By Parker Grand

On March 26, 2012 I celebrated 10 years of HEALTHY living with Type 1 Diabetes 10 years includes... 40, 150 Finger sticks 9, 125 Injections of insulin 852 Infusion set changes 243 Sensor set changes 51 doctor visits to UCLA 3,650 days of being woken up at 2 am for a blood glucose check

What is Type 1 Diabetes? Type 1 Diabetes is also known as Juvenile Diabetes because it generally occurs in children, although adults can get it too. Type 1 Diabetes is a chronic disease meaning it will NEVER go away. There is no cure. It is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack the islet cells that are located in the pancreas. Islet cells make insulin that our bodies need to survive.

Causes of Type 1 diabetes? What causes Type 1 Diabetes… What does NOT cause Type 1 Diabetes… These are a few theories of how scientists believe someone gets Type 1 diabetes: Genetics—inherited from your mom or dad. Self-allergy where the body decides to react against it’s own immune system Virus or Chemical– having a gene makeup may allow a virus or chemical to get to the islet cells where the insulin is made and damage the cells. Eating too much sugar Not exercising Contracting it from someone else like the flu

What is insulin? Insulin is a hormone that is present in the endocrine portion of the pancreas. Insulin allows sugar to enter the cells allowing our body to produce energy. Insulin is needed by everyone in order to live. Synthetic or man-made Insulin comes in rapid acting and long acting formula.

Insulin Without Diabetes… …your pancreas supplies insulin With Diabetes… …Insulin must be injected

What is an insulin pump? A small computer that delivers insulin. is worn 24 hours a day. Allows people with Type 1 diabetes the freedom from not having to do injections. when programmed by the user, they give a bolus dose of insulin to cover the foods eaten at a meal. (Bolus covers the food I eat) is set to deliver a basal dose of insulin every five minutes. This basal dose is set to mimic doses that are similar to what a working pancreas would deliver. (Basal covers me throughout the day)

Wearing an insulin pump… Insulin pumps are worn 24 hours a day-seven days a week. The pump is connected to the body by an infusion set with a 6mm Teflon catheter. The infusion sets must be rotated on a regular basis to keep scar tissue from developing. The infusion set is changed every three days to prevent infection of the site. Infusion sets like the one I wear is generally worn on the stomach or hip.

What is a blood glucose meter? It is used to check my blood glucose levels 8-10 times per day. When do I check? When I wake-up Before Breakfast Before morning snack Before lunch Before afternoon snack Before dinner Before Bed At 2am And ANYTIME that I feel my blood sugar is low or high. My blood glucose levels must be maintained in the range for best control and good health.

What do I do once I check my blood sugar? My meter electronically transmits my blood glucose number to my pump. The pump reads the number. I tell the pump how many carbohydrates I am going to eat. The pump does all the calculations based on the rates that I have set my pump to. I press “OK” on my meter and my bolus dose is given. Then I eat. (for best results I should check and give myself insulin minutes before I eat).

Counting Carbohydrates My insulin to carbohydrate ratio is 1:8 If I go to IN-N-OUT and eat a hamburger, french fries and a diet coke for a total of 96 carbohydrates. How many units of insulin will I need to take? 12

Low Blood Sugar Reasons for:Signs:Treatment: Too much insulin Not enough food Exercise Hot temperatures Illness Hunger Feeling shaky/weak Sweaty Confusion Sleepiness Behavioral Changes Mood Changes Double Vision Glucose (juice, candy, sugar, glucose tabs, soda…) *In case of loss of consciousness use an injection of GLUCAGON Untreated Low Blood Sugar can lead to seizures, coma and death

Glucagon A hormone injected into the body to encourage the liver to release it’s stores of sugar into the blood stream. I carry Glucagon with me at all times in case I have a severe low blood sugar.

High Blood Sugar Reasons for:Signs:Treatment: Not enough insulin Too much food Pump disconnected Illness Exercise Hot temperatures Headache Stomach ache Tired Dehydrated Extreme thirst Need to use the bathroom a lot Insulin Water— washes out the Ketones *In extreme cases hospitalization and an IV is needed Untreated High Blood Sugar can lead to coma and death

High Blood sugar… DKA or Diabetic Ketoacidosis. DKA occurs when Ketones build up in the body because there isn’t enough insulin. Ketones are made by the body from breaking down the fat when sugar cannot be used for energy. Ketones are an acid that forms when the body uses fat for the energy it needs. Ketones first spill into the urine, but if there isn’t enough insulin they will build up in the blood.

What are the Complications of uncontrolled Type 1 diabetes? Heart disease Kidney disease Eye problems—cataracts High blood pressure Me with Dr. Ken Moritsugu the Surgeon General of the United States in 2007

What are some things that I can do to help keep myself healthy while having Type 1 diabetes? Checking my blood sugars often Remembering to bolus insulin Eating healthy Staying well Exercising regularly

Questions?