Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease. An auto-immune reaction in the body causes the complete destruction of the insulin producing cells in the pancreas, which is why people with type 1 diabetes have to inject insulin or receive insulin through a pump. Insulin is a blood sugar regulating hormone.
T1D is not simply insulin injection with your meals to regulate the glucose levels upon food intake. Blood sugars can be influenced by a large number of factors, such as exercise, fatigue, mental health, weather, general health…and many more, which make it a chronic disease that demands constant attention and adaptation. A person with diabetes makes about 180 decisions and calculations more per day than a healthy person. There is no fixed formula on how to deal with T1D, but technology is moving forward. (That thing on my arm? Not a permanent wifi spot, but a continious glucose meter that helps me to have constant control over my levels.)
People living with TD1 face short-term complications such as low blood sugar (dizziness, trembling, sweating, disorientation, irritation, fast heartbeat, blurred vision, weakness, seizure or passing out) or high blood sugars ( headaches, tiredness, extreme thirst, tummy ache, feeling/being sick, recurring infections, passing out and diabetic ketoacidosis).
The list of long-term complications includes heart and blood vessel disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage, eye damage and blindness, foot damage, pregnancy complications and mental health issues.
Resources to learn more about T1D and its symptoms:
If you are interested in my personal journey with T1D, join me over on this Instagram or read some of my nonfiction texts.
In many countries, insulin and diabetes supply prices are enormous to the extent that people have to ration their insulin, which can become life-threatening. Frederick Banting, the discoverer of insulin, sold the patent for 1$ with the words “insulin belongs to all” and that’s the way it should be around the world. Unfortunately, that is not the case in many countries. The organization T1Internationl fights for insulin prices to become more affordable and make insulin accessible around the globe. Donate to them and help save lives.