Type 1 Diabetes (Juvenile Diabetes/Insulin Dependent):
Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone your body needs to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy. Although type 1 diabetes typically appears during adolescence, it can develop at any age. Despite active research, type 1 diabetes has NO CURE, although it can be managed.
I started with this because I have received advice from several people, who I am sure were very well meaning. But contrary to well meaning advice, I want and need people to understand that:
- Changing Seth's diet will not reverse Type 1 Diabetes. We count Seth's carb's at every meal as a way of counteracting them with insulin. Carb's= sugar. Any sugar Seth eats when his blood sugar is within normal range must be balanced with insulin to keep him from having too much sugar in his system. We practice healthy eating, but we also do not restrict his diet any more than we do Leah's.
- Seth MUST have insulin to live. Without it he WILL DIE.
- Seth does not have the bad kind of diabetes (just because he is on insulin). Ask any person who has any of the types of diabetes...they all suck.
- This has not gotten easier, we still work to manage this on a
day to day, hour by hour,minute by minute basis. What works one day, does not necessarily work the next. There is no autopilot for diabetes.
Diabetes struck us when Seth was 12. You can read our diagnosis story, the links are in the right hand column. If you are concerned that you or your child may have diabetes, please seek medical attention.
~Becky
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