Why did the insulin die in my pancreas?

1. There is no cure for Type 1 Diabetes.
2. Insulin injections must be given daily to continue living
3. It is not always hereditary
4. It is not from comsuming an unhealthy diet
5. It is not the sufferer's fault
6. The sufferer will not "grow out of it"
7. There is never a second of a day where you are NOT thinking of Type 1 Diabetes.

Health - Diseases and Disease Research

Type 1 Diabetes is an auto immune disease that effects children typically, but can also appear just as suddenly in young adults.

My son Lance-a-lot (name changed to protect the innocent, and an appropriate play on words,) was a bright, healthy, happy,exuberant little baby one week, and writhing in pain and screaming the next. I could not get a diagnosis until it was too late. When he was drifting in and out of unconciousness, I rushed him to the GP, who immediately removed a glucometer from his drawer. He pricked Lance's toe and one tiny droplet of blood emerged. The droplet of blood that asked a thousand questions, and that would reveal unknown with devestating answers. Lance was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at one year of age.

There are a few myths associated with Type 1 Diabetes, and I will not rest until I can help educate people understand what a person what Type 1 Diabetes goes through.

In Lance's case, he uses two different insulins (Novorapid and Levemir) and he has a minimum of 4 injections a day.

We prick his finger to get a reading (should be between 5 and 10..) However, sometimes it's 1.9, which has me racing for the closest source of sugar, and other times it's 23, which makes me physically sick to think that his blood is thick like toffee. In this instance, Lance has to have more insulin, fast and exercise, even though his body feels like its held down with weights and his head throbs like an African congo drummer. His legs ache and yet he still manages a smile and a joke.

If it isn't bad enough that we have blood sugar lotto to contend with, we have well meaning folk approach us with their words of wisdom.

"Oh...you'll grow out of that..." (No, he never will, the damage is DONE.)

"Did Mum give you lots of soft drink when you were little? (No, Mum didn't. In fact, Demarco had never tasted soda before diagnosis.)

"At least you don't have cancer.." (True..but Type 1 Diabetes can prove fatal within 24 hours if insulin isn't administered, or not enough food is given. Then there's the symptoms that occur almost everyday. Anyway, who wants to play "who has the worst disease?')

So it's an auto immune disease..does this mean you will get AIDS? ( Come on...)

So does Mum have Diabetes, too? ( No, she does not. In fact there isn't a trace of Type 1 or 2 in either side of Demarco's family.)

Then there's the comments or names that REALLY hurt and cross the line...

You are going to die from die -a -beee-tees..."(sung in a sing song voice by a chorus of pig tailed five year olds..)

"My Dad said to stay away from you cos if you get blood on you and I get it on me I could get AIDS. (Thanks for the Biology lesson, Dad.)

"Mum said you couldn't come to my birthday cos she didn't know what food to buy, and you might ruin it if an ambulance has to come.." ( Smile and walk away..)

"Can I catch Diabetes from you? ( No sweetheart, Lance's immune system did this all by itself and no one could have stopped it or changed it.)

"Ewww...can you get away from us? It creeps us out that you have blood on you all the time and then want to play with us,..."

"You're a freak..Diafreakies..that's a better name. Oh and AIDS spreader.

He is not a Type 1 Diabetic. He is just a little boy. Oh yeah, and he has Type 1 diabetes.