The Basics

I ran across this video on a homeschooling blog and thought it was simple enough to share.  While not (yet) being an expert the subject, I find myself frustrated lately when I see physicians (Dr. Oz) and politicians (Sen. Coburn) speaking in public forums on the broad topic of "Diabetes" without differentiating between the types - which are very similar but simultaneously VERY different.





LilBird is Type 1.  Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions we get.

Will she outgrow it?
No. It is forever.

What caused it?
We don't know.  It is an auto-immune disorder, like rheumatoid arthritis. She was born with it, but it was triggered - as best we can tell - in 2009.

Can she eat sugar?
Yes! Some fast-acting sugars (sugary liquids like soda-pop or juice, raisins, etc.) we avoid because the man-made insulin she takes does not react as quickly as the sugary food/drink does. We typically treat low-glucose levels with those fast-acting sugars.

Does it hurt?
We use a lancet to prick her finger a minimum of 4 times per day. She has to have an injection (shot) of "fast-acting" insulin for each meal and one injection of "background" insulin at bedtime. Being stuck with a needle hurts.

How do you know how much insulin to give?
We total the carbohydrates in the meal she will be eating. To determine the dose (measured in "units"), we divide that total carb count by her ratio (which varies from meal-to-meal and will get smaller - meaning more insulin for fewer carbs - as her disease progresses). Depending upon her blood-sugar level at that mealtime, we may need to add or subtract from the insulin dose (called a "correction"). The "background" insulin is given once daily, at a set time. That dose is based on how much insulin her body needs between meals, and that amount will increase as the disease progresses.

Does she have a pump?
Not yet. We hope she will get a pump this summer.  That will mean no more injections; she will have one type of insulin. She will still have to check her blood-glucose level frequently, and she will still have to count the carbs, but the pump will regulate the programmed dose based on that information. The pump offers more flexibility when it comes to eating and activity.