Connor diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes
I have some sad news to share, and figured that this would be the easiest way. Virginia and I are still trying to internalize and own the situation and will be calling on all of our friends soon enough for support.On December 23rd, Connor was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. We noticed the warning signs of extreme thirst, frequent urination and increased appetite and took him to Dr. Willamitis who had us rushed into Children’s Medical Center that morning. He also had lost 6 pounds in 4 days (which I would not have noticed had we not taken him to the Dr.)
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the Beta cells in the pancreas. Beta cells normally produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body move the glucose contained in food into cells throughout the body, which use it for energy. But when the beta cells are destroyed, no insulin can be produced, and the glucose stays in the blood instead, where it can cause serious damage to all the organ systems of the body.
Type 1 is totally different from the Type 2 diabetes that the overweight and the elderly suffer from. People with Type 2 are insulin resistant while Type 1 cannot produce insulin and are dependent on it. While Type 2 folks can’t come in an arms length of sugar, Connor can have some sugar but has to VERY closely manage his Carbs which absorb much faster than sugars in the body.
From now on Connor must take insulin in order to stay alive. We are giving him 4-5 injections of insulin daily, and are testing his blood sugar by pricking his fingers for blood six or more times a day. We also have to watch what Connor eats both in the type of food (amount of carbohydrates) and the amount in each meal. For instance, if he eats two slices of bread his blood sugar goes from 100 (normal) to 500 (dangerous). Normally, his pancreas would squirt a touch of insulin into his blood stream, but now he has to receive insulin injections immediately after eating so that it cannot rise to the dangerous levels and damage his organs.
Virginia and I are still working through this and reading up on what exactly we have to do in order to keep Connor healthy.
