Insulin Dependent Diabetes
What is it?
Result:
Carbohydrates:
The Future:
- Kelly
Insulin Dependent Diabetes is caused when someone's pancreas stops producing insulin, which is a hormone in your body that controls the amount of sugar in the blood. Nobody knows why it does this, but when it happens to a person, they get very sick. I got diabetes in late March. My cells began to starve because they needed insulin to help use the sugar that I needed for enegy. My cells started using stored up fat for energy, and I lost LOTS of weight. One way my body got rid of stored up fat in the blood was through the urine. I started going to the bathroom A LOT, and it smelled sweet because of the sugar in it. Eventually, I became dehydrated.
I was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes (also called type 1 diabetes or juvenile onset diabetes), so now I have to take insulin shots everyday. There are two types of insulin: long-lasting insulin (Humilin or N insulin), and quick-acting insulin (Humalog or H insulin). Exercise also lowers your blood sugar level. Ihave to prick my finger several times a day to measure my blood sugar level to make sure it's not too high or too low. A normal level is between 80 and 120 mg/dl for non-diabetic, and between 80 and 180 for diabetics. Contrary to popular belief, diabetics can eat sugar, but only in controlled amounts. In fact, every meal and snack has to be measured and controlled.
I now have to look at the carbohydrate levels on everything I eat. Carbohydrates are foods that turn into sugar. Most dairy products, fruits, breads, and starches have "carbs". Foods that don't are called "free", and can be eaten anytime. 15 grams of carbs is one diabetic serving. I get 5 servings at every meal, a 2 serving snack between breakfast and lunch, a 4 serving snack between lunch and dinner, and a 2 serving snack before bed; however, everyones serving sizes are different.
Although there is no cure, there are many new things to help: insulin pens (which I personally hate) and pumps, no-blood sugar meters, and even a type of insulin inhaler. Hopefully, there will be a cure in the next 20 years. There is still hope!
