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Things I'd like to see/tired of seeing as a T1D (Type 1 Diabetic)

Don't make low bloodsugar a rare thing that requires emergency attention.

I get low bloodsugars often but nothing too bad that causes me to be on the verge of unconsciousness (like I see in shows or movies). The lowest of lows that I get are maybe around 60s or 50s but usually I eat 4 or 5 gummies and it's fine. I've been in the 30s before but that still didn't require a trip to the hospital or glucagon (or as I like to call it, big red).

Talk more about high bloodsugars.

Usually when I'm experiencing a high bloodsugar I feel thirsty and tired. It can make me moody sometimes. It usually takes maybe a couple of hours to come down to a good number. I give myself a dose of insulin to help. Or I'll set a temporary basal on my pump to help even more. It increases my insulin intake and I usually set it 50% or 70% for 1 or 2 hours.

Bloodstains.

Happens a lot, usually from checking my bloodsugar I wipe my finger afterwards but sometimes it still bleeds a little and I don't notice it so I usually get small bloodstains on my hands, clothes, my bed sheets, my plushies unfortunately. It's annoying but it happens sometimes.

Decorations!

There are companys that make decorations for your insulin pumps, your meters (the device that I use to check my bloodsugar), even these circle patch things that go around pump sites (sites are the port thing that goes on my body and connects to my insulin pump with a tube and that's how I get my insulin). I currently have a decal on my pump that has a cool pattern on it. There's also cases. So many options!

Noises.

My pump makes alert noises often for different reasons. (Low insulin cartridge, low battery, time to change your site, etc). But I also hear when my pump gives me insulin. It's not awfully loud but I notice it. I don't know exactly how to describe it but it's sort of like a "drrrrr" sound.

Different pump brands.

There's more than one pump brand. I currently have a T Slim pump. I used to use an Animas pump before they went out of business. Another pump brand is Medtronic. Also the Pod (a tubeless pump that's similar to a site) So keep that in mind!

Site changes and refilling insulin.

I have to change my pump sites usually every 4 days or so? (You're supposed to change it every 3 days but sometimes I go longer to save sites). It's kind of like changing a bandaid. You shouldn't keep the same bandaid on for a month! Also when you do change it you have to move it to a different spot to prevent scarring. I switch between my backside, hips, sometimes thighs. But you can have it other places like your arms or stomach. Anywhere with a lot of body fat to help with pain. Sometimes it accidentally hits a nerve and hurts like hell so I try to avoid that. As for insulin changing, I usually refill it after a week? It fills up to 240+ units of insulin and I usually get a warning when it's down to 40 units to refill it.

CGMS and insulin pumps

they are NOT the same thing. CGM stands for Continuous Glucose Monitoring system. It tracks your bloodsugar so you don't have to have as many finger pricks. I personally don't have a CGM. There isn't a device yet that combines the two that has one site. A lot of people have both and some pumps can communicate with the CGM. Since I'm not too experienced with CGMs I'm going to move on.

Not everyone uses a pump

Some people use shots instead. When I was first diagnosed I was on shots until I got my first insulin pump. There's pros and cons to both. I personally prefer pumps.

That we don't take care of ourselves good enough

I see this trope a lot in fiction and while some people are going to be better at managing their T1D than others, most of the time we stay on it. We're not all on the verge of kidney failure or having to lose a foot.

That we're ashamed or embarrassed so we always hide our sites or pumps

Occasionally there's times where I do decide to keep it more of a secret but I don't usually feel embarrassed or ashamed. Sometimes I think it's cool to show off my site or pump. This is one of those things that's going to be different for each person but personally I'd like to see more characters embracing it.

And lastly. One of the biggest things I see in media that's a MAJOR problem. GIVING SOMEONE INSULIN WHEN THEY HAVE A LOW BLOODSUGAR!

This is very dangerous! You give someone more insulin if they have a HIGH bloodsugar not low! Insulin causes your bloodsugar to go down so you obviously wouldn't give someone with a low bloodsugar more insulin.

This could cause death! This seriously needs to be stopped in media.

(Now obviously there's probably more that I could've talked about but these were the main things off the top of my head. Just remember to do research when writing a T1D character. And if you have a question literally just ask someone who actually is T1D. Thanks for reading! I hoped this could help someone!)

Non T1D can reblog this post but don't add to it.