Type 1 Diabetes: A Journey Beyond the Glucose Peaks

Demystifying the Sweet Science and Laughing in the Face of Daily Dose Dilemmas

In the world of medical jargon, the acronyms T1DM and T1D may sound like top secret codes. But let me unravel the mystery for you, because Type 1 Diabetes isn't just about managing blood sugar; it's a full-fledged adventure, complete with plot twists, misunderstood conversations, and a cast of characters led by my 4.5-year-old who's rocking the T1D cape. Where he tries to swing between the 4th and 10th floor, but like other superheroes he sometimes fails to remain between those levels. Levels of glucose are measured in mmol/L or mg/dL, and for a type 1 diabetic, staying within the range provided by the healthcare team is crucial to avoid complications.

The Misadventures of Sweet Misconceptions

Picture this: you share the news about T1D, and suddenly the room goes silent. People's minds are doing somersaults, conjuring up images of candy mountains and sugar waterfalls. "He must have been on a sweets binge!" they exclaim. "Have you tried looking into alternate medicine", a kind hearted suggestion, or "Start a keto diet and they'll be fine" !face-palm!. It's like revealing a secret superhero identity – only the power is in pricking fingers, not leaping tall buildings.

T1D vs. T2D: The Insulin Chronicles

Now, let's break down the superhero powers. In the superhero world of diabetes, T1D is like the instant Avenger – demanding insulin right from the diagnosis scene. A spiderman is born in an instant! It's not a slow burn like T2D, which might upgrade to insulin after Dr. Strange has spent years with the monks. Oh, and there's a bonus round – a chance of winning a date with celiac disease or a thrilling encounter with hypo/hyperthyroidism. T2D can be reversed or controlled. T1D demands submission and gifts you more lifelong conditions!

Living on the T1D Rollercoaster

Living with T1D is like being strapped onto a rollercoaster with no off-switch. Picture this: your blood sugar nosedives, and it's not just a "grab a Snickers" moment. No, it's a full-blown "leave everything and save a life" episode, where untreated lows are the welcome mats for the reaper, if the reaper is generous he might leave you with a coma. Meanwhile, hypo-unawareness plays the sneaky sidekick, smiling from the sidelines. If a diabetic on insulin has hypo-unawareness then they are unaware of approaching low blood sugars. This is mostly the case for children. For a non diabetic to understand this, try to remember the time when you were hAngry and guzzling down whatever was in front of you, that was your moment of getting close to hypoglycemia. Now imagine the same situation but you don't feel hAngry!

The curious reader now is searching hypoglycemia. Treat it with 15g and wait 15 minutes, yeah right! Try reading the real life experiences of hypo-aware individuals. I ran an experiment on myself, 24 hours of 0 calories later, the moment I felt hAngry (4.1 mmol/L) I downed 2 full glasses of kefir about 24g of carbs. 10 mins in my level was at 5.3 mmol/L. Guess what! I was extremely hungry for the following hour after that. Helping yourself out of a hypo and not overeating is another level of batman and spiderman hybrid.

As a caregiver after treating a hypo, it feels as if I have heard Frank Sinatra rap Regulate and Warren G applauding that performance.

And let's not forget the dreaded DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), where your blood turns flat, fruity, and tangy, like a vampire's dream cocktail. Only a hospital stay can neutralize this peculiar flavour and make the blood unappealing to vampires. Trust me, you don't want your blood to become a buffet for the undead. Left untreated, DKA will become a life-threatening condition. A diabetic gets into this state when their blood sugars have been left high for long and the body produces ketones for fuel. The combination of having ketones and high blood sugars is very bad.

The Runny Nose Saga: A Tale of Daily Dose Dramas

Now, let's talk about runny noses. Every kid gets them, right? For a T1D warrior, it's not just about tissues and soup. It's a symphony of insulin doses, ketone checks, and the occasional "corrections" – a term that sounds like an extra chapter in a calculus textbook but really means giving a bit more insulin if needed. Hold on, its not 3 times a day, its every 4 hours that kryptonite - keytones - needs to be checked. Recovering from an illness? Get ready for a sequel of insulin adjustments and a marathon of hypoglycemic episodes.

Insulin Doses: Beyond the Pill Poppin' Party

Think managing T1D is as simple as popping a couple of pills every few hours? Think again. It's more like hosting a daily carb calculation Olympics – a sport where precision is key. Insulin doses are tied to carb intake, morning blood sugar levels, and the alignment of the stars. Each meal may have a different ratio. If what worked yesterday worked today, then you missed buying a lottery ticket. No two days are the same.

The Honeymoon Phase: When Pancreases Sing Love Songs

After a T1D diagnosis, the pancreas enters a honeymoon phase which may last upto a year. It's not all romantic candlelight dinners, though. This phase is more unpredictable than a weather forecast – one day your insulin production might be singing a love ballad, the next day it's headbanging to heavy metal. Cue the insulin-to-carb ratio, changing like the weather in a British summer. For some it might be a sunny year in Seattle, but for many the honeymoon is anything but a honeymoon.

Tech Talk and the CGM Stock Market

Enter the tech world – continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and closed looped insulin pumps. But here's the catch: not everyone gets the VIP pass to looping. Most of us start with the basics – multiple daily injections (MDI) – doing the math every day, like a diabetic Newton, and may never be a candidate for an insulin pump. It's like having your own personal stock market, with graphs that make Wall Street look like a bedtime story.

Tech Solutions and the Hypo-detective App

In my T1D superhero lair, I've developed a secret weapon – a hypo-detective app that's not quite ready for the spotlight. It's my way of paying homage to Dr. Banting, who sold his insulin patent for a measly dollar. My app, when released, will be under a "look but don't cash in" open-source license. Because, in the diabetes tech world, accessibility is the real hero.

Closing the Curtain: Applause for Understanding

As you've navigated the twists and turns of this T1D rollercoaster with me, I hope you've gained a chuckle or two. Living with T1D is no sitcom, but a good laugh goes a long way in breaking down misconceptions. Thanks for being part of this comedy-drama and understanding a bit more about the realities of life with T1D. Stick around for more laughs, awareness, and, who knows, maybe a sequel. #Type1Diabetes #DiabetesHumor