I have had Type 1 Diabetes since the age of 14, and unlike a lot of people who normally get diagnoses via check ups at the GP, fell extremely ill, extremely quickly. I became fatigued, and tired all the time, which I put down to the heat of the summer (it was in May 2010). I actually even sort of blacked out/collapsed during an athletics class at school, which for an extremely fit, sporty person, was not like me at all. I then started drinking A LOT, I mean a lot, I could easily have drank over 5 litres of liquid a day, and was obviously going to the toilet A LOT. I also had the symptoms of a typical cold/flu; so my parents didn't react....for about two weeks.
It all came to a head, when I couldn't even keep sips of water down without violently throwing up.
I had lost a lot of weight, around 1stone, in 2WEEKS, and on a Saturday morning( I was so out of it I can't even tell you the date) I think I blacked out. I'm not sure what happened that morning, but my brother found me in a heap of clothes on the kitchen floor, and well, anyone who knew me at the time, would have done what my brother did, and laughed. I'm a joker,I do that kind of thing, but when my Dad came back, he literally took me straight to the walk in centre, where they sent me straight to A&E at QMC.
I can't tell you what happened there, I think I was slipping out of consciousness, but I do remember there being a lot of nurses and doctors around me. I've been told they read my blood sugar level after my Dad told them my symptoms, and my blood sugar levels were SO high, they couldn't get a reading on their monitor. And there it was, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I was around 30-60 minutes away from a Diabetic Coma.
So, how did I go from being so healthy, active and sporty to being Diabetic?
No one knows. There is no cause, although doctors and scientists say that it is caused by the body attacking its own immune system, an autoimmune attack. This means the cells in the pancreas, are destroyed, ultimately stopping the pancreas from producing the hormone, insulin.
It is this insulin, that everyone needs, to regulate their blood sugar levels, when carbohydrate is consumed,via food. SO, obviously, before I was diagnosed, in those weeks, I got worse and worse, because I was eating, and drinking, without my body being able to break the glucose down.
Now you know my story, I'd like to clear up a few things, and hopefully answer the common questions have when it comes to TYPE 1 DIABETES.
The main,most asked question I get off people is:
CAN YOU EAT CHOCOLATE?
HELL YES. I can eat, whatever the F**** I want, provided I give my insulin, in accordance to the right amount of carbohydrate I will be consuming. Obviously, it is as important to eat a healthy balance diet for me, than it is for anyone. But for arguments sake, if I wanted to eat 5 Mars Bars in one go, I jolly well could.
Do you have to do injections?
Yes, however, Type 1 Diabetics can also use a pump to supply their insulin, but I have always injected. I have to do an injection with EVERY meal, or a snack over 10grams of carbohydrate. I also have to give a background injection at night,every night. This leads people to ask , does it hurt?
No, you get so used it, that you don't feel it, even at first, they don't hurt, because the needles are TEEEEENY (4mm).
Can you drink/smoke?
With drinking, I CAN drink, but, you have to be organised and plan it. You have to make sure you've eaten before,and that you alternate drinks between alcoholic, and diet soft/still drinks. You also cannot get absolutely s**t faced, because the alcohol can make your blood sugars dangerously low, which could result in a severe hypoglycaemic attack and can lead to a coma.
What is hypoglycaemia I hear you ask?
Hypoglycaemia, or a Hypo (yes even Diabetes terms have there own little nicknames) is when the blood sugar drops below 4mmol. You start to experience symptoms such as :
- Dizziness
- Hunger
- Blurred Vision
- Lack of Concentration
- Slurred Speech
- THIS REALLY WEIRD FEELING I CANT EXPLAIN BUT DIABETICS WILL GET ME
The danger is, being drunk, and having a hypo, can come across as the same, so often Police/Paramedics won't be as lenient with you, its best not to get drunk as a diabetic, and it's wise to wear a heath bracelet, that states you are Type 1 Diabetic.
I think I'm going to end this post here, as I have said A LOT. But I hope, this has helped others in understanding a little more about Type 1 diabetes, and maybe it can help you if you have a friend/relative who is Type 1 Diabetic, you could even get brownie points off them for surprising them with a fact about it(sad I know).
Also, If anyone has ANY questions, feel free to email me, I will be more than happy to answer ANYTHING.
Take Care, and here's today's quote.
Our entire life - consists ultimately in accepting ourselves as we are. - Jean Anouilh
Alice x
