any diabetics on board?

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:45 pm

After a 2 week spell of feeling sick and getting worse and worse, my 12 year old son ended up in the ICU at Hershey Medical Center and was finally diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This all happened 2 weeks ago. He spent two nights in the hospital and is back home and feeling and looking much better. He had lost about 12 pounds while he was getting sick and his blood glucose level was over 1000. It is supposed to be between 70 and 150. He was one very sick kid.

Thankfully, he has gained most of his weight back and has a good appetite again. We just need to be very consciuos of his diet and carb intake. He is doing the insulin injection thing 4 times a day and has a One Touch Ultra BG meter just like BB King!

Talk about life changing....I couldn't believe it ...Diabetes. Where the hell did that come from???? And to think we left it go so long before we went to the doctor, until he actually had to go to the hospital. If we would have left it go another day who knows what would have happened. Really scary and mind-boggling.

A note to all parents out there, give your kids a big hug and kiss everyday, because you just never know when something weird is going to happen.

ken k

Jeffrey Hicks · Post by **Jeffrey Hicks** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:45 am

I am a diabetic. Right now I am sitting home after being gutted like a pig to have my gallbladder removed. It will be at least 6-12 months before my playing is anywhere close to where it was. As far as your son goes with all the advances they have made. I have known quite a few folks who have had a lot of luck with the insulin pumps. Good luck

jlbreyer · Post by **jlbreyer** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 11:59 am

My cubicle neighbor at work is diabetic and just got a new style insulin pump which is smaller than a golf ball, is waterproof and self contained, and sticks on your skin. It has some electronic controls in it and a supply of insulin. It automatically injects you when it is set to operate. When it is empty, you throw it away and stick on a new one. She's out to lunch at the moment, but, when she gets back, I'll see if I can get the product name and post it. Seems like a very convenient way to get the insulin injection you need withiut having to time it yourself and inject yourself. Might be a boon for kids.

jlb

Alex F · Post by **Alex F** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:08 pm

Ken,

All my best to your son, you, and your family. Living with JD is indeed a challenge but one that can be met. I'm sure you are aware that much research is being conducted to identify the root causes of JD and to find a cure. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, www.jdrf.org , is one of the main forces behind this research.

Here in Chicago, JD has received a large amount of attention thanks to the efforts of former Chicago Cub Ron Santo (who should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame), who was diagnosed at the age of 18, in his rookie year with the Cubs, and who has lived with it all his life. Ron's story, recently told in the movie "This Old Cub" offers hope to anyone challenged by JD or, for that matter, any other chronic illness. Ron is a strong supporter of the JDRF, as are many Cubs fans.

Alex, " a Type II diabetic who is well-contolled, for the moment, by medication, but who needs to seriously reduce his circumference," F.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:11 pm

I have a genetic deficiency in anti-clotting factors, which takes similar maintenance to mild onset (type II) diabetes (medicine, no insulin) in that I have to take a closely monitored dose of blood thinners everyday and have my blood checked regularly. Fortunately, I only need it checked weekly if in transition on dosage and monthly on stable periods, but I will be on rat poison for the rest of my life.

It's also similar in that your whole circulatory system is affected, you find yourself suddenly out of breath for no reason, and standing for 3-hour gigs (I also play electric guitar and bass) is out of the question.

Fortunately, medical research has found all this out in the last 25 years, so I am the lucky first guy in my family in over 100 years to live to tell about it after getting over blood clots in my legs at Christmas.

Unfortunately, my son inherited one of the deficiencies. So, yes, I do hug him everyday because it will get us both one day. Probably not tomorrow, now that it has been identified and stabilized with medicine, maybe even not for a lot of years, but it will get us both eventually. Expected life span even with treatment is 60, and I'm 43 now. I still have the goal of being the first guy in the family in over 100 years and at least 6 generations to see grandchildren.

So with any chronic condition, diabetes, clotting problems, etc. the points are well taken: eat right, exercise moderately, avoid smoking and extremes of any kind of consumption, stay on a regular schedule with your physician and medicines, and every day tell the people you love that you do love them.

Here's to long, happy, fulfilled lives for all of us!

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:56 pm

thank you all for your kind comments and may you all take good care of yourselves and live long healthy lives.

jlb mentioned the pump, I think that may be something we will be looking into in the future but for now, we are not ready for that.

Interesting the comments about Ron Santos and the Chicago Cubs. Definitely sometihng to investigate if for no other reason than to show that he is not alone and we are baseball fans.

Thank you all,
ken k

Leland · Post by **Leland** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 11:44 pm

My mom, at least one of her siblings, and one of my dad's brothers have diabetes.

On my mom's side, it's the tamer type, and proper diet is keeping things in check. My dad's brother basically crashed all of a sudden; he always watched what he ate, walked a few miles a day for exercise, and all of a sudden he was rushed to the E.R.

Obviously, it's still pretty new to me. I just don't want the same thing to happen to myself.