My son was 7 yrs old and very sick. We didn't know what was wrong. He was getting up a lot during the night to pee, extremely thirsty and hungry, but losing weight also. "Shouldn't he be gaining weight, with how much he is eating", I thought. I knew something more was wrong so I made a doctors appointment for him. When we arrived, they checked his urine for Keytones, suspecting diabetes. Keytones were present and within 30 minutes we were at our local children's hospital (A. I. DuPont). He was in ICU for 4 days with a 855 blood sugar and in DKA. He remained in the hospital for another week while my husband and I went through extensive training and education classes so that we could care for him. His diagnosis changed our world forever. I frequently share T1D symtoms and signs on my Facebook page in list form because I believe if I was aware sooner, I could of got him to the doctors before he got so sick. He is a thriving 9 yr old boy now and is doing great. He plays flag football and baseball. He is on a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) and next will be an insulin pump. This is our "new" normal life. Some days are tough and some days we get things right. His diagnosis has made us closer as a family and forced us to eat healthier. I try to keep in mind that he is still a kid and can have treats and snacks like any other kids, he just needs to take insulin for those snacks and treats. We created a fundraising team, Nix Type One Nation, and last year we raised over $7000.00 for the JDRF one walk. We hope to double that amount this year. We simply want to do anything we can to raise money for research and eventually find a cure in his lifetime. I truly believe that will happen.
my best advice, Know the signs/symptoms of type 1 diabetes.
west chester, PA
