Fifth grader talks about diabetes | New

Diabetes is a condition that impairs the body's ability to produce or react to this hormone, resulting in abnormal carbohydrate metabolism and high levels of glucose in the blood and urine.

The Ohio Department of Health estimates there are more than one million diabetics in Buckeye State and many others who may not even know it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes is more prevalent in the Appalachians than in the country as a whole.

The Diabetes Institute of the University College of Osteopathic Medicine Heritage of the University of Ohio conducted a needs assessment survey in 2016 and the results, recently published, are of great concern .

The evaluation found that in Hocking, Athens, Vinton, Meigs, Perry, Morgan and Washington counties and in Wood County, West Virginia, diabetes prevalence rates far exceeded CDC, including:

CDC estimate for 2013: 14.6%

2016 survey: 21.9%

2016 survey: 19.8%

Research has shown that rising rates of diabetes are likely linked to higher rates of obesity, patients not taking the disease seriously, health system failures, social factors (including income, education and food insecurity), a lack of education about diabetes and lifestyle. choices (including poor eating habits and lack of physical activity), according to the needs assessment study conducted by Ohio University.

There are different types of diabetes, but the most common are types 1 and 2.

Experts at the National Institute of Health (NIH) have stated that for type 1 diabetes, in most cases, "the immune system attacks and crushes pancreatic cells that make insulin ". Since insulin is no longer manufactured, it is imperative for people with type 1 diabetes to take insulin every day or they will die, as reported by the NIH.

Doctors say that type 2 diabetes occurs when the body "does not produce enough insulin or does not use it properly," which can cause "too much glucose in the blood," according to the NIH. However, NIH health professionals have stated that there are ways to deal with this problem, such as changing their lifestyle: quitting and losing weight.

A person with diabetes will look a lot like everyone else – you will see a fully functional person. What you will not see is the insulin injections you need every day to keep that person alive or the insulin pump she's wearing under her clothes.

You will see a smiley face most of the time; However, you will not see tears flowing from the frustration caused by the highs and lows of blood sugar, even if you try to keep them in the normal range.

You will often see someone who makes the disease easy or effortless. What you do not see are the nights when hypoglycemia prevents the diabetic from sleeping. you will not see the tiny needle holes on the fingertips and the scars of the needles.

You see someone who is alive and well. What you do not see are all the battles and obstacles they have gone through to reach this stage of their lives.

A 10-year-old boy from the area was diagnosed with juvenile type 1 diabetes shortly before his fifth birthday. Looking at Nathan Davis, he looks like any other grade five student: full of energy, very athletic and very competent in controlling his diabetes.

Beth, the mother of Davis, remembers very well the day Nathan was first diagnosed – November 7, 2012. Being in the medical field, Beth began to notice that Nathan was constantly thirsty – more than normal . This, coupled with other symptoms, led her to believe that something serious could be wrong.

"We checked her sugar one day and it was over 600," she recalls. "With excessive thirst for two days, it was really disturbing."

Although he does not have to take daily doses of insulin, Nathan has a steady companion with him 24 hours a day, an insulin pump, which helps him manage his diabetes. The insulin pump helps Nathan maintain his blood glucose level in the target range.

When asked how diabetes affected his lifestyle, Nathan said, "When I run a lot, my blood sugar goes down. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to faint. It's a little scary.

"At first, I did not know much about diabetes," said Beth. "At first, it was overwhelming. We followed two days of training at the hospital when he was diagnosed. He was admitted to Children's. There were classes and training for parents and family members. "

Beth remarked that there was a lot to learn: portion control, carbohydrate counting, top up and down management.

"The first few months were very difficult," she said. "He had fired for nine months, so he would have had four a day – at least four, sometimes more. After nine months, we started the first insulin pump, which helped us because we only have to change sites every three days. It is very overwhelming to know that your life is in your hands. "

Although Beth tends to have control of the situation, she noted that Nathan could have seizures, which can put his life at risk if his blood sugar goes down. She said Logan's daily newspaper that Nathan had an epileptic seizure and that it was very scary.

While Nathan was listening to his mother talk about the challenges of diabetes, he said that unless something changes and scientists find a cure, he will always be diabetic.

"Type 1 diabetes is a life sentence," commented Beth. "He will always have it unless, as he said, something changes and that they find a cure."

Even if he is only a fifth grade student, this young man is able to check his blood sugar and change the site of his insulin pump.

Nathan said Logan's daily newspaper, In total, three fifth graders are diabetic. These are alarming words: in our small region of Ohio, in a classroom, three students have diabetes.

As Nathan is very active in the sport, Beth carries a lot of juice boxes to the games. it also carries insulin reserves in case its blood sugar levels drop.

"It's a concern, but he knows when he feels bad and knows what to do," she said.

"Sometimes you have the impression of being a failure. Am I hurting my child? They may have kidney failure at a younger age, have vision problems, and do your best to monitor it, "said Beth. "It's always in my head: do I do enough things as a parent? Should I have let him take the cake at the birthday party?

As for the daily routine, the first thing Nathan does when awake is to check his sugar and write it in his journal. Beth prepares her lunch to get to school to make sure he has the right amount of carbs each day. During the day, if he begins to feel uncomfortable, he informs the school nurse, who is also well trained for any situation that may occur.

"These are things that people take for granted and that we have to deal with – like counting carbohydrates, drinking sodas without sugar, etc.," said Beth. "He can eat more often, but he has to watch for carbohydrates."

Nathan does not let his diabetes thwart his passion – sports – he's active in basketball, baseball and bowling.

Nathan hopes that one day scientists will find a cure for diabetes and that no other child or their family will have to endure the pain and heartaches of the disease.