Type 1 Diabetes

Having a family member with diabetes can be difficult. There are many things that could happen when their blood sugar goes high or low. Also, you must make sure that they eat the right things to help keep the blood sugar level. My mom has had type 1 diabetes since she was 5 years old, insulin shots since age 5 (1980), and started on the pump in 2001. After having a baby, low blood sugars can sneak up faster so being on the pump can be easier and safer especially having dangerous lows with a baby around. Ever since I was old enough to notice the symptoms of low or high blood sugar, I have been able to help her and keep her safe and healthy. Some of the symptoms can be: not remembering where she is, asking where a dog is that passed away 7 years ago, or just talking and slurring her words. Some things that I did to help my mom were: making sure she was sitting down and not having any of our dogs around, getting her a Capri-Sun or a caffeine drink to help get her some sugar if it is low, find the tablets for her to take, and making sure my dad knows so we can keep track of them. Being home with my mom by ourselves while my dad is at work was hard when I was younger, she had an incident and I didn’t know what to do, so I called my grandfather. He had called the police and ambulance service, they didn’t show up but called to make sure that they didn’t need to. With knowing how to help control blood sugars can save someone’s life. It is also good to know about the symptoms when you’re in class or out and about because you could help the person who is having a low or high blood sugar and you might be one of the only ones to notice it faster than the ones around you.