Hello everyone! For this topic, I want to introduce to you a 23 years old registered nurse who works night shift. She was diagnosed of Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 14 years old. For security purposes, I will call her Diana. I got the opportunity to interview her while working in a medical surgical in-patient unit. Diana had a challenging teenager life. Her family does not have a history of diabetes. No hereditary traits or genetic related disease that can lead to Type 1 Diabetes. Managing her disease as a young teenager resulted into multiple life and death experiences. She had an experience wherein she was asleep and her blood sugar level tanked low. There were some scenario that her blood sugar went too high and needed to be admitted for interventions. Currently, she was so thankful with the science evolution and invention of devices to automatically monitor her blood sugar level.
Living the Nightshift: A Diabetic Nurse’s Story of Adaptation
Diana have medical condition downfalls at times working on a night shift. Incidents like her blood sugar becomes erratic and she needs to take a quick break for her to correct her sugar level. She needs to take juices and diabetic meal to increase her sugar level. At times, the device patch loosens up or may require further re-enforcement https://amzn.to/3NDU26C.
While at work, she makes sure that her insulin pump are working properly and has enough medicine into it. She expressed that the invention of new blood glucose level monitoring system, partnered with insulin pumps made her life better and more normal. The CGM system monitors her blood sugar level continuously and deliver Insulin shots according to the result. These devices works 24/7. So after work, she can eat and go to sleep without worrying that she needs to check her blood sugar and inject insulin. The device also alarms and vibrate to notify the patient if the blood sugar becomes critical in level. She uses a particular brand from Dexcom products. The devices are linked directly into her mobile phone.
Navigating Diabetes in a Family-Free Zone
The absence of hereditary diabetes in her family made her wonder and felt isolated during the diagnosis of her disease. Dealing with the uniqueness of her condition within her family was not easy. She needed to completely changed her life style, diet, and daily routine according to the management of her disease. Although her family became her support system that helped her to pass all the avenues of coping mechanisms, her psycho-social aspects suffered. However, the Dexcom products made her life easier and simple to manage https://amzn.to/3NDU26C.
Looking Ahead: Diabetes and Family Planning
Diana is about to get married this year. She worries about the potential genetic implications for her future children. The increased risk of diabetes in offspring and how to be prepared occupies her thoughts. Personal sentiments on family planning with diabetes maybe difficult to navigate. Also, she needs to be double careful in planning her pregnancy. Professional perspectives on diabetes management during pregnancy is a must for her.
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