
If people who do not know me personally, or are still in the dark about my condition, I am type 1 diabetic. This means that the insulin-production capabilities of my pancreas have failed. In my case my own antibodies started attacking the insulin producing cells in my pancreas. Without insulin, I cannot function. Without insulin, the sugar I eat cannot be used as energy. Insulin is the 'key' to unlock my body to allow it to use sugar effieciently. Without insulin the sugar starts to build up in my blood as the body turns to burning body fat for energy. This process of burning fat this way is not healthy. The process produces ketones, a poison that can cause diabetic ketoacidosis. This can cause comas or even death. A full list of DKA symptoms are listed here.
Basically, what this all means for me is a life of careful carbohydrate counting, insulin injections, and painful finger pricking and blood glucose testing. Please don't feel sorry for me, this post is not to attract sympathy.
It is to bring to light a possibly life changing technology. If you are type 1 diabetic yourself, you will probably thinking that a world free of finger pricking tests, insulin injections and carb counting is ridiculous. This technology could possibly automate each of these things a diabetic has to carry out to stay healthy, while also getting rid of possible human error by creating a closed loop insulin pumping system. This technology hugely excites me and it would be a dream come true if this system removed the limitations that my disease creates for me. Please watch the following video from JDRF's (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Dr. Richard Insel about this technology and please leave a comment below about what you think.
Basically, what this all means for me is a life of careful carbohydrate counting, insulin injections, and painful finger pricking and blood glucose testing. Please don't feel sorry for me, this post is not to attract sympathy.
It is to bring to light a possibly life changing technology. If you are type 1 diabetic yourself, you will probably thinking that a world free of finger pricking tests, insulin injections and carb counting is ridiculous. This technology could possibly automate each of these things a diabetic has to carry out to stay healthy, while also getting rid of possible human error by creating a closed loop insulin pumping system. This technology hugely excites me and it would be a dream come true if this system removed the limitations that my disease creates for me. Please watch the following video from JDRF's (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Dr. Richard Insel about this technology and please leave a comment below about what you think.