Turning Points in Type I Diabetes

An unusual scene unfolded as I looked out my window. A woman was lying on the side of the street in front of my house. A group of people were staring at her but would not help. They walked away. Thinking she might have been hit by a car, I rushed down to see if she was okay. She barely looked at me and then her eyes began to roll back. She was having a seizure. I said emphatically, “You’re going to have to wake up.” I clapped my hands, being careful not to touch her but trying to keep her awake. Immediately, I called 911.

My two-year-old son was on the porch watching. I went to comfort him. Within fifteen minutes of the ambulance arriving, the woman was coherent and standing. Her husband thanked me for helping his wife. He explained she had Type 1 Diabetes. The paramedics had given her a glucagon or sugar shot used for extremely low blood sugar. First, I was relieved she was stable. My second response was amazement that she was standing so quickly. This was my eye-witness introduction to Type 1 Diabetes, or Juvenile Diabetes also known as Insulin Dependent Diabetes. It was a turning point in Nathan’s life and mine.

I held my two-year old son, not knowing this was a foreshadow of things to come. My story is a personal one. It is marked by years of trial and error with Type 1 Diabetes. Now, I will introduce you to my son Nathan. He was later diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of five.

The most critical decision one can make is deciding where to find the best care for the disease. I chose St. Louis Children’s Hospital-Washington University because it is one of the most cutting-edge in research and comprehensive in care. The St. Louis Children’s Hospital in St. Louis is ranked overall number eight in the country and ranked nationally in 10 pediatric specialties. It was rated as one of the "Best Children’s Hospitals in Pediatric Diabetes & Endocrinology in 2011-12" by U.S. News and World Report.

Our doctor spent over an hour inquiring about Nathan’s background medically and personally. She introduced Nathan to a nutritionist who discussed meal planning and snacks. We received a list of recipes. A social worker was available in the same department. This was the most extensive care we had experienced all at our fingertips.

For a while, Nathan was on a continuous glucose monitor. The doctors at Children's Hospital take into consideration all the numbers to spot trends, not only in nutrition and carbohydrates, but everything. They monitor Nathan’s growth and adolescence which greatly affect his numbers. Other contributing factors may be psychological circumstances such as a death in the family, divorce, change of schools, etc.

Most compelling though is the fact that since going to St. Louis Children's Hospital-Washington University, his blood sugars are more in control and he no longer wears glasses. This was another major turning point.

What are the symptoms of Juvenile Diabetes? Well, ironically no one in our family has it. Gut instinct told me Nathan needed a snack before playing sports. He just performed better. But his symptoms worsened. He began a cycle of drinking juice and using the restroom constantly. He refused his breakfast cereal. Nathan lost weight. He actually got down to 25 lbs. which is extremely underweight for age five. These symptoms are common to children who have diabetes.

The scene leading up to his diagnoses runs vividly in my mind. We were at a Peter Pan play and I fed Nathan cotton candy, unaware he had diabetes. He became so lethargic that I sat on the ground by the concession stand and held him on my lap. At this point, I was not concerned about the perception of others staring at us. The next day, I had him tested. He was hospitalized immediately. This was the beginning of a new way of life; one of checking blood sugar, counting carbohydrates, and giving five shots a day.

Number after number and shot after shot led me to have Nathan treated like a normal kid who happens to have diabetes and not just some number. On the one hand, the daily regimen of diabetes is monotonous. On the other hand, not controlling the number can be life-threatening. The lady lying on the street in a seizure is all the proof I need. It is a fine balance of both extremes.

Fast forward ten years. Nathan, now 15 years of age, attends a private school where he leads his class academically. His diabetes has become second nature, although there always will be ups and downs depending on life changes. Basically, he is stable. He administers his own shots.

I tell my story to inspire those with diabetes or touched by it to tell their story. By sharing years of experience, maybe it can help others. Now, when Nathan leaves the house, he carries a sugar source in his pocket just in case his blood sugar gets low. Lessons in diabetes are hard to learn but they have a way of becoming a turning point to change. That change can be positive. It is all up to you.