Eating too much sugar gives you the diabetes!!

This morning I had an appointment with a nutritionist. Not to help me drop this extra weight (which I could use the help with, btw), but for a specific evaluation regarding my diabetes.

I am a Type I diabetic and have been since I was 15 years old. I must take insulin shots every day. Yes, with needles. The poky kind. I must also test my blood sugar (little poke on my fingertip, drop of blood on the machine), and in general, I must deal with all the ups and downs and complications and frustrations of this disease.

Here's a question: I'm no doctor, but with all the advances in medical science, why can't they just go ahead and give me a new, functioning pancreas? Not that I'm signing up for major surgery, or the risks that come along with an organ transplant, but diabetes is caused by a malfunctioning pancreas, so why not work on offering a replacement?

Answer: My limited internet research (which of course makes me an expert on any subject) has revealed to me that pancreas transplants are indeed an option, but not a popular nor a reliable one. Apparently, about 80% of transplant recipients will reject the new organ. Also, many opinions seem to reflect that the complications and upkeep with an organ transplant actually outweigh the daily care needed for a diabetic. Yes, diabetes can be life threatening, but if you manage it with moderate diligence, you can live an almost normal life.

The frightening thing to me is actually how many people misunderstand diabetes, especially those people who have it! Do any of you have an elderly relative or friend that was diagnosed with diabetes later in life? Either Type I (insulin dependant) or Type II (controlled by diet and/or pills)? Most people have a hard time changing long established diet and lifestyle choices. They "forget" to take their insulin or pills. They never take their blood sugar and have no idea if they are dangerously low, or dangerously high! That is so scary to me!

Not taking my insulin would make me SO sick!! A person who does not have insulin to break down the glucose in their body is going to be a seriously unhappy and ill person. The basic symptoms of high blood sugar are intense thirst, headache, nausea, and increased urination. Those nasty symptoms can quickly be followed by loss of consciousness, coma, kidney failure, and possibly, death.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, a person with low blood sugar (too much insulin in their system) is going to not only feel sick, but could be a danger to themselves and others. I have had much more personal experience with this issue than any other complication. If a person's blood sugar drops too low (Say, below 70. As opposed to a more normal range of 75-140), that person will experience many symptoms, including confusion, combativeness, sweating, shaking hands, disorientation, and the worst case scenario of passing out, then a coma, then death.

Fun, fun! I've gone down the low sugar road many times myself. From the slight disorientation and shaking hands (quickly cured by a glass of oj or candy bar), to the total loss of consciousness and the intervention of an ambulance crew. No matter how well you try to manage your insulin intake, so many factors can affect it, and a low blood sugar can sneak up on you. I always try to be mindful, and carry a snack with me, but I've been in some scary situations before.

They myths about diabetes spread by the non-diabetic population are almost as frightening to me as the people who don't care for the disease when they have it.

1. Diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar. That extra slice of birthday cake is not going to "catch you some diabetes!". Strain on your organs due to chronic overeating and excess weight will cause Type II diabetes, but with proper diet and exercise, you can be cured. Type I diabetes can be genetic (as in my case), or the consequence of poorly managed Type II.

2. You should NOT, under ANY circumstance, give a sick diabetic a shot. You should call an ambulance. Insulin dosage is highly subjective, and if you are uninformed about the specific problem, you might just send that person into a coma with your intervention.

I actually heard a story about a well-meaning, good Samaritan who tried to give his diabetic friend an insulin shot when he suddenly passed out. This person ended up in the hospital, mainly due to the idiotic insulin injection given by his friend. Even worse, I heard this story at a First Aid/CPR class at the Red Cross. Told by a fellow classmate who was supposedly already certified in First Aid! AARRGGHH! Keep that guy away from me!

3. Every diabetic is not going to end up in a wheelchair, on dialysis, or blind. If you take care of yourself, these consequences are not eventualities.

So anyway, just a little diabetes myth-busting for you all today. I've been through 3 pregnancies as a Type I, and therefore considered high-risk. But I've got 3 healthy kids, and so I'd say I managed just fine. As I get older, I've become more conscientious about taking care of my diabetes. If you knew me in my younger days, I'm sure you saw me pass out at least once. I was less responsible back then.

My appointment went fine, by the way, and my A1C is a very exemplary 5.8. I sure do wish I didn't have this disease. If I could get rid of it tomorrow, I would do it in a heartbeat. But it is possible to live your life with this problem, as long as you don't mind the needles. Even a sharp needle looks a lot less scary when you consider what will happen if you don't make the needle your friend. You get over that really fast.