…when a person dies of Type 1 diabetes. Understandably, to the family and friend of the person who died that question may not matter. All they know is their father, mother, daughter, son, friend or other family member has died and they are left to pick up the pieces. But to an outsider, an outsider with a young son living with Type 1 diabetes, that question is of the utmost importance. It is important so that I can know what to do or not do to keep my son alive. I do everything I can to keep him alive.
I check his sugar 10 times a day including while he sleeps.
I review his numbers on a daily basis to make sure the settings in his pump are right.
I maintain all his supplies to make sure he always has enough.
I check his equipment (pump, meter) to make sure they work and have full batteries.
I weigh his food to keep his number as close to range as possible.
I treat every low with respect and treat immediately.
But what if that’s not enough?
And I’m sure the people that die from Type 1 diabetes thought they were doing enough. I’m sure their families trusted that when they were going to bed at night, that all was well, and they would indeed wake up the next day. Instead they die.
See, death from Type 1 diabetes is not a one shot deal. You don’t die from Type 1 diabetes. You die from a low blood sugar. Or lots of high blood sugars. Or DKA. You die from pumps not working. Or settings being completely off. You die from too much insulin being given. Or not enough insulin.
As a mom of a son with Type 1 the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ are important. If the person died from a pump failure, dead pump, then I know to be more vigilant in checking my son’s pump. If the person died from a low in their sleep than that just makes me all the more positive that checking in the middle of the night is the right thing to do. If a person died from high blood sugar from not checking his sugar, then I need to remember that when my heart aches because I am poking my son’s finger again that it IS the right the to do. It might just be so right that it’s the thing that keeps him alive and with me one more day.
I think of my son dying every single day. In fact, it’s the very first thought that pops into my head when I wake up in the morning. Except of course, the mornings where he crawled into bed with me and I can feel him breathing. Those are good mornings. But if he’s not in my bed, my first thought is…well, you get what my first thought is. Even though I think it, I can’t seem to write it.
So, it is with no disrespect that I inquire of the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of the death of someone with Type 1. No disrespect at all. It is just the curiosity of a mom who works everyday to keep her son alive for just one more day.
Audrey,
My heart breaks for you. Type 1 diabetes is such a hard disease to deal with especially if you are a child. Your mom did the best she knew how at that time. That’s all we strive to do, the best we can with what we know. I am glad you are responding well to meds. Hugs to you and your little ones. Thank you for reading.
Leslie
I have been diabetic for 23 years now and it never gets any easier growing up unfortunately for my body my mom let me take over giving myself shots and checking my blood sugar well I was depressed and wanted more attention from her and would stop taking my shots for days at a time and end up at the hospital in ketosacidosis one time I was in intensive care and almost didn’t make it, it was horrible now I’m 32 and am in the first stages of kidney failure, my veins are shot from iv’s but am doing well and responding to the meds, for a while I blamed my mom turning over care of my diabetes to me at such a young age no she shouldn’t have she’s said it was something she will always wish she hadn’t done but when I started giving myself shots she felt a sense of relief that she didn’t have to hurt me that I could do it on my own but she was wrong and she should have kept an eye on what I was doing but at the same time I shouldn’t have done what I did I tricked every adult around me even dr’s they blamed my periods and never knew I wasn’t taking my insulin I did it much too often and wasted so much of my life in the hospital now I have two children and love them more than anything and want to be here for them as long as I can I guess why I’m writing this is because I learned the hard way from what I’ve been through and would hate for anyone else to go through it also so parents of diabetics PLEASE don’t always trust your kids with their own lives trust me no matter how responsible they seem in the end they will regret it and so will you make them check their sugars in front of you and watch them take their shots it might save their life.
because there’s just no feeling in the world than that panic when you think about it or do go to wake him up and he doesn’t respond right away . . .
Very well said Leslie… I feel the exact same way. Every time I hear of someone with Type 1 passing…. I NEED to know why… so I can protect my son.
Hugs Jessica. We have people in our family with T2 and I always make the distinction for my son. That may not be the best thing to do, but I hate that he can even know the damage that diabetes of any kind can do. He is only 8. You are a great mom and your daughter will know how to care for herself because you are such a good mom. Thanks for reading and responding Jess.
Leslie
Leslie, my horrid thought is how will I explain that her Nana died from complications of type 1. How do you tell your daughter that their Nana died because she wasn’t vigilant and diligent enough with taking care of diabetes? I dread the day my daughter realizes Nana’s medical issues are related to diabetes and that the same things could happen to her. I hate looking at my mom and know what she is doing to her body and the fact she doesn’t care how it will affect her grand daughter down the road. I hate that she doesn’t try harder to understand a disease she has lived with for 45 years. I hate it because I don’t want my daughter to see, I want to protect her. I do not want to tell my daughter her Nana died from diabetes.
You always are so great with words. Thank you for putting your thoughts down. Jess