Diabetes is a disease that many may have heard about, but not truly know what impact it can have. Diabetes affects the insulin producing cells, where the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels. Managing these levels can affect the way people live life on a daily basis.
Diabetes has two types and both are very different. Type 1 is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks insulin-producing cells, so insulin must be injected daily. Type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance, where the body doesn’t use insulin properly, and it is often managed with diet, exercise, and medication, and can sometimes be reversed. Diabetes can be deadly if left untreated or poorly managed.
Junior Lauren Ehrhart is a type 1 diabetic. She said her mental health is affected by diabetes because her mood fluctuates with her blood sugar levels.
“I learned that diabetes makes you more prone to depression and a lot of diabetics end up having it,” Lauren said. “It kind of sucks knowing there’s a risk of dying early, and you’re left out a lot when you’re younger.”
Sophomore Emma Hicks is another type 1 diabetic from our school. Most diabetics have to watch what they eat on a daily basis, so they can manage their blood sugar levels.
“It has a really big impact,” Emma said. “It affects the things I am eating, and I have to make sure what I eat is appropriate so that way my levels don’t spike or drop.”
Senior Jackson Herrington was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 2 years old. Jack said it runs in his family.
“Diabetes doesn’t directly affect my mental health other than the extreme mood swings that come with high blood sugar,” Jack said. “However, diabetes has forced me to quit many sports I love, such as football and track, which has been rather disheartening.”
Diabetics also use devices called dexcoms and omnipods which help regulate blood sugar levels. These devices deliver insulin under the skin to keep glucose levels in the right range. They connect to apps on cell phones, which Jack said has caused some awkward conversations with teachers due to the new cell phone ban.
“The current phone ban hasn’t greatly affected things, as I have legal accommodation due to me having to check my phone in order to see my blood sugar,” Jack said. “However, it has caused some confusion with admin and teachers.”
About 11% of the population has diabetes. November was also National Diabetes Month, a national effort to raise awareness about diabetes and its prevalence.
“As of the current time, there is no cure for diabetes,” Jack said. “However, there are treatments that are in the process of testing. With that being said, whenever a cure is developed, it will likely be so expensive that the average person such as myself won’t be able to afford it.”
