Type 1 Diabetes In Children: As a parent, you can always sense when something’s off with your child, even when the signs are subtle and easy to overlook.
Six days after her son Bain’s first birthday, Marlee Brandon, 28, noticed that he seemed fussier than usual and was cutting his bottom teeth. Concerned, she took him to urgent care. After a quick examination, Bain was diagnosed with a bilateral ear infection and was given some antibiotics. However, on the ride home, his condition took a dramatic turn for the worse. He couldn’t stop vomiting, but was drinking as much water and breast milk as he could, and his breathing became labored. Eventually, he had no strength left to hold up his head.
The situation quickly escalated to an emergency room visit where the doctors delivered a shocking diagnosis: Bain had Type 1 Diabetes in Children. This unexpected news would alter the course of their lives in a matter of hours. On August 16, 2024, Bain was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) – a life-threatening condition caused by high blood sugar. He was airlifted to a children’s hospital where his parents learned how to navigate their son’s new medical reality.
Marlee recalls, “I was in complete shock. When you take your infant to the ER, you expect the diagnosis to be something manageable, like strep throat or RSV, but never something as life-changing as Type 1 Diabetes.”
For the next three days, Bain was in the ICU while his blood sugar levels were stabilized. Marlee and her husband Chandler spent the following days learning how to care for Bain’s new needs, gradually gaining confidence in managing his condition.
Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Managing the Condition Day by Day
As Bain adjusted to his new lifestyle, Marlee gradually accepted that life with Type 1 Diabetes in Children meant constant vigilance. There were no shortcuts—every meal required insulin calculations, every day was filled with site changes, and every moment brought a new challenge. “T1D burnout is real,” says Marlee. “It takes everything you have to act as a pancreas for your child.”
Marlee and Chandler closely monitor Bain’s Dexcom readings, count carbs for every meal, and make sure he has a joyful childhood despite the challenges. “It’s exhausting, but we do everything we can to give him a happy life,” Marlee adds.
Her training as a speech-language pathologist helps her communicate effectively with Bain about his condition. She believes in early education, as demonstrated in her viral TikTok where she explains Type 1 Diabetes in Children to Bain in simple terms. “Kids can understand more than we give them credit for,” she says. “We want him to feel confident and empowered, not scared of his diabetes.”
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Source: www.people.com
