Living with diabetes
There are three primary types of diabetes: Type 2; Type 1; and Gestational Diabetes. I've listed them in order of their frequency.Gestational diabetes is generally temporary, and goes away some time after childbirth.
According to often quoted statistics, about 90-95% of those with diabetes have Type 2.
That means that those of us with Type 1 diabetes are part of a reasonably small population. You've probably heard Type 1 diabetes referred to as Juvenile diabetes, because most people get it before the end of their teens. I'm glad this term isn't used anymore because it really is misleading.
After all I got Type 1 in my teens, but that was 34 years ago and I'm still stuck with it. This struck me when I viewed the wonderful photos by Teresa Ollila entitled A Lifetime with Diabetes.
These are moving photos that give you some idea of what it's like to live with diabetes. But all of the photos are of children that (to me) look like they're between the ages of 1 and 14 years.
What I'd love to see is a similar set of photos that show those of use who've had diabetes since, say 1981. Because it doesn't get any easier when you're older. Every day you still have to deal with:
- Testing blood sugars. On a good day maybe 4 times, on a bad day maybe 10 or more.
- Calculating carbs. Each and every time you eat, how much insulin do I need to take to cover this meal or snack.
- Correcting high blood sugars. My blood sugar is 215 and I need to get it down to 100. How much insulin is still around from my last injection? How much insulin should I take to correct my blood sugars? How long will it take until I will feel better again? Until I can eat again? If I'm using an insulin pump, is this because the pump infusion set needs changing?
- Correcting low blood sugars. My blood sugar is 43 and I need to get it up to 100. What fast-acting carbs (juice, gatorade, glucose tablets) can I get hold of? Am I in the middle of doing something and can my brain work enough so I can drag myself out of there to get to the carbs?
- Checking my state of mind. Am I angry, stressed, frustrated? These will all affect my insulin requirements.
- Checking the state of my body? Am I sick? Am I going to exercise? To mow the lawn? Play with the children? All of these will affect my blood sugars and I need to correct for them.
- Checking my travel plans. Am I going away? For how long? Do I need to pack: insulin; syringes or pump supplies; test strips; glucose tablets?
- Changing my pump infusion set. Where do I put the new insert? Will it hurt? Will it bleed? Thankfully only every 3 days or so.
I said it already, but most of these are things you have to deal with each and every day of your diabetic life.
I've often wondered what 'a cure' for diabetes would mean to me. It's been so long that I can't even imagine getting up in the morning and having breakfast without thinking about it. Or saying to the children, come on we'll go for a bike ride and not having to first check my blood sugars and take extra carbs to allow me to do this.
Even thinking about the possibilities of these, makes my chest tighten with anticipation. I have faith in God, that He won't burden me with something I can't handle and that He can work to change things for the better. So every day makes me think that a cure is possible and that gives me hope. That hope drives me to take as good care of myself as I can so that I'll live long enough to enjoy that cure.
What do you think? Am I just too naïve?
What if everyone reading this post forwarded it to one friend and if all of you just gave $10 to support the work at Mass General Hospital that is being done by Dr. Denise Faustman? Wouldn't that make a difference?
Why not do it today in support of American Diabetes Month?
posted by Bernard @ 7:12 AM
7 Comments:
That is an excellent idea, Bernard. My money has already been given to this wonderful cause. I hope everyone takes you up on it.
Great post Brother! :-)
I think it would be just as powerful to see a photo project of us "long timers". Great idea.
I too have donated to the Faustman work.
Awesome post. Art Sweet may be the one to do this photography project, she mentioned it, I will send her this way. Thanks for writing this and for the challenge to fund Faustman.
Viv
Wow - great idea about a photo project. Unfortunately I don't seem to have photos, just the stories that would go great with the photos!
Was searching for more info on type 1 diabetes and low blood sugar and happened upon your blog. Just wanted you to know my prayers are with you. My husband of 11 years has had type 1 for 18 years. He struggles, I struggle. He also has epilepsy. I really don't think people understand what it's like to live with diabetes. It's alot harder than it seems. At least for us.
Anonymous
Thanks for your kind words.
Diabetes is a hard disease. And I also know that there are a lot harder.
Even with diabetes in my life, I have much to be thankful for. Though I live with it each and every day, mostly it fades into the background.
Married for eleven years, that's a blessing right there. I wish you both many more years and I pray that all of us see some move towards a cure within the next 10 years or so (I think this is achievable).
I have just discovered your blog this past week, but I want to thank you for this wonderful post. As you probably know, my household is unique in that my husband has type 1 and I was 'recently' diagnosed as type 2. glad to see that the photo project looks like it is in full swing at flickr..
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