WHAT IS IN A DIABETIC'S MIND ?

After 5 years of studying my brother’s way of reacting to being an insulin dependent diabetic, it is not easy to have insulin before two important meals: being a type one diabetic.

He is a type one diabetic one which means his pancreas can not produce insulin, although I have heard there is research into inventing some kind of immunisation against diabetes.

How this all happened: we saw a change in my brother Nathan’s routine feeling very thirsty and the need to drink large amounts of water and passing urine more often than usual, he was also getting thinner. On 11th February 2000 we went to the Doctor, where he was diagnosed as a diabetic. I still have hope there will be an immunisation against diabetes, which is why my biggest ambition is to be a researcher, researching deeper into the life of diabetics.

As mentioned above, a type one diabetic is when the pancreas does not produce insulin; a type two diabetic is when the pancreas needs a boost because, and it does not produce insulin as fast as should do. Secondly diabetics are not allowed any source of glucose [sugar] because it can cause their blood sugar levels to go high which will make them hyper [react active]. On the other hand there are exceptions when they get hypo [is exactly the opposite to hyper] it is when your blood sugar goes unreasonably low, they start having a fit and my brother’s experience when this happens to him; he feels like he is being sucked into a black hole [this is not the same as having a fit after playing under the sun, if he is not given sugar on time he could go into coma].

The different technology he has to use in his day to day life: he has to take insulin every morning before breakfast and every evening before dinner; and he has 25 units in the morning to last him through the afternoon, then in the evening he has 14 units.

Then he has a computer to test and make him aware of his blood levels, the way he tests his blood: using his computer by pricking his finger placing a drop of his blood on the strip and it will display his blood sugar level, it will show if it’s high or low.

Then there is something called Novo rapid to inject only if your blood is high, we sometimes give my brother two units because it works fast and effectively. And there are still further investigations and tests into what actually causes diabetes.

Finally I would consider my brother as healthier than the average 8 year old child, as he doesn’t eat sweets/sugar, which means rare trips to the dentist. He takes part is all sports activities and is extremely fit, but mostly he is a very sensible boy and could teach some adults a few things!

By NATASHA NELSON