I read the numbers and see it in the media.Why does this happen ,especially to the young ?
Blech, I hate thinking about things like this even though it's probably a good idea once in a while.
Re: the media, I think a lot of their reports relate to complications from uncontrolled D (including T2 as well as T1). (heart attacks, strokes, etc) But, recently, with that death of that Johnson& Johnson heiress, there was also news about her dying form DKA / not taking enough insulin.
I think the scariest stories for me are these random unexplained deaths of young T1's b/c I don't feel like I'd have any control over that. But, luckily, it seems very rare.
I hate it too and worry about it at times.So I thought if I just talked about it a little,might answer some things....One question I have wondered about is when you have type1 and your a teen or college age or even beyond that..there are all kinds of temptations.Can a death happen if a bunch of college kids go out and drink and the one with type1 passes out...are they in danger ?? when I read that someone with type1 has blacked out-I fear for them...I have a teen that will be going to college next year..and I hear college kids party alot...
Well, I happily made it through college despite some, um, parties. (; I'd talk to her first about letting her friends know about her D (i.e., if she's acting off, it could be a low, not being drunk) and being aware that she has to be sober enough to monitor her BG's. I went to a school w/ a lot of drinking, but I knew I had to take care of myself better and never had a problem limiting myself to a couple of drinks except for once or twice. Also, I always wear a medic alert bracelet.
Hey meme, I'd like to assuage your fears, because I know how much my mom has worried about me over the years. I think when parents have a relaxed attitude about things like drugs and alcohol (I don't mean permissive or enabling, just not uptight), kids who experiment will be less likely to use substances recklessly and spontaneously.
Not that I'm qualified to give any parenting advice - I'm just out of college myself. It's just been my experience that most college kids are going to try some drugs and overindulge in alcohol, but they don't have to do so recklessly.
This is the peer-to-peer advice I would give to a freshman: The key is control. Just because you're doing something "bad" doesn't mean you don't need to check your blood sugar to make sure you know how your body's reacting. If you're going to do drugs, do them right - know what you're doing. Make deliberate decisions, and own them. It helps to have good friends watching your back, but it's dangerous to count on that, especially if they're drinking/doing drugs too. Stay aware, have a back-up plan, and keep your meter and meds and sugar with you. This all should come pretty naturally to anyone who's been diabetic for very long. If not, s/he has bigger problems than just potential substance abuse.
As for diabetics in general abusing alcohol, of course it's a bad idea. Is it always life-threatening? My aunt who has T1 used to be a binge drinker and an alcoholic during and after her college years. She also had poorly controlled diabetes for much of her life. She had her first heart bypass surgery in her forties. In her fifties she received a pancreas transplant when she was "at death's door." Now she's in her mid-sixties, and seems about as healthy as anyone her age.
I used to drink more, never often or to the point of blacking out; still, as I got older I started to think things like, "Gee, it would suck to have a kidney transplant in 15 years. Or 10. Or... crap, how long have I been diabetic?" Sudden death could happen any time, regardless of diabetes, but a future of painful complications and expensive operations is easier to anticipate and prevent. Self-preservation kicks in.
[quote user="Sarah"]
I think the scariest stories for me are these random unexplained deaths of young T1's b/c I don't feel like I'd have any control over that. But, luckily, it seems very rare.
[/quote]
It's not rare for me. My son who was type 1 died at the age of 14 in his sleep. Autopsy simply said "inconclusive". Everyone assumes ii t was low blood sugar related, but I don't. Of course I'm diabetic too. He had some other health issues too which could have contributed. It's a total mystery. My brother's kindegarten teacher's daughter also died this way around the same age.
It is very rare, unless it happens to you.
I don't really know if there is anything you can do about it though.
[quote user="DDrumminMan"]
[quote user="Sarah"]
I think the scariest stories for me are these random unexplained deaths of young T1's b/c I don't feel like I'd have any control over that. But, luckily, it seems very rare.
[/quote]
It's not rare for me. My son who was type 1 died at the age of 14 in his sleep. Autopsy simply said "inconclusive". Everyone assumes ii t was low blood sugar related, but I don't. Of course I'm diabetic too. He had some other health issues too which could have contributed. It's a total mystery. My brother's kindegarten teacher's daughter also died this way around the same age.
It is very rare, unless it happens to you.
I don't really know if there is anything you can do about it though.
[/quote]
I know you lost your son and I thought of you when I wrote that. I hope I didn't offend you, but at the same time, it doesn't seem common like DKA does.
I think that passing out from alcohol is dangerous for anyone... but with a T1, there is also the concern of what their BG is doing. I'm a senior in college, and it only took one blackout incident for me to get serious about my diabetes and alcohol. I ended up being fine, but it was really scary. I was very lucky to have friends around me who understood my diabetes. Based on my experience, here's some advice for your teen:
Don't let your diabetes stop you from having fun in college, just be sure to take some extra precautions. Always wear a medical alert bracelet. When you drink, stay sober enough to test your BG, and do it frequently. Definitely don't forget to test before you fall asleep after drinking. I'd also reccommend teaching a friend (who will be with you while drinking) how to test your BG, in case things get out of hand. That way if you do pass out, someone will know how to make sure you're ok. Also make sure they know that if they aren't able to test your BG, or they test it and it's low or high and they don't know what to do, that they can call 911 and the paramedics will handle it. While that may sound extreme to a college student, you don't want to mess around with diabetes! Better safe than sorry!
I hope that helps!
[quote user="Sarah"]
[quote user="DDrumminMan"]
[quote user="Sarah"]
I think the scariest stories for me are these random unexplained deaths of young T1's b/c I don't feel like I'd have any control over that. But, luckily, it seems very rare.
[/quote]
It's not rare for me. My son who was type 1 died at the age of 14 in his sleep. Autopsy simply said "inconclusive". Everyone assumes ii t was low blood sugar related, but I don't. Of course I'm diabetic too. He had some other health issues too which could have contributed. It's a total mystery. My brother's kindegarten teacher's daughter also died this way around the same age.
It is very rare, unless it happens to you.
I don't really know if there is anything you can do about it though.
[/quote]
I know you lost your son and I thought of you when I wrote that. I hope I didn't offend you, but at the same time, it doesn't seem common like DKA does.
[/quote]
I'm not offended. It is very rare and not understood by anyone. There are theories but no where near proof.
If you have kids, love them and never take them for granted. Children die every day. At least I know I didn't take Nick for granted and took good care of him and spent a lot of time with him, so I have no regrets in that regard. But even after almost 9 years I think of him at least once every 30 minutes or so and miss him terribly.
Thanks for your concern.
His sister and I have formed Team Nick for this years JDRF Beat the Bridge Run. You can contribute here: http://www.beatthebridge.org/site/TR/Events/General?pg=team&fr_id=1120&team_id=19871 At least pop over and have a look around.
I would think drinking heavily and passing out with a pump could be deadly. I know there are pumpers on here who drink. But think about it. If you drink to excess and pass out, your blood sugar will drop like a ROCK. No doubt about it. And if you were too far gone to test and eat before going to bed, you're in trouble. Your pump will continue to pump insulin in, the last thing you need. At least if you're on Humalog or some such insulin, it will eventually wear out and your blood sugar will rise to save the day.
This is my theory. I of course can't prove anything !!
DDrummin- It depends on what you're drinking. I have found that sugary/sweet alcoholic drinks make my BG shoot up. I have to watch the highs when I drink. And while passing out with a pump is definitely not a good idea, I am a big believer in having friends around you who would know what to do in that situation (test your BG, call 911, etc.) But of course, avoiding that altogether is the best solution.
Your BS is still gonna fall like a rock. At least your way you have a cushion. Good luck.
[quote user="meme"]
I read the numbers and see it in the media.Why does this happen ,especially to the young ?
[/quote]
i think the numbers have a lot to do with uncontrolled/undiagnosed type 2. the numbers are skewed a lot because t2s can go 10 years undiagnosed and experience complications because of the uncontrolled high BGs. when a young person dies, it's almost always in the media because it's a tragedy to lose anyone at a young age - when it's someone famous, like casey johnson, the media has a field day and the voyeurs in all of us come out.
i also think we, as diabetics, are sensitive to diabetes complication-related deaths. there's always a voice in the back of your head saying "could that be me?" luckily, there are steps we can take to prevent and delay the onset of complications and live long, fulfilling lives. i know i've done my best (for the most part) regarding diabetes care. if i develop complications, it's not because of something i didn't do. because i know i've done a good job, i feel completely comfortable going about my life and not worrying about diabetes-related deaths. there's enough panic, worry, and sadness in the world -- i don't need to carry around one more burden.
My BG has never been low after drinking. It does different things to different people, according to my endo, so I test it frequently and respond accordingly... Although, I really don't drink that much anyway.
thanks everyone,I also worried about my oldest when she went off to college.I just want to think through everything before this one goes.I have to remind myself about something I read a few years back..That those with type1 can actually live longer and be in better health than the average person walking around.Because those with type1 see the doctor more often,things are caught earlier and taken care of and they are also much more in tune with their bodies.They also know more about the right food choices and nutritional needs which leads to better health.So I think with a little thinking ahead like everyone here suggested,everything will be fine.thanks again..
Meme, this is probably totally unscientific nonsense, but I took one of those "How long will you live?" quizzes online recently where you put in if you smoke, how you eat, if you have D, your social history, family medical history, etc etc. Anyways, after saying I had D, it estimated I'd live to be 92!!
I LOVE THAT !!!!!!! FANTASTIC !!!!!!! Thanks Sarah !!!!! :)
[quote user="Lacey"]
My BG has never been low after drinking. It does different things to different people, according to my endo, so I test it frequently and respond accordingly... Although, I really don't drink that much anyway.
[/quote]
my endo was talking to me about drinking today again. even if they dont drop during the night, they will drop. even if it's the next day/morning.
My BG is usually fine or even a bit high the next morning, even if I corrected a high before bed. I don't drink enough for it to get really low (usually I stop after a couple drinks), so the sugar in the drink makes up for it I guess. But that's good to know.
[quote user="Lacey"]
My BG is usually fine or even a bit high the next morning, even if I corrected a high before bed. I don't drink enough for it to get really low (usually I stop after a couple drinks), so the sugar in the drink makes up for it I guess. But that's good to know.
[/quote]
when i drink lots of sugar, i find i'm on the higher side when i wake up too, but i've always wondered if i went low while sleeping/passed out and then rebounded. as long as you wake up, i guess thats all that matters haha.