OMG! It’s week 4 of DAM already!
Day 20: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits recipients of federal funds from discriminating against people on the basis of a disability (including diabetes)
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The child is not only protected from discrimination by this law during the school day but on any school-sanctioned activity as well. A diabetic child has the right to a free and appropriate public education including accommodations to manage their diabetes at school. The child may also need special accommodations under the “Individuals with Disabilities Act” (IDEA) which protects them if their experiencing any learning difficulties due to their diabetic (hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, hypounaware). If the child misses any lessons due to having to inject or treat a low with a snack or juice or check their blood sugar, this may impact their learning abilities as well. Share & tag @type1diabetic_life 📑
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Source: Chase, Peter H., MD and David M. Maahs, MD, PhD. “Understanding Diabetes: A handbook for people who are living with diabetes.” P 261-264.
Day 21: Type 2 diabetes has a stronger risk for inheritance than Type 1 diabetes
I’m almost all cases, a parent and/or grandparent will also have the disease. In the case of identical twins, if one twin develops Type 2, the other twin has an 80 percent chance of also developing the disease. In T1d, an identical twin has a 35-50 percent chance of developing the disease. 👨👩👧👧
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Many different potentially-inherited (genetic) defects that vary between families exist with Type 2 diabetes. There isn’t just one common defect in all families. Whereas with T1d, there are several different Islet Cell Antibodies (ICA – more on that later) that exist which makeup the predictability of early diagnosis of the autoimmune disease. 🙏🏼
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Source: Chase, Peter H., MD and David M. Maahs, MD, PhD. “Understanding Diabetes: A handbook for people who are living with diabetes.” P 22.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb5d83GFCgD
Day 22-24: I’m thankful that my baby girl was diagnosed before
it might’ve been too late and even more thankful for everyday that she’s still alive despite all the physical, emotional and mental challenges that accompany #Type1diabetes. We were strong to begin with and now, even stronger after her diagnosis. #Family sticks together through sickness and in health. Those aren’t just wedding vows in our house. 💪🏼🤜🏼🤛🏽
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Day 23: I also want to thank the #T1dcommunity for all your support from both my Instagram accounts, or if I know you in-person, and all my recent customers. You guys are da bomb! Hope you all enjoyed your #Thanksgiving. 🦃🥂
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Day 24: A #supportive adult who is readily available, but not overbearing or constantly nagging, can be of significant help to a person with any type of #diabetes of any age. Even parents of older teens still need to help with making sure adequate diabetes supplies are available (and paying for them), #bloodsugars and trends are logged, drawing up or giving injections, and that clinic appointments are made and kept every three months. Don’t assume that they’re willing to accept ownership of this disease even after having it for years. They’d much rather be out with their peers, might be busy with schoolwork, job-searching or picking a college. Take things one step at a time and build trust with your child while encouraging their independence. They will thank you one day rather than choose to look the other way. 💙
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Source: Chase, Peter H., MD and David M. Maahs, MD, PhD. “Understanding Diabetes: A handbook for people who are living with diabetes,” 12th ed. P202. 📕
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb8x-yPlsJw
Day 25: Steroidal medications such as cortisone and prednisone
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Source: Scheiner, Gary, MS, CDE. “Think Like a Pancreas.” P 196. 📔
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcA2-W2lLzG
Day 26-27: As we come to the final week of November
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1) Unsolicited advice is rarely ever welcomed especially when it comes to managing an exhausting disease such as Type 1 diabetes. So please, keep your thoughts to yourself when it comes to what we can or cannot eat – no, cinnamon won’t help us reverse T1d (not reversible) and cutting back on sugar is such an outdated belief. T1d’s can eat anything any non-diabetic can with proper dosing and timing of insulin and accurate carb counting. 🥟🍤
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2) Realize and acknowledge that managing diabetes is a lot of work – a job I didn’t want, don’t get paid for and can’t quit. There’s so much more to it than just multiple blood sugar checks (pokes), daily injections of insulin (T1ds need insulin to live, no other medication will keep them alive or maintain safe blood sugars), stress factors, growth hormones, and counting carbs. Not to mention the steep learning curve immediately following diagnosis. Seriously, cut us some slack. We deal with enough pricks already. 😓
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Inspiration: behavioraldiabetesinstitute.org 🖥
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcDX558Fixy
Day 29: Don’t look so horrified when I have to check my blood sugar or give myself an injection
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6) Try to ask me how you might be helpful. It may not be what or how you expected, but just hearing and knowing you care would mean a lot. For example, grandparents can help check their grandchild’s blood sugars while Mom finishes the dishes, does some laundry, or gets her nails done. 🍽
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7) Don’t offer me false reassurances by saying thoughtless things like, “It could be worse – at least you [or your child] doesn’t have cancer.” Don’t be a prick like my moms BF and say this the day after diagnosis. This implies that Type 1 diabetes isn’t as serious as cancer – both are severe conditions in their own way. The main difference is my baby requires insulin by injection and/or pump in order to live for the rest of her life. There still, is no cure or any other form of treatment for her autoimmune disease. 😑
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Share and tag @type1diabetic_life on Instagram and follow @typeonediabeticlife on Facebook. Mahalo and live well. Stay educated so you non-d’s, know how to truly support a Type 1 diabetic. 📚
Day 30: Every day is an opportunity to spread diabetes awareness and educate others who WANT and CARE to learn
I’d like to end November with the final few diabetes etiquette cards:
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9) Friends and family members may not realize this, but constantly questioning or criticizing a T1ds blood sugars is annoying and frustrating. They may mean well, but it’s best not to go about it without a T1ds knowledge like peeking at their Dexcom then shaming them for high or low BGs (just an example). Although this disease is manageable, some days will be harder than others and that’s when they need to be even more understanding and supportive. 👨👩👧
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10) Offer your love and genuine support and if no words come to mind, a hug will be just fine. To learn how to genuinely support a T1d or their parent, read my previous posts and take the initiative to educate yourself about this disease. The more support a T1d has, the greater the chances of him or her succeeding in taking control of their diabetes and minimizes any feelings of isolation and depression. ✊🏼
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*NOTE: Examples given are not to be taken literally. Apply each Diabetes Etiquette card to your life in situations you see fit. Always use good educated judgement for self-care and be kind before commenting on other people’s posts especially when you barely know the person. Share and tag @type1diabetic_life on Instagram. Mahalo and live well.💙
T1dLife 