| What is type one diabetes? – Type One Diabetes is a condition that happens because your pancreas is unable to produce a hormone called insulin, which is needed to regulate blood glucose levels. Type one diabetes affects many people, in and around the UK, and even in Blessed Trinity. | What is the difference between type one diabetes and type two diabetes? – The diagnosis of type two diabetes only occurs in adults, which is often a result of poor health and lifestyle choices whilst growing up. However, both adults and children can be diagnosed with type one diabetes. | |
| What are “blood sugars”? – Blood sugars, also known as blood glucose levels, is the amount of sugar that is in your blood. Normally, our blood glucose levels are normally between 4-6, and when I was diagnosed, mine were at 24, which is a large increase. I check my blood sugars with my blood monitor, which was provided to me from the hospital. When you are first diagnosed, your blood sugars will tend to be ‘out of range’, but then they slowly start to improve. | ||
Type One Diabetes |
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My Insulin Pump |
My Blood Monitor |
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| Each type one diabetes diagnosis is different, as some may have more dangerous symptoms, for example, fainting. Luckily, my parents noticed my early symptoms, and took me to get checked out. I checked my blood sugars on a blood monitor provided by the health centre, and to everyone’s surprise, my blood glucose levels were at 24. My parents took me to the hospital so they could check if I was okay (other than my recent diabetes diagnosis), and I thankfully was. They taught me how to deliver insulin to my body, by injection, as my pancreas couldn’t produce it on its own. It was scary at first, but I soon got used to it. I was diagnosed when I was 7, and I am now 14. I now have a ‘Freestyle Libre’ to check my blood sugars, which is great, as it is an alternative to pricking my finger every day. I also have an ‘OmniPod Dash’, which is a pump. This delivers insulin to my body without me having to inject myself. My diabetes nurses are great, and always help me if I have any enquiries about my condition. | ||
| There is always someone that can help in Blessed Trinity. The staff are great help with my diabetes, and I can always go and see them if I have any problems with my condition in school. The understanding of diabetes is very difficult, but once you get used to it, you will be okay!! |
However, there are negatives to having diabetes. One of them is counting carbs. ‘Carbs’, or carbohydrates, are sugar molecules in foods, which are broken down into glucose, for energy. Every meal that a person with type one diabetes eats, they must count the carbohydrates, and put this number into their blood monitor, so it tells them how much insulin they should have. |
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If you ever need someone to talk to about your diabetes, or if you have any concerns or questions, we are all here to help!!
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