Type 1 in the Time of Covid
It’s November again! Diabetes Awareness Month! I know, how can it possibly be November? Just yesterday it was March. Right? Ugh…
It has been a crazy 9 months. All of our worlds have been upended in one way or another. I have had numerous people ask us how we’re dealing, what with the “diabetes and all”. In response I have written this blog post a hundred different ways since the spring. Every time I would go for a run to clear my head, I would craft this response. Every time I kissed Marshall goodbye as he headed off to work (residential moving is deemed an essential service), I would think of my reply. Every time I created another video for my google classroom and remote students I would have something to say about it. And every time I see the frustration and overwhelm in my kids’ faces as they wake up for another day of “distance learning”, I think about their diabetes during the pandemic.
The short answer: we’re doing just fine. Everyone is healthy. We’re managing as well as you are. I joke that I have been training for a pandemic my whole life. I’ve taught the kids from a very early age (pre-type 1) that you ALWAYS wash your hands after being out in public, you NEVER touch a grimy grocery cart without first wiping it down, and if you’re sick you STAY HOME. We have always done all we can to stay healthy: stay distanced from others who are sick, support our immune system by eating well, sleeping well (them, not me), and getting our time outside. Because you see, whether it’s covid, the flu, or a stomach virus, everything could be deadly for my type 1s.
Typically my anxiety about illness is seasonal. Maybe I should be more honest and say I experience my GREATEST anxiety during the cold and flu season (because honestly, I’m always anxious). October through March my nerves are on high alert. Every sniffle, headache, or stomach upset is met by one of my various remedies. I’m constantly keeping an ear open for what’s “going around” at school, or if someone from class was out sick. I do this because managing any illness when you have diabetes can be very hard, and can ultimately land you in the hospital. Ketones develop, blood sugars run high or low depending on the associated symptoms, and appetites can be impacted when fighting off a bug. So how am I doing during this pandemic? Stressed. Anxious. Raw. My usual summer hiatus from anxiety was canceled this year due to the pandemic, along with everything else.
I bet you’ve all heard the statistic “those with diabetes are at a higher risk of catching covid, and also at a higher risk of developing serious complications”. That’s only partially true. When you hear this statement on the news, they’re talking about type 2 diabetes. 95% of all people with “diabetes” have type 2, so people like to make grand generalizations when it comes to statements about diabetes. You see, my kid isn’t any more likely to catch covid than yours. As long as a person with type 1 is maintaining healthy blood sugars, they’re not at any greater risk of getting sick. This holds true for all the other bugs flying around out there too. If their blood sugars are running high THEN they would be more susceptible to catching an illness. A healthy person with type 1 has as strong an immune system as any non-diabetic. In my opinion, I believe my children have a STRONGER immune system than most kids. Because they have type 1 we tend to eat healthier, avoid sugar unless necessary, prioritize sleep, pay attention to emotional health, find ways to destress, and exercise regularly. This is important for their diabetes health, which leads to a more healthful person overall. Now, the true part of the initial statement is that they’re more likely to develop serious complications. But that’s not because it’s “covid”, it’s just true in general about getting sick. Like I mentioned before, it’s hard to manage illness when your entire endocrine system is wonky.
So as far as our health goes, we’re all doing just fine. Our immune protocol has been upped a bit and we’re paying closer attention to the most minor of symptoms, but in general we’re managing the pandemic just like everyone else. I’ll let you read into that as you will…and will post more about how we’re all doing in the coming days. Because diabetes is more than just blood sugars and site changes….
