Allow me to introduce……our son, Trace!
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and in honor of this month, we want to tell you a little about our Type 1 Warrior.
Diagnosis Story
On January 19, 2016, Trace was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 18 months old. After weeks of exhibiting extreme thirst (which we attributed to teething), soaking through his diapers and vomiting, Trace became very lethargic and could barely move or hold his head up. After taking him to the pediatrician’s office, where his urine was checked, I was told to take him to the ER immediately. Trace had a blood sugar of 1,000 and was in DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), and it could be life threatening.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone essential for turning food into energy. The onset of Type 1 has NOTHING to do with diet or lifestyle. Someone with T1D must constantly monitor their blood sugar level, inject insulin multiple times per day or infuse insulin through an insulin pump and carefully balance their insulin doses with their eating, daily activity, emotions and many other day-to-day experiences. Even with constant attention and detail, those with T1D run the risks of dangerous high and low blood sugar levels, both of which can be life threatening.
Almost five years later
On January 19, 2021 we will celebrate Trace’s 5 year diaversary (the anniversary of his diagnosis date). In the five years we’ve been a T1D family, we’ve experienced many highs and lows (pun intended!). We’ve had to deal with grieving the loss of the life we thought we’d have, anxiety and fear rearing their ugly heads for both Tyrece and me. Educating our oldest, Tate, as he hasn’t always understood the extra care and attention Trace requires. And now, as Trace has gotten older, trying to answer his questions of why he has diabetes, when will it go away and why he needs to wear an insulin pump. I will not say the last five years have been easy, but I will say we’ve made it through (almost) five years and I know we’ll make it through the next five and the next five after that or until a cure is discovered.
How did we get here?
This journey has required a lot of prayer, a lot of faith, some therapy (for me), many tears and focusing on one day at a time. We trust God with everything in us. We trust that when the hard times come (and they do and will), God always provides us with the strength we need to make it.
Managing Type 1 Diabetes for your child (or any other illness for that matter) comes with many challenges, but remembering your why will get you through, one day at a time.
During National Diabetes Awareness Month, and every day before and after, we will push through every challenge–every high, every low, and every difficult day in between– for our son, Trace.
Tell us your why in the comments below!
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