The Challenge of Living with Type 1 Diabetes
12:41 PM June 20, 2011
Two years ago, my son Ben was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. For days after the diagnosis, I anchored the KTLA Morning News and then retired to my office where I closed the door and wept. I was grieving the loss of the carefree life my son and every 12-year-old boy should enjoy. I was terrified about the life-threatening disease he now faced. I was mad. We were good parents who had done everything we could to make sure our child was healthy and thriving. We made him eat healthy foods. We made sure he exercised and was fit. We took him to the doctor for physicals and other regular check ups. When he was born healthy, the doctor told us he had 10 fingers and 10 toes and everything was where it was supposed to be. How could doctors now come to us and say that our precious son actually faced a life-threatening disease?
Thankfully, our son's type 1 diabetes was discovered during a routine physical and not during an emergency hospitalization. Some families have to rush their children to the hospital in an ambulance when blood sugar levels go so high that their children suffer seizures or fall unconscious. Like many of them, we had no experience with diabetes and didn't know anything about it. We would soon learn that our son's life and our family's life was about to change in a big way.
One day Ben was a healthy, athletic and happy 12-year-old boy. The next day he was learning how to check his blood sugars and how to inject himself with a syringe. Two years later, Ben is an experienced young man who deals with the challenge of type 1 diabetes with aplomb. Several times a day, Ben has to prick his finger with a needle to make himself bleed. He does this to check his blood sugars. Before he eats or drinks anything, he has to estimate the number of carbohydrate grams in a meal or snack to determine how much insulin he has to either inject through a syringe or put in to his body through an insulin pump. If he does the math correctly and puts in the right amount of insulin, he simply continues about his day. If he gets it wrong and doesn't use enough insulin, his blood sugars can spike to dangerous levels--contributing to the long-term effects of diabetes which include kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, amputation, heart attack and stroke. If he uses too much insulin, he "goes low" and my son feels uncomfortable at best. I don't want to think about the worst case scenario but all of us who have children who are facing type 1 diabetes every day know that extremely low blood sugar levels can also cause seizures, unconsciousness, or even death.
I share these things with you because my job is to inform and my son has allowed me to share our story with hopes it might help you. Researchers don't yet know why some people are stricken with type 1 diabetes. They believe there's a genetic component to it and that environmental triggers cause some people to get it. But we had no family history and to this day we don't know what triggered Ben's onset of the disease. And yet, our son has type 1 diabetes.
These are the kinds of stories being told this week in Washington DC at the Children's Congress--a project of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. A delegation of 150 young people, 4-17 years old, will be led by International Chairman Mary Tyler Moore as they meet with lawmakers to tell them their stories and to encourage them to continue funding research. Among the delegates are seven-year-old Jonathan Richard Platt and Michelle Smolarski, 17, who are representing the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the JDRF. Here are a couple of links to videos so you can see these wonderful kids:
http://cc.jdrf.org/delegates-2011/ca/jonathan-1.php
http://cc.jdrf.org/delegates-2011/ca/michelle.php
All of this is to say: It can happen to you too. Three million Americans are living with type 1 diabetes and 80 new patients are diagnosed every day. That's why it's important for everyone to recognize the symptoms of type 1 diabetes so that if it does, you won't find yourself in a hospital emergency room. According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the warning signs that you or your child may have type 1 diabetes are extreme thirst, frequent urination, sudden vision changes, sugar in urine, fruity, sweet or wine-like breath odor, increased appetite, sudden weight loss, drowsiness and lethargy and heavy labored breathing. If you or your child are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should call a doctor. If you want more information, you can go to JDRF's website at jdrf.org or jdrfla.org.
On Tuesday, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Olympic gold medalist and swimmer Gary Hall Jr., NFL football player Kendall Simmons, recording artist Crystal Bowersox and others who have type 1 diabetes will participate in a Town Hall panel "Role Models with Type 1 Diabetes" at 10:30 a.m. EDT (7:30 a.m. our time). If you'd like to watch or participate, go to www.cc.jdrf.org/LIVE. You can also join the conversation at @JDRFAdvocacy on Twitter and add the hashtag #JDRFcc11.
Posted by Frank Buckley | Permalink | Comments (22) | TrackBack (0)
Type 1 Diabetes need not be a health sentence, but it affects the family overall. All they need is to make adjustments and that will bode well in the future.
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I have found your article interesting and useful for reading. Waiting for more.
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Posted by: lacoste uk | January 09, 2012 at 05:59 PM
My inspiration is a very close friend of mine who has a daughter who's been diagnosed with the same condition and has participated in fundraiser walks.
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You can also join the conversation at @JDRFAdvocacy on Twitter and add the hashtag #JDRFcc11.
Posted by: swarovski pierced earrings | December 04, 2011 at 11:34 PM
why is it that KTLA IS NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BILL THE SENATE JUST PASSED, BILL NUMBER S1867? THE BILL THAT SINGLE HANDEDLY REMOVES THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS? CHARGES, JUDGE , JURY? THIS ALLOWS THE MILITARY TO DETAIN US CITIZENS INDEFINATELY!! WITH NO CHARGES? LOOK AT THESE LINKS
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s1867/show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q50h7u2L5Y
Posted by: BABYMALAI | December 02, 2011 at 10:31 AM
Hi Frank! After being up all night, because my 13 yr old daughter was vomiting with keytones (aggh!)...she's better now, btw. BUT, I saw a commercial with you and your son walking for JDRF. Just wondering if he has been up to Camp Conrad-Chinnock! It's a wonderful summer camp up near Big Bear. My daughter has been going there every summer since she was diagnosed at 5. They have an awesome teen camp! Also many teen activities (Winter camp, Universal Studios, Sea World, PADRE Fashion Show, and Surfing with Diabetes). Check out www.dys.org for camp and www.padrefoundation.org for Padre (they are always looking for MCs for the annual Fashion Show!
Posted by: Andrea S | October 25, 2011 at 06:25 AM
this post indicates the problems of living with type-1 diabetes and the issues that the sufferer requires to deal with. Though reading this was a bit unsetting this has been a very impressive warning to the ones who cannot control themselves on eating. Thanks for sharing the amazing content.
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Posted by: Pattie Bouskill | October 17, 2011 at 10:39 PM
This is a great post. Gives enough strength and pieces of advice for anyone who are struggling with diabetes or have loved ones with the said condition. This site is also informative: http://bestdiabetesfacts.com/. Check it out.
Thank you for this post. Keep it up.
Posted by: Tim Morgan | July 29, 2011 at 01:33 AM
Stories like this take me back to last year when my 2 year old son was diagnosed. We were one of those rushed to the ER, except we were on vacation so there was air transport involved to get us to a bigger hospital! Fortunately, life has gotten easier, but it's still not easy.
Posted by: Cory | July 25, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Hi Frank, ot trying to bag on you but you have been reporting on the story as of late. Its Brandon McKinerney. I know the young man when it happened. He in no way shape or form is a skin head or ever was. he was an angry child whos father shot his mother in the elbow. he was around violence at home as well as alcohol and drugs. My mom friend worked with larry king, and by no means did he deserve to die. Brandon turned 14 4 days before that. You think if you would have realised the consequences for such actios at that age. and two families are destoyed
Posted by: Wendy | July 23, 2011 at 05:09 AM
Hi! I am a type 1 diabetic looking for participants in the Los Angeles/ Southern California area interested in participating in a psychological study about insulin pumps! I am conducting my doctoral dissertation and am looking for female type 1 pumpers between the ages of 12-22 for a one hour interview. You can contribute to diabetes research and earn cash!! Please contact me if you have any interest! ajtullman@gmail.com
Posted by: Ashley | July 21, 2011 at 08:53 PM
Hi! I am a type 1 diabetic looking for participants in the Los Angeles/ Southern California area interested in participating in a psychological study about insulin pumps! I am conducting my doctoral dissertation and am looking for female type 1 pumpers between the ages of 12-22 for a one hour interview. You can contribute to diabetes research and earn cash!! Please contact me if you have any interest! ajtullman@gmail.com
Posted by: Ashley | July 21, 2011 at 08:52 PM
Frank,
Did you ask your son's doctor what the odds are of your other son of developing type 1 diabetes?
EW534211
Posted by: Mike | July 07, 2011 at 04:16 AM
Thanks for sharing. My sister was born with type 1 and will be 60 years old on Sept. 14. My youngest brother found out when he lost 20 pounds while on the water polo team his Freshman year at Don Bosco. He was 51 years old in May. My parents had 14 children and we all turned out pretty darn good. My brother and sister were never limited, but it is important to follow through with good diet and exercise and your testing and medication. Our prayers are with you and your son and the whole family.
Posted by: Mary Avila | July 03, 2011 at 06:55 PM
Thank you Frank, for bringing up type 1 Diabetes whenever you can. I too, have a son Gabriel (8 yrs. old) who is a type 1 diabetic. We are out here everyday dealing with this disease. The family works as team to make sure he has the best day possible. We are all waiting for the day when a cure is found and hope it's not too far down the road!
Posted by: Yvonne G | June 30, 2011 at 11:45 PM
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Posted by: Auto Insurance Mesa | June 27, 2011 at 04:12 AM
Hi Frank..thanks for this blog..i was just recently diagnosed as diabetic and that after undergoing triple bypass two years ago, the news that i was also diabetic was enough to put me down and think of just ending it all, whats the use, i won't be the same anymore..but your article has given me hope knowing that a diabetic person can live a "normal" life. thanks and i hope you write more blogs like these that touches people's heart.
Posted by: maria | June 23, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Frank - Thank you for sharing this very personal story. This topic is one that hits very close to home for me as well, watching relatives suffer with this disease. Yet, life does go on.
My inspiration is a very close friend of mine who has a daughter who's been diagnosed with the same condition and has participated in fundraiser walks. The parents have explained to her about checking her "numbers" and she knows what her score means. Sometimes she needs "power points to re-energize" and other times she's in her range. She knows what foods give her "energy power" and what foods, try to "attack her score" Her job is to keep in her "power range to be effective." Sure, a little silly, but for a 7 year old, it works. Her smile is infectious and her determination courageous.
When she participates in walks to raise money and awareness, she thinks its a big party for her.
I commend my friends, her parents, for making this harsh reality into a way that their daughter can understand and handle. Even if they will never fully understand, why them? They have courageously dealt with this head on, just as your son Ben is doing.
Thanks for the awareness on this topic.
Best of luck to lil Amanda and Ben Buckley, just two of the many who are fighting the fight and winning!!!
-m
Posted by: mike | June 22, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Hi Frank! This story touched me in the first two sentences. During my latest physical my blood test came back a little off. Being hypoglycemic, I HAVE to worry. I am going in to get my second blood test this week, I am scared. I educate myself on diabetes, doing my homework so that I know I will have a future, I will not give up! Thank you for sharing your personal experience!
Posted by: Monique Bunce | June 21, 2011 at 06:46 AM