“Never underestimate a T1D Mom. We are already facing our biggest fear everyday: the possibility of losing a child. That kind of fearlessness means all the other life obstacles pale in comparison. We are BRAVE. We are SURVIVORS. We are UNSTOPPABLE.” -Accidental Super Mom
New to T1D in your child? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! As I have mentioned in a couple other areas of my website, I have a 10-year-old daughter who is a Type 1 Diabetic! She was diagnosed back in 2023 when she was 7 years old and I’d like to share with you some of the things I’ve learned over the last 3 years that might be able to help you too!
********************************************************************
What is Type 1 Diabetes? It is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks & destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Your pancreas is no longer functioning properly -if at all- and is no longer producing the insulin your body needs to survive.
What is the Pancreas & What does it do? The pancreas is a pear-shaped, spongy glad that is located deep in your abdomen & sits behind the stomach. It has 2 jobs and is a vital part of the body’s digestive & endocrine systems, we are going to focus on the job that relates to endocrine function. Its job from an endocrine standpoint is to make hormones: one called “insulin” and one called “glucagon“, these hormones go straight to the blood to keep your body’s energy levels steady. Your pancreas basically converts sugar into energy & when you have Type 1 Diabetes, your pancreas is unable to produce this hormone any longer which leads to dangerous blood glucose levels.
What is Glucose? It is a simple sugar that is the main source of energy for your body’s cells. When referring to “blood sugar” in T1D, the other term you will frequently hear is: Blood Glucose- they mean the same thing, sugar. What happens is your body breaks down “carbohydrates” from food and turns it into gluclose (sugar) which enters the bloodstream to fuel your brain, muscles & organs.
What is insulin? It is a natural hormone made by your pancreas that helps move sugar (“glucose“) from your bloodstream and into your cells to use for energy. Insulin helps your body break down food and turns the food you eat, into glucose- which goes into your blood. It unlocks the cells so that glucose can enter them, it also tells your liver, fat & muscles cells to store the extra sugar for later use. With Type 1 Diabetes, since your body no longer produces this hormone on its own, you will be prescribed “synthetic” (lab-made) insulin that you administer yourself through injections, pens, pumps, or inhalers. You will use this for anything you eat or drink- to prevent your body from a build-up of dangerous glucose levels, you will also use it to control and manage your blood sugar (glucose) levels for when your levels are too high. When your blood sugar levels are dangerously high for a long period of time, this creates “ketones“, which are measured small to large.
What is Glucagon? It is the other hormone that your pancreas produces. It is a natural peptide hormone made by the alpha cells in the pancreas that RAISES the blood glucose (sugar) levels & prevents them from going too low. It is the opposite of insulin. Glucagon is released during fasting, exercise or when blood sugar is too low, it signals your liver to break down the stored glycogen into glucose (glycogenolysis) and make new glucose from amino acids (gluconeogenesis). It then releases this stored sugar into your bloodstream to supply your vital organs -like your brain- with energy. Just like with insulin, since your pancreas is no longer producing these hormones, you will be prescribed “synthetic” (lab-made) Glucagon as an emergency treatment for diabetics experiencing dangerously low blood sugar levels and cannot swallow foods/liquids due to unconsciousness, it can be administered with an auto-injector, a prefilled syringe, a nasal spray, or a powder that requires mixing.
What are Ketones? They are acids that your liver makes when it is breaking down fat for energy instead of using glucose. With normal fuel, your body prefers glucose from carbohydrates for energy and when your glucose is too low or when your insulin is too low to let glucose enter the cells then your body burns fat instead. That fat breakdown creates ketones that travel in the blood to fuel your vital organs such as your brain, heart & tissues. Ketones form & become dangerous when your blood sugar is too high, too many ketones turn your blood acidic & toxic. This causes a dangerous condition called “ketoacidosis” -or in this case, Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
Leave a comment