throughout the body. To put a long story very short: the body cannot function without insulin and people living with T1D cannot produce any insulin. This is because in their body, an autoimmune response has occurred (and continually occurs) in which the body attacks and kills the cells in the pancreas (beta cells) that produce insulin.
an impact) will affect how the carbohydrate makes the body respond. Insulin is dosed either via a long-acting shot and short-acting meal bolus, or utilizing an insulin pump to administer background insulin and meal-time bolus. Insulin makes blood sugar go down, but it comes with its own set of variables that makes what works one day not work the same the next (or even hour by hour). This is 24/7/365 to ensure that: • Blood glucose does not drop to dangerously low levels that could result in seizure and possibly death. • Blood glucose
T1D cannot be prevented and there is no cure.
In a person with Type 2 Diabetes, the body produces insulin. It might not have enough insulin for the workload
placed upon it or the body is resistant and not effectively utilizing the insulin it has. This is why in patients with Type 2, oral medications that can increase the person’s ability to utilize the insulin it already has can be effective treatment. T1D can be diagnosed at any age, even into adulthood. It is not uncommon for a misdiagnosis to occur. If you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes as an adult and are being treated with insulin and still having poor results, consider seeking an endocrinologist’s opinion and being properly tested for Type 1.
What Parents of Kids with Special Dietary Needs Wish You Knew. DIABETES
spends as much time in optimal range so that long-term organ damage is prevented and the person feels physically well. • Person with T1D and family can sustain the mental burden and balance the workload with quality of life. There is no magic pill or way of eating that will make this go away and an insulin pump is only as good as the person manually driving it. The person driving it is the person with diabetes or their caretaker: no doctor, nurse, pharmacist or any other medical professional makes these decisions.
ketoacidosis). He was immediately treated with insulin and in the course of 36 hours our lives (his life, our other childrens’ lives, our extended family’s lives) changed forever. Type 1 Diabetes has to be one of the most common, yet misunderstood diseases. In order to understand how to interact with or care for a child, student, or loved one with T1D, you have to understand the science of the disease, the methods and technology in which they manage the disease, and the context surrounding the impact that it can have on their life. What is T1D? According to Beyond Type 1 (advocacy group for T1D): Type 1 diabetes, which was formerly known as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic autoimmune condition that makes the body unable to produce insulin, which is the hormone that regulates blood sugar. Without insulin, our bodies cannot use the sugar in our bloodstream as energy, causing people to experience Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). People living with T1D must utilize artificial insulin (either injected via needle or pump) to provide the mechanism for which carbohydrates can be released from the bloodstream out to the organs. Without insulin, organs cannot get the energy they need to function properly and the body will not survive. As a long term complication, high blood glucose concentration in a person’s bloodstream means blood will not flow properly
As a Registered Dietitian and School Nutrition Director with 16 years experience, I have worked with my fair share of families of students with special dietary/medical needs. I approached those situations differently over the years, similar to other topics that I gained experience or expertise in. I write this article not from what I learned in school or even through that work experience, but from what I’ve learned as a Mom from my family’s personal experience with this disease. A topic I never knew I would gain such experience and expertise in is the management of a condition as complex as Type 1 Diabetes. My son Graham (age 6) was diagnosed at age 2 in February 2018. Let’s get the diagnosis story out of the way first - that’s always the first question that anyone has for me! Graham’s symptoms were classic Type 1 Diabetes (T1D): frequent and excessive urination, extreme thirst, weight loss. After multiple google searches, I used an over-the- counter glucometer (finger stick that measures blood glucose) at home and his blood glucose level was so high it would not record. His blood glucose was 809 when measured at the hospital (normal is 80-140) and we are so very thankful that he was not in DKA (diabetic School Nutrition Director, Founder of MenuLogic K12, and Mom to 3 Kids, 1 with Type 1 Diabetes Lindsey Hill, RD, SNS
Lindsey & Graham on a field trip
How is T1D treated? A person without T1D not only has insulin produced naturally by the pancreas, but their body also knows precisely when to release insulin and how much to ensure blood glucose levels stay in a stable and optimal range (80-110 mg/dl). A person with T1D must utilize artificial insulin and human decision-making to simulate this automatic response. Let me interject: this is really, really hard. Every carbohydrate eaten makes blood glucose rise, at varying rates depending upon whether the carbohydrate itself was eaten with protein, fat or fiber. Activity, hormones, time of day, the weather (literally, the weather - heat has
How can we help? While T1D is most certainly the greatest challenge I have ever faced in my life, I’m a pretty positive person and generally like to focus on the good that can come from a challenge. My “good” that has come from this are too many to count, but I will list a few: I can help others. Whether it’s sharing our story to share the warning signs and saving someone from a missed or mis-diagnosis that could cost them their life, I’m here for it. That’s an easy one.
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