Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: carb counting, celiac disease, diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, high, insulin, low
So one of the things I’ve observed in my nieces is the roller coaster ride of what I’ve dubbed the diabetes spectrum… going from a normal blood sugar to a high blood sugar, to a low blood sugar and hopefully, returning at some point to normal. Seriously, if ever I think I’m having a day of mood swings – and gals, we all have ‘em, don’t we – they pale in comparison to what Charlotte or Kaelyn might feel on one of these up & down days.
So what’s the deal with high blood sugar? As I understand it, when not enough insulin is available to process the carbohydrates consumed, the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood remains elevated. Essentially the body is starved of it’s nutrition. So what does the body do? Well it can start to burn fat or muscle to gain energy, a process known as diabetic ketoacidosis. This is an emergency situation and can be life threatening. So dosing with the appropriate amount of insulin can restore the blood sugar level to normal.
Sometimes the problem is reversed – the blood sugar level is too low. Again, my understanding of this condition in a type 1 diabetic is, there is excess insulin for the carbohydrates consumed, so the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is reduced too much. So to correct this situation the thing to do is to consume more carbohydrates – usually in the form of juice, candy or glucose tablets. Sugar in its easiest to process form is needed and needed in a hurry.
Now, these explanations are VERY simplistic and it may seem to be nothing more than a careful balancing act, but from having watched my sister and sister-in-law manage their children’s blood sugars I appreciate how difficult it truly is. The body is such a delicate system and there are so MANY factors that affect the way it works. Through anything extra in to the mix, like a touch of illness or an extra diagnosis (Celiac Disease), and the whole system behaves differently than you might expect. Rebound highs and lows occur and leave them second guessing what to do next.
It’s a pretty weak analogy but the only one I have – I’ve tried to do Weight Watchers (remember I have that commitment issue)… counting point values of foods made me crazy – granted my life did not depend on it, but my successful weight loss did. I can’t imagine keeping count of my carbs and then having to determine how to dose insulin based on that number, by blood sugar test result and and other factors I should consider… but, when your life depends on it… you just do it. And it becomes normal. I don’t say any of this to arouse pity or to make heroes of my nieces (though I love them immensely and am proud to be their aunt), I just acknowledge it for what it is… a tremendous daily commitment and something that I can use to inspire me to find the wherewithal to keep my commitment to walk those miles for Charlotte and Kaelyn – because I can and because they have to.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blood sugar, insulin, pancreas, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes
Those of you who know me know that I am an educator by trade and a teacher at heart… so what would be more natural for me then to educate myself and you about type 1 diabetes. Now remember that it’s my young nieces who have this disease, so I decided to approach this from a kid’s perspective which is why the JDRF Kids Online site is the place to start.
For those who prefer the quick and dirty version – everybody eats to live and the food we eat gets broken down into sugar (glucose) and is transported to all parts of our bodies in our blood… diabetes is basically having too much or too little sugar in the blood.
Normally our pancreas, a little organ near our stomach, controls how much sugar is in our blood, but in someone with diabetes the pancreas doesn’t work quite right. The pancreas does this important job by making insulin. In someone with type 1 diabetes their body doesn’t make enough (or really any) insulin. This is why they have to get a shot of insulin each time they eat.
We don’t know for sure what causes type 1 diabetes – partly our genes, partly the environment. We think viruses may be partly the cause and in both Charlotte and Kaelyn’s cases a specific GI, or stomach, virus is believed to have triggered their bodies’ immune system to attack their pancreas which led to their type 1 diabetes diagnosis.
Most diabetes (90 to 95 percent) is actually type 2 diabetes- also known as adult-onset diabetes. This form of the disease is usually seen in people over age 35, people who are overweight or who are not physically active. It is more common in certain races and in people with a family history of type 2 diabetes. In type 2 the body usually still makes insulin but not enough or the body doesn’t use it properly. Often these people do not require insulin for treatment.
Why do I point this out? Because there is a stigma attached to diabetes… we think of it as a disease of lifestyle, but I hope you better understand now that is only true of some type 2 diabetes and not the case for type 1 diabetes.
Charlotte and Kaelyn did nothing to bring on this condition. There is nothing they could do to avert it. Their bodies are completely dependent on an external source of insulin FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
Well, that’s a start… more to follow.
