Stevie - My 9th child
Fatherless at age 8, Type 1 Diabetes at 10
Today's Issues
The day-today routine of managing Stevie's diabetes is almost automatic now but there are two big areas in which we continue to struggle, school and other adults who think they know about Type 1 diabetes. In many cases the two issues are one in the same.
School
The days of having a school nurse at each school are gone. In our area there is one nurse for the entire district and her job consists primarily of going from school to school checking for head lice. In spite of the federal and state regulations and the numerous forms and plans the parents fill out, the bottom line is our daughter is on her own while at school.
Type 1 diabetes
1. Relatively uncommon compared to Type 2. Only 10% of diabetics are Type 1.
2. An autoimmune disease in which a person's own immune system destroys the cells which produce insulin.
3. It strikes out of the blue, usually during childhood, and there is nothing the victim does to cause it or increase their risk of getting it.
4. Because their body can no longer produce insulin, Type 1 diabetics have to inject insulin with every meal.
5. Because they produce no insulin at all, Type 1 diabetics are at greater risk. Complications from Type 1 diabetes can quickly result in death.
Dumb & Dangerous Adults
This is our biggest challenge, not just at school, but with parents of Stevie's friends and adults in charge at public places such as swimming pools, skating rinks, etc. There is a significant lack of knowledge that has put Stevie at risk on more than one occasion. The problem is almost everyone knows someone with Type 2 diabetes so they assume Type 1 diabetes is the simlar. The truth is Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are radically different, so people think they know but the fact is they are dangerously ignorant.
Consider the following example. For the first few weeks of school Stevie sometimes had blood sugar levels in the 30's after lunch recess. For those not in-the-know this means she could be minutes away from unconscious or even death. When I spoke to the school staff about it their response was, "Oh, that's nothing. At one school we had a kid in his 20's and he was OK." With Type 1 diabetes, low blood sugar can be life threatening, but school staff typically dismiss it as no more risky than the common cold.
Another problem at school is when their policies differ from the parents wishes. For example, our school wouldn't allow Stevie to inject in front of other students out of fear that familiarity with the needle will encourage them to abuse illegal drugs. My experience with Stevie's diabetes and other children leads me to believe the opposite but that's the policy and arguing with them only makes matters worse. Ironically, this policy is the reason why Stevie has dangerously low blood sugar levels. Before lunch they made her go to the office to inject her insulin but, because lunch is often different from what she expected, she frequently injected the wrong amount.
Type 2 diabetes
1. Common, even epidemic by latest reports. 90% of all diabetics are Type 2.
2. To a large degree, a lifestyle disease associated with excess weight, lack of exercise, poor diet, and a family history of diabetes.
3. It usually strikes after years or decades of these lifestyle abuses and risk factors.
4. Treatment consists primarily of controlling the lifestyle problems and some oral medications so your body can better use its insulin.
5. Complications from Type 2 diabetes can be as serious as Type 1 but tend to come on much more slowly.
A classic example is the neighbor who neglected to feed Stevie when she was at their home playing with their children. A normal child can usually wait until they get home to eat but failing to feed a child with Type 1 diabetes may result in a 911 emergency call.
Speaking of 911, these two examples ought to put fear into anyone who thinks 911 is a solution to a diabetic emergency. The first incident happened at the county Fair. Stevie and I went to the first aid station so she could check her blood sugar in private and no less than three paramedics didn't know the difference between injecting insulin and testing her blood sugar. The second incident could have cost Stevie her life. She and a friend were playing after school when Stevie needed her emergency kit which contains her testing strips, lancet, and emergency sugar. When they realized her kit had been stolen her friend called 911 but nobody came because the 911 operator didn't treat it as an emergency. Fortunately, I knew Stevie's friend and she had my cell phone number but, by the time I got there, Stevie was already dangerously low. What if her friend hadn't called me? Of course I had quite a talk with the mayor who reviewed the 911 tape and agreed with me. The 911 operator's excuse? Stevie's 10-year-old friend didn't say it was an emergency. So there you have it. Our daughter almost died because a 911 operator relied on a 10-year-old to determine whether or not it was a medical emergency.
One other warning needs to be made so parents get the idea that nobody but you is going to look out properly after your child. Like many diabetics, when Stevie's blood sugar falls below a certain level she gets confused and refuses treatment. However, that treatment consists of giving her sugar and we've all been taught that sugar is bad for diabetics so how many adults do you know who will take the risk of forcing a diabetic child to eat sugar against their will?
Many parents get frustrated with their school and try to use the federal laws governing children with disabilities to get their way but I found that the best way to benefit our child is to cultivate a relationship with each of the adults at our child's school, teachers, principal, secretaries, etc. When Stevie started having blood sugar levels in the 30's and the staff responded from a position of ignorance, these relationships allowed us to find a quick and acceptable solution because the discussions were as friends instead of as adversaries.
As you can see, Stevie and I are close. Perhaps it's the common experience, as a child, of witnessing the violent death of a family member. I remember vividly the difference my stepfather made for me as I went through that tragedy and now there's a sense of fulfillment and destiny to be there now for Stevie.
Type 1 Diabetes
