Life in my body... with type 1 diabetes h
Khadija Stewart-Brown, 25, has had the condition since childhood. This is what it’s like
aving type 1 diabetes means always having an extra burden, whatever you do. I was diagnosed when I was nine years old, but I’ve had problems with insulin production since I was a baby.
I was born prematurely, and my pancreas was overproducing insulin, so 95% of it had to be removed. I was constantly monitored throughout my childhood until, aged nine, they realised my body wasn’t producing insulin (which regulates blood sugar levels) so I had to start taking regular injections of it.
Whenever I was out with friends or on a school trip, I’d have to pack a kit, not only with syringes but with instructions for what would happen in case of an emergency. I remember thinking how unfair it was – no one else in my class had to do the same. But if my blood sugar falls below a certain level, something which can happen quickly and for all sorts of reasons – from skipping a meal or not having enough carbs – I can go into what’s called a “hypo”: I feel dizzy and get blurred vision. I also suddenly feel really hungry. I know how to spot when it’s about to happen, but if I don’t, and it’s untreated, I could go into a coma.
The scary thing is it can often happen when I’m asleep, so I might not be as aware. I live with my mum and it’s like she has a sixth sense for them – she often comes in to check on me. If I become unresponsive there’s an injection of glucose she can administer.
Because a hypo can happen so easily, I have to be really careful with what I eat – I monitor and count carbohydrates and if I’m going to have alcohol, which causes blood sugar to spike, I have to make sure I’ve eaten properly.
I used to have to inject myself three times a day – I hated it. I’d even keep it a secret from my friends as I was embarrassed. But when I turned 16, I moved from injections to an insulin pump, which is attached to my stomach; I just press a button and it only needs to be filled up every three days.
The difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is that with type 1 your immune system is attacking the cells that produce insulin, whereas with type 2 your body isn’t producing enough. Because it’s immunesystem based, it means I am high-risk for catching COVID. I had to shield for 12 weeks.
For a long time,
I didn’t have friends who were diabetic, but I’ve been getting to know people on the Diabetes UK forums. I can chat to them about how I’m feeling, or things I might not want to talk to my doctor about. It can be a hard thing to deal with, as living a normal life is more complicated, so having people who understand really helps.