Information

Blue November
Legacy Name: Blue November

The Dusk Blob
Owner: Gigabug

Age: 4 years, 5 months, 1 week

Born: November 19th, 2019

Adopted: 4 years, 5 months, 1 week ago

Adopted: November 19th, 2019

Pet Spotlight Winner
May 24th, 2023

Statistics

• Level: 55
   
• Strength: 38
   
• Defense: 35
   
• Speed: 40
   
• Health: 35
   
• HP: 35/35
   
• Intelligence: 40
   
• Books Read: 38
• Food Eaten: 0
• Job: Part-Time Test Subject

PROJECT BLUE NOVEMBER

RAISING AWARENESS OF TYPE 1 DIABETES

There is nothing anyone can do to prevent T1D.
Presently, there is no known cure.

MY STORY

It all began on April 28, 2018.

I had been sick for a few days with a stomach bug. I was feeling run down and tired and I wasn't able to hold down any food. Feeling beyond exhausted, I went to bed for the night. I woke up sometime after midnight hardly able to catch my breath. I woke up my husband and told him, through my gasping breathes, that something was not right and that I wanted him to take me to the emergency room. After arriving, they admitted me into the ICU. They checked my blood glucose level (how much glucose or sugar is in the blood) and it was in the 500's. Normal blood glucose ranges from about 80-140. I didn't have a stomach bug after all. My pancreas had stopped producing insulin and my body was suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis. I spent the next 3 days in the ICU learning all about Type 1 Diabetes. I couldn't believe it was happening! Wasn't T1D a disease that children were diagnosed with? I found out that anyone, no matter what age, can develop T1D. They never figured out exactly why my pancreas had stopped working. They think that at some point I had been sick and my immune system attacked the insulin-producing cells in my pancreas.

Looking back I had shown signs that my blood sugar was high. For months I had been extremely thirsty and had to urinate constantly. (My body had been trying to flush out the extra glucose )

Now that my body can no longer produce insulin, I have to inject myself with artificial insulin every time I eat food. I have to keep a close eye on my blood glucose levels because if it's too high I could suffer from DKA again and if it gets too low I could slip into a coma.

Read on for some more information about T1D. If you are experiencing any of the common symptoms go and talk to your doctor right away!

WHAT IS TYPE 1 DIABETES?

Type 1 diabetes, which was formerly known as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic autoimmune condition that makes the body unable to produce insulin, which is the hormone that regulates blood sugar. Without insulin, our bodies cannot use the sugar in our bloodstream as energy, causing people to experience Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 1 DIABETES?

There are many signs or symptoms that can be present when someone has undiagnosed or untreated diabetes. Here are some of the symptoms:

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss
• Exhaustion

Ask your healthcare provider for a blood sugar or urine test immediately.

Untreated Type 1 diabetes can be life-threatening.
Seek emergency medical care if you are experiencing:

• Fruity-smelling breath
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Rapid breathing
• Confusion
• Drowsiness

HOW DOES TYPE 1 DIABETES AFFECT THE BODY?

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition, which means that the body’s immune system attacks itself, much like celiac disease. In the case of Type 1 Diabetes, the body attacks the insulin-producing beta cells. These are the cells in the body that produce insulin. Over time, people with Type 1 Diabetes are left with none of these beta cells, also known as islet cells, and therefore cannot produce their own insulin. Insulin is the hormone that allows the body to use the glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream as energy – it kind of acts as a key that unlocks the body’s cells, allowing glucose to enter and be absorbed. Converting blood glucose is the body’s main way that it gets energy, so without insulin, it has to resort to breaking down bodily tissue such as muscle and fat stores. Another, potentially fatal, consequence for people with Type 1 Diabetes who aren’t on insulin therapy is Diabetic Ketoacidosis or DKA. DKA occurs when there is an overload of glucose in the bloodstream because there is no regulating insulin.

WHAT CAUSES TYPE 1 DIABETES?

T1D is neither preventable nor curable and while its cause is unknown, studies suggest that T1D results from a genetic predisposition, typically combined with an environmental trigger.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE TYPE 1 DIABETES?

Living with T1D is a full-time balancing act requiring constant attention to avoid acute, life-threatening hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or the long-term damage done by hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Blood sugar levels must be monitored either with finger pricks or a continuous glucose monitor. Insulin doses must then be carefully calculated based upon activity and stress levels, food intake, illness, and additional factors. These calculations are rarely perfect resulting in a tremendous emotional and mental burden for both patients and caregivers.

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