The Worst Kind of Post



This past weekend was a major blow to the Type 1 Diabetes Community. We lost two little kids to complications from undiagnosed type 1 diabetes. One was Kycie Terry, 5, who suffered a traumatic brain injury due to brain swelling from DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) in January 2015 and succumbed to complications on July 11, 2015. A day later, we learned of David Brown, 4, whose DKA case was too advanced and he succumbed within days of initial diagnosis.

 

Unfortunately, these two cases are just the latest in a long line of undiagnosed children becoming casualties due to a lack of awareness of Type 1 Diabetes symptoms, and a tendency for doctors to avoid looking for the "zebra" amongst the horses (flu, bladder infection, viral infections, stomach viruses, asthma, sinus infections, UTI's, dehydration, anxiety). Here is a video from the parents of Rocco Kuehl, a Florida boy who had just celebrated his 1st birthday. His parents have set up a charity Drive for Diabetes Awareness in his honor to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes. It is heartbreaking to hear these preventable stories.

 

 

 

 



Something has to give. Over 1.25 million Americans live with Type 1 diabetes, and the rates are growing at a staggering percentage. There is no known cause or cure. Type 1 diabetes is too often a "silent killer" of not only youths, but also adults. This is not type 2 diabetes, and this is not something to laugh about.

 

How is it possible that so many people are still dying in a first-world country from a condition that can be diagnosed for pennies??  Doctors will swab for sore throats, urine is collected for UTI's, ears are checked for possible ear infections. Why are we not checking glucose with a single drop of blood or a urine dipstick for kids who present with these symptoms? Flu-like symptoms in diabetics means they are already progressing into a dangerous complication, known as Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA has symptoms such as breathing issues, fruity smell to their breath, vomiting, stomach pains, dry mouth, in addition to the classic diabetes symptoms of excessive urination (frequently shows as bed wetting in younger children), extreme thirst, sudden weight loss, extreme tiredness/lethargy, increased appetite (although can also present as decreased appetite).  Don't guess, CHECK!!


This is an Infographic that can be saved as an image, printed and distributed to your
local pediatrician's office(s), clinics, waiting rooms, etc. Spread awareness and save lives!



This is an Infographic that can be saved as an image, printed and distributed to your
local pediatrician's office(s), clinics, waiting rooms, etc. Spread awareness and save lives!

For more information on DKA prevention and more posters available for download, visit www.testonedrop.org