This is the first Action Project of the winter term in the class Disease. In this class, we have been observing different types of cancer and body systems. We have also talked about how disease can happen. We defined the sciences of the body and organ systems along with the causes of disease which are anatomy, physiology, pathology, epidemiology, and etiology. For this Action Project, we had to pick a disease and interview someone with that disease. I chose to work with Type 1 Diabetes. In this post, you will see what Type 1 Diabetes is and how it affects the body including the patient’s story and life based on the interview. My interviewee has lived with Type 1 Diabetes since she was nine years old and had to grow up with the disease.
Glucose, which is a very important energy source for the body’s cells, needs to leave the bloodstream and go into the cells to provide energy to them. Insulin which is made by the pancreas binds to the cell and signals them to take up glucose. After this step, the glucose can be used for energy. Type 1 Diabetes occurs in the pancreas when some or all of the insulin producing cells or beta cells are destroyed. Without insulin, glucose will build up in the bloodstream, unable to be absorbed by the cells and it can’t be used for energy. When there is too much glucose in the blood, the kidneys will create more urine than usual which can be the cause of frequent or excessive urination. Because of this people will become dehydrated from the lack of fluid in their body. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas for Type 1 Diabetes. Some people who are genetically predisposed to the disease are related to the body’s construction or the body taking certain cells as something harmful to the system and attacking its producer. Type 1 Diabetes can affect males and females and is more commonly diagnosed in children from ages around 10 to 16. This disease is multifactorial because it can be passed genetically or by chance. If someone in your family has Type 1 Diabetes, that gene could be passed down. When no one has the disease from family that could mean their unique construct is the cause.
When she was nine, she became constantly thirsty and frequently used the bathroom from excessive drinking because of increased amounts of glucose causing the kidneys to create more urine. She started to lose weight and her breath would smell fruity. After noticing these symptoms, her parents took her to the doctor where she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. During school, her blood sugar could go really high or crash. If the blood sugar is too high, body organs can deteriorate if it is left untreated for some time. This condition is called hyperglycemia. Another possible reaction is from having a lower blood sugar which may have more severe effects such as unconsciousness, brain damage, and possibly death. This condition is called hypoglycemia. In classes or during sports and recess, she would tire easily. She wasn’t able to move around more or stay active in sports like others her age. She said her life was, “a different experience than most kids.” Around this age, she was put on insulin injections. The blood sugar must be tested before meals, bed, and after waking up. This requires a blood glucose monitor (BGM) and a lancet or a surgical knife to draw blood. She would take two types of insulin through injections 5 to 6 times a day.
During college she switched to an insulin pump which is worn all the time. The pump has to be changed every 3 days. The infusion site or where the insulin enters the body is on the abdomen. The pump with the insulin sits in a small box resembling a pager can be worn on the waistband. This pump will literally pump insulin into the body. The device can be programmed to release insulin as the body regularly would throughout the day including the extra dose when it is time to eat. On the occasion of eating more than normal, the device can be set to release some more insulin to cover for the extra carbs. This will keep the blood sugar from rising too high or going too low. Her daily life has improved because of the advancements in technology. There are more recent systems created that can monitor the blood sugar better and keep control of insulin injections. She currently has the insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). From the time the interview was conducted, she would be getting an upgrade for the CGM that is more accurate.
About two years ago she became pregnant which made her very worried. She said having Type 1 Diabetes could pose a risk for pregnancy. A couple of these risks are miscarriages and birth defects. It is important to have constant tests or scans to monitor the baby and make sure it is receiving what it needs. Much tighter control was needed in order to keep the baby healthy. Her current life is the same as how it was before just having to manage a child. The baby’s birth was a success and everything ended up fine. The baby is slightly larger than an average child of that age which is called macrosomia.
Where Type 1 Diabetes Affects the Body, GS, 2021
I hope you enjoyed reading this and perhaps learning about Type 1 Diabetes if you didn’t know much about it. I am very grateful for my interviewee helping with this Action Project. This was also a big learning experience for me. I didn’t know very much about T1D and this project helped me with that. I thought this AP was pretty fun and learning about how the body functions when there are certain changes is good to know. I haven’t gone over diseases a lot before and actually getting to interview someone who has had an interesting disease for most of their life is a good experience to have. I am excited to see how the upcoming Action Projects will turn out so come back to my blog to read those.
Sources:
M,E. Interview. by GS, 16 January 2021
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Harvard Medical School, https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/type-1-diabetes-mellitus-a-to-z#:~:text=Type%201%20diabetes%20occurs%20when,use%20this%20glucose%20for%20energy.
Type 1 Diabetes, Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20353011
Type 1 Diabetes: Questions and Answers with the Experts, JDRF, https://www.jdrf.org/blog/2012/12/10/type-1-diabetes-questions-and-answers-with-the-experts/
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