On December 1, 2008, just eleven days before his third birthday, Lance, my son, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. He is the inspiration for me to join the JDRF Bike Ride for a Cure and to raise money for Diabetes research. They have been making great advances in treatment options and will hopefully find a cure for this disease within Lance's lifetime.
There are generally two types of Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 2 is far more common and you probably know someone within your family or close friends with this condition. Type 2 Diabetics can produce insulin, but their bodies do not utilize it very well to get sugars (i.e. fuel) into the cells. This condition is generally treated with diet, exercise, weight loss, and oral medication.
Lance, however, is Type 1 which means his body does not produce insulin. The treatment options for Type 2 patients do not apply to him. He needs regular insulin shots and a prescribed carbohydrate diet. In general, he can eat anything that he wants as long as it falls within his allotted carb amount. So, cakes, candy, cookies are all possible if Mom and Dad plan ahead. He can do everything a normal toddler can do but we have to monitor his blood sugars regularly to make sure he is not getting too high or too low. What he eats, how much he eats, illness, and activity level all impact blood sugar numbers. As we are finding out, predicting the tastes, appetite, and activity level of a toddler is quite difficult.
