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Discussion

Choosing to be a Type 1 diabetic

I just thought that I would share this.

I am doing my preceptorship at the local diabetes clinic and I was telling my preceptor that I would like to have type 1 diabetes for a week to see what it is like. So she is arranging it for me.

She is going to set me up with a pen and some saline in place of real insulin and a glucometer. I have to see the dietitian next week so I can plan a diet for the week. I will have to inject myself 4 times a day and take my blood sugar 6 times a day for a week. I only have one kidney so tight glucose control is really important thats why I am doing the MDI.

I don't know why I am exited about this but I think it will be a real eye opener. My preceptor tried it and she said she was only able to keep it up for 2 days.

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  • Expert

Let us know how you like the pen. I've been thinking of switching to one for my cat who is on NPH twice a day. I have to tell you that every once in a while I forget about one of her injections. It's especially easy to do because she can't speak up to remind me and if I'm not feeling well or my schedule gets upset a simple injection can get forgotten. Sometimes I just set the alarm clock to remind me if I think I might forget. I run into trouble with my own medications if I have to take something more than one time a day. What you won't have to deal with is used needle disposal containers, follow up testing, and the money to pay for it all. And, yes, cats have a similar Hb1AC test as well and can be glucose tested with a glucometer. Too bad you cant get a hypoglycemic reaction just for giggles. I've had gastric bypass surgery and I can get hyperglycemia if I put too much pure sugar into my GI system (i.e., a large candy bar, milk shake) at one time and get all the symptoms (tachycardia, diaphoresis, confusion). You only make that mistake once.

  • Expert

Keep us posted on how the experience unfolds. I for one will be quite interested. Unfortunately, there are a lot of nurses who don't have much empathy for diabetic patients and the difficulties they/we face. I hope your brief taste of a few aspects helps teach you some valuable lessons.

I don't know why I am exited about this but I think it will be a real eye opener. My preceptor tried it and she said she was only able to keep it up for 2 days.

Slightly OT: My mom's best friend's husband had a colostomy from 1949 until his death a few years ago. A while back, I met a woman who had once had a temporary colostomy after intestinal surgery, and she just couldn't manage it; she said she always knew her husband was a nice guy but she didn't realize just HOW nice he was until this happened! :yeah: She just couldn't imagine what it would have been for her to have been that way for the rest of her life.

I work with a man who's a "Type 1 1/2" as some people call it; he must test and inject himself before he eats anything, and he NEVER complains about it and is in excellent health.

Did you know that there are Type I diabetics who have lived with this for over 80 years? I believe that the Type Is who have lived to ripe old ages without complications - and they do exist - had partial pancreatic function. Imagine what things must have been like when they had to pour urine into a test tube, add reagent, boil it, let it cool, and compare it to a chart? That's what was done before blood sugar monitoring could be done in the home. And they reused syringes and needles, too! They boiled and sharpened them between uses.

I think that is awesome! what a great idea, I would definately jump at the chance to do this. Keep us informed as to how it goes!

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