives, you should tell them what you have done so they don’t accidentally give them more sugar than is necessary and their blood sugar skyrockets.

Overall, diabetes can be a very scary thing for someone to have to deal with, but the reality is that we are still the same person we were before we were diagnosed. Children with diabetes also tend to be relatively mature for their age due to everything they have to do on a day-to-day basis. Personally, when I was told I had diabetes I didn’t know what to think, especially since I was only seven years old at the time.

I remember that day as if it was yesterday. It was Valentine’s Day and my old school was having a party, but I couldn’t eat any of the candy because I had to get a blood test. When my mom got me from school, I was crying because everyone was having fun, but I couldn’t. Once we got to the hospital, we went to the lab, met up with my dad, and walked into the doctor’s office together. The doctor took my blood, and we went back to the waiting room. After a while, the doctor came in and told us the news. My parents instantly broke into tears.
I couldn’t go to school the next day as I had to get started on the insulin shots. I didn’t like that idea at all, but I didn’t have a choice. I was on shots for about three months and then, I was put on an insulin pump. That completely changed everything; I went from taking 15-20 shots a day to one every three days. Ever since then, I have been on a pump and doing everything I cared to do.

 
At first, I did not like testing my blood in public. I would go to a bathroom or hide my tester under the table. People stared at me. But when I had to take shots, it got worse, and I would have my mom take me to the bathroom. Now, I don’t care if people stare or ask questions. I actually encourage people to ask questions.

 
I hope to someday go into the medical field and become a Diabetes Educator. As I have lived much of my life coping with the exact thing I’d be teaching, I feel that I would have a unique understanding and be able to make patients understand more as to what they would have to be used to in their daily lives to cope themselves. I want to make a difference, and I hope that if you have any questions, that you can come to me and ask them. I would love to answer any questions you may have.