30 Days of Thankfulness- Day 5

I am thankful for the research of Banting and Best and the Insulin they discovered.

National Diabetes Month

Most people don't know (or don't care) that November is National Diabetes Month, November 14 is World Diabetes Day (and my anniversary!) and November 1st is Type 1 Diabetes Day (my type of diabetes). This month, JDRF is hosting Be T1D for a Day*.

Personally, I think everyone should sign up for it. Even I plan on signing up and I already live with type 1 every day. You will receive (up to) 24 texts within 24 hours to simulate what it's like to live with type 1 diabetes. The texts will include (simulated) blood sugar testing, giving insulin and diet related choices.

This will give you a glimpse into what I have to deal with EVERY DAY. If the texts annoy you, just think about everyone with type 1 who can't 'silence' their diabetes without major complications (which may include death). Type 2 and gestational diabetes do not compare to type 1. Give it a try and see how you feel and, when you do, multiply your feelings by 1440 (minutes in a day).  When you get that overwhelming feeling, multiply it by 365 (days in the year). Then realize that it is like that every single day for us until there is a cure.

And Insulin isn't a cure.


*Free. Texting fees may apply if that's how your cell plan works.

Life for a Child

Ummm... How cute are these??? Plus they support an excellent cause!

It is estimated that there are 100,000 children with diabetes around the world who are in need of assistance to access insulin.

Without insulin, these children will die within 1 week. ONE WEEK!

Life for a Child helps children with type 1 diabetes around the world access insulin and other necessary things used to help control and live with diabetes.


I am joining Wendy at Candy Hearts to help get the word of this very important need out there. Will you help us? Just click the picture below to find out how. It's that easy.

What getting high means to me

I am reposting this from Wendy at Candy Hearts. It is a real, serious problem for all Type 1 diabetics. Luckily, I have insulin to help keep this from happening, but so many people out there do not. Children and adults DIE every day because they do not have access to life saving insulin. We can help.

In The Nick of Time.

Fatigue
Dry mouth.
Frequent urination.
Thirsty.
Itchy spots.
Abdominal pain.
Vomiting.
Headache.
Blurred vision.
Increased respiration rate.
Weakness.
Worsening abdominal pain.
More urination.
More vomiting.
More pain.
Terribly thirsty.
Tired.
Worsening weakness.
More vomiting.
Unable to move.
Faster respiratory rate.
Excruciating abdominal pain.
Can't focus.
Abdominal distention.
Gasping for air.
Worse headache.
Hurts to breath.
Worsening thirst.
Generalized swelling.
More swelling.
Eye swell closed.
Can't see.
Shallow, labored respiration. <~~~This is where I was diagnosed.
Still thirsty.
Urinary incontinence.
Pain.
Can't think.
Pain.
Thirst.
Air.
Weak.
Pain.
Head too heavy to lift.
Awake.
Confused.
Asleep.
Awake.
Asleep. <~~~ This is where I was only TWO HOURS later when they finally got an IV in me to give me insulin. My veins were almost non-existent, due to extreme dehydration that comes with DKA.
Coma.
Seizure.
Death.

Diabetic Ketone Acidosis (DKA). Inevitably this is what will happen if your body doesn't produce insulin and you are unable to access medical intervention in time. It can happen very slowly or things can go downhill very quickly. Suffering is always part of process, and the end result is NEVER survival.

....
Somewhere today a child will succumb to Type 1 Diabetes because their family cannot access the insulin he or she needs to survive.

Please pray for this child's comfort....the broken hearted family....the turmoil that will be left behind. Pray for the situation. Pray that someone, somewhere, somehow can get insulin to these innocent children in time. Pray that they'll be able to continue accessing it in order to keep their child alive.

Say BIG PRAYERS. It's a BIG PROBLEM.

And then, please pray for Candy Hearts and the journey that begins unfolding on

2/14/11.