Bringing awareness in November.... Someone I know has Type 1 Diabetes

 November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

My hope is that other's will read this post and learn a few thing to better educate yourselves 

about a disease that is all around us.

"Oh, you have Diabetes"?

"So you cant have sugar or candy or cake", or or or...

"its because you ate too many sweets when you were younger, right?"

Sigh.... WRONG!!!

 

Sugar-Free jello jugglers from "lego" molds, that my daughter made for Carson's 6th birthday party.

Sugar-free YES, but NOT Carbohydrate-free. Carbohydrates break down into simple sugars, which are absorbed into the bloodstream. As the sugar level rises, insulin is released from the pancreas.

In Type 1 Diabetes there's no insulin to let glucose into the cells, so sugar builds up in your bloodstream. This can cause life threatening complications. 

The exact cause of T1D is unknown, It is classified as an auto immune disease, which means the body's own immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

  Type 1 diabetics are insulin dependent, and there is nothing that they have done to cause it, 

and as of now... there is no cure.

Type 2 diabetes is a different kind of monster, it is a Metabolic disorder where the body produces insulin, just not enough and is often coupled with insulin resistance and impaired carbohydrate metabolism. Type 2 is a metabolic disorder often coupled with other comorbidities, such as obesity, hypertension and inactivity.

There is NO "good" or "bad" diabetes... to be blunt, both suck!

I do not pretend to be a leading expert on Diabetes nor do I know everything about this horrific disease. BUT... I do know that my sweet Grandson Carson has Type 1 diabetes, and that's a big deal.

 This is what stays with Carson or is at least nearby

*The black emergency bag

*Omnipod, cordless gadget that bolus's insulin

*Phone for blood sugar readings that Dexcom (blood glucose meter) transmits the readings to.

Sometimes I see a message like this, it's just a quick text message to Chris or Brie

 to ask if I need to do something. (still leaning)

I have tried to educate myself so that I can understand better what it means to have Type 1 Diabetes, so that I can understand what Carson has to go through EVERY~SINGLE~DAY along with his amazing Mom, Dad and sister.

 Life jackets....check, 

Juice....check

Got to be prepared, even on the boat.

Our brave little swimmer.

This is what Type 1 diabetes looks like....

eating a s'more like every other kids, blue eyes, a super hero lover and the cutest little guy ever.

 The crazy thing is, these little ones with T1D look like everyone else. 

The thing you don't see is the battle going on inside.

He is a Hero for sure! 

Having a child with T1 Diabetes is a full time job, just ask any Type 1 parent.  

Managing blood sugars in a little one can be exhausting, just ask a Type 1 parent. 

So many variables affect blood sugar in these little people,

Emotions, food, activity, temperatures,  pain, illness (even a sniffle), just to name a few.

The same food, same time, same amount one day can act totally different 24 hours later. 

The highs and lows are relentless....one minute chasing a low with juice and then a few hours later needing a bolus of insulin to get a high to come back down. 

There is no science,  

It's just the knowledge we've been given, some intuition, experience along the journey 

and lots of prayer. 

 This is one of Carsons Type 1 friends, they are both sporting Dexcoms on their arms, this little gadget takes blood sugar reading from the fluid in their arms and transmits it to a phone, Carson's parents can always see what his "sugar" is.

 100 is a great number  :)

Carson also wears a 2nd device which is similar in size, that's his pump.
 There is a predetermined amount of insulin that goes into Carson at all times, it's called a "basal rate" . When Carson eats food that has carbs in it, he gets extra insulin called a bolus.
So.... since Carsons pancreas doesn't produce insulin,
he needs a bolus every time he eats food that contains carbohydrates.

Carson enjoys Soccer and baseball, when he's super active his blood sugar tend to go down, so then he may need a juice, which is actually pretty great when you're tired sweaty and hot.

Nothing will stop this child, he is smart, happy, funny and awesome in every way.
I  hope you have learned a thing or two about Type 1 Diabetes.
I have only touched on a little bit, there is so much more to this crazy disease that I haven't even talked about.
Rick and I will continue to support Carson, along with Chris, Brianna and Audrey.
We are the alternates when Chris and Brianna go on a rare date.
As you can imagine he cant be left with just anyone.

We love him so much, he brings us joy and teaches us that
the little things in life really don't matter that much.

I will never cease to pray for a miracle in this fight for a cure!
But until then we pray for Gods protection over this little one,
he is so loved and well cared for by his amazing Mom & Dad....

We are so thankful for the team that they are working together for the love of their son.