Diabetes Management
In people with type 1 diabetes, blood sugars are constantly fluctuating. Food, exercise, illness, and other factors all affect blood sugars. A person without diabetes has blood sugars in the range of 4.0-6.0 mmol/L. People affected by type 1 diabetes can see blood sugar ranges on any given day of 1.5-25.0+ mmol/L. This can cause behaviour changes, blurred vision, inability to concentrate, lack of coordination, extreme thirst, nausea, and vomiting. If blood sugar goes too low, seizures are possible and if levels are not brought up quickly, low blood sugar can have a fatal impact.
Diabetes care entails a four part regime:
- Counting carbohydrates – Every gram of carbohydrate consumed has to be accounted for. Carbohydrates are converted into sugar and therefore, insulin dosing is based on carbohydrate consumption. Food must be weighed/measured to determine how many carbohydrates are going to be consumed.
- Blood checks – This is done with a tiny lancet that produces a small drop of blood. A glucometer reads the blood sugar level within 3-5 seconds.
- Insulin dosing – Insulin can be administered by syringe, insulin pen, or by an insulin pump. Based on blood sugar reading, carbohydrates consumed, level of activity (pre or post), and insulin regime, a child may need to take insulin. The number of times per day blood is read and insulin administered varies from child to child based on age, the onset of the disease, and other variables.
- Emergency Injection – A medication called Glucagon is administered to people with diabetes in an emergency situation. If unconscious or if experiencing a seizure resulting from low blood sugar, Glucagon can be used. The Glucagon injection is similar to an Epi-pen injection. This is not a part of the daily routine but an important part of the regime to recognize and would only be necessary in emergency situations.