How To Write a Diabetic Character (TYPE ONE)

First off, I would like to bring to light the fact that there is, in fact, a difference between Type One and Type Two Diabetes. This is VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. I know a lot of people who have one or the other and I will tell you, the amount the two are confused is amazing.


So, I will put this blatantly:


TYPE ONE: WHEN THE BODY ATTACKS THE PANCREAS/PANCREAS STOPS PRODUCING INSULIN
(Typically diagnosed in children. There has yet to be a cure)  


TYPE TWO: WHEN THE BODY GET'S RESISTANT TO INSULIN 
(CAN BE RESOLVED THROUGH TAKING BETTER CARE OF YOURSELF)


In this post, we'll be discussing TYPE ONE, and I'll do another post for type two another day. For now, we'll focus on contributing factors that go into a diabetic's daily life.







GETTING DIAGNOSED:


So, if you're starting at the VERY BEGINNING of your character's diabetes showing up, you need to know how it all begins and what the symptoms are. One thing to note is that you can get Type One at any age. It's pretty much when your pancreas (what usually produces insulin for the body) stops working, and you get sick.

So, let's begin with the first signs of Type One:

• The first sign can usually be either The Flu or Strep Throat. 
  (Removal of tonsils won't help the symptoms, and you will continue to have a sore throat, with the issues it comes with)
  (The Flu is also more typical then Strep)
• The next sign is a Constant thirst and always going to the bathroom.
  (Kids will typically drink anything they see just to try and satisfy the thirst, so that means drinking out of other peoples' cups too)
• You are going to feel like your going to pass out, nauseous, and dizzy, constantly.
• If you aren't treated for this you could end up in a Coma/DKA/or even Die, so eventually, you have to go to the doctor. IF YOU ARE HAVING ALL OF THIS AND ARE READING THIS NOW, GO TO THE E.R. IMMEDIATELY.

The first place to go when you notice the symptoms is the ER. Here, they will level out your Blood Sugar and put you on an insulin drip through an IV. After This, They contact a hospital to transfer you to.

When you get the Hospital and everything is stable, you and others you care about will be trained on how to check blood sugar and inject insulin (I'll teach you that next). You will be given a kit full of the supplies you need and can then leave the hospital. This process will probably only take a few days or longer, depending on how deep you are in DKA (Diabetic ketoacidosis).

CHECKING BLOOD SUGAR (GLUCOSE LEVELS):



This is a process most diabetics have to go through before they consume anything that retains carbs. Sometimes, this must be done throughout the day and the night, depending on how badly diabetes affects them.


This process is accomplished by a gadget that pricks your finger after washing your hands. One typically has to squeeze the area around the finger to get a droplet of blood, as the area is probably calloused from months to years of the process. when you have enough blood, you put it on a small test strip (there are many of these in a prescription sized bottle), Then you plug the test strip into the meter (the gadget that reads your blood sugar).


On the screen of the meter, it will tell you in big letters what your blood sugar levels are (generally, a log is kept, as to show doctors). The results tend to vary, but to keep in mind that below 69 before a meal is low (and dangerous!), and over 180 is considered high after a meal (ALSO DANGEROUS).


So let's go through the process once more:

• Wash hands
• Prick finger and Draw Blood
• Place The Test Strip To The Blood
• Put The Test Strip In The Meter
• Document Results If The Meter Doesn't Do It For You

Now The Levels:

• Under 80 Before a Meal IS CONSIDERED LOW AND DANGEROUS
• Over 180 After a Meal IS CONSIDERED HIGH AND DANGEROUS
• Anywhere In Between Is Considered Just About Normal

Got it? Awesome :3

FIXING GLUCOSE LEVELS (INJECTING INSULIN):

So, this is where the shots happen...

• If you are too high in your blood sugar levels, you take a shot with a measured amount of insulin.
• When you eat, you take the number of carbs and divide it by a given number from your doctor and the number you get is the amount of insulin you inject.
• Shots are typically where the most fat is located.
• If you're low in your blood sugar levels, you don't typically take a shot when you eat. In fact, if you're low, you generally have to drink some juice or anything really rich in carbs to get back to safe levels.
  However, you still may have to take a shot.
  

Something else to keep in mind is; not every diabetic takes shots. Thanks to advancing medicine and technologies, there's a pump you can get that, with a large needle in your body, will give you the needed amount of insulin. Since there are A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF THESE, I'm not really going to go too deep into it. I will give you a few facts, however:

• They inject the needed amount after you put in your levels
• Some pumps will take your blood sugar for you and do everything on its own, and all you have to do is make sure you don't get low.
• finally, these can fall out... and they're pretty breakable... 

That pretty much sums that area up... (I really hate needles)

HUMAN TOO:



Ok, so what I mean by this is simple; Diabetics are just as human as the rest of us.  They still live their daily lives and have a life outside of being a diabetic. When a bug goes around, they can catch it, and it will affect their blood sugar, and they can get sick. So really, it's important not to have your character's life just about diabetes. It may affect every area of their life, but they still have a life and personality.


It is also important to know that some people may be shy about talking about their diabetes due to bullying in the past, or some people may be more outspoken about it. The main thing is, different people, different reactions, and it's usually ok to ask questions, just have patience with those shy about it.








CAMPS AND CONFERENCES:



So, since we're past the part where there's life outside of diabetes, now we can begin the life of diabetes. There are camps and conferences all over the place for diabetics to go to and learn how to take care of themselves better, as well as have fun under a doctor's watch.


These are great opportunities to go to, and relatives can attend these as well. Typically, it will cost more for a nonie(non-diabetic) to attend, but it is worth it and is lots of fun.








I hope this was all informative and helpful for your writing/research/whatever. I will state that I am not a physician and therefore will not take any responsibility for any misuse of this post's information. If you are diabetic, you should talk to your doctor about how to take care of yourself if you have any questions, as I am merely going off of information I have gathered from diabetics I know and websites dedicated to Diabetes Type one.

Now that that's over with, good luck loves!
~Rey Brooks




EXTRA LINKS!!!:

Diabetes Type One Basics
A Camp For Diabetics