Spring Break
Superkid manages life with Type 1 diabetes
Sandra Jordan/Special to the NNPA
Issue date: 12/9/07 Section: Health
ST. LOUIS (NNPA) - "Brendon never got sick. That was probably the hardest part," Kynedra Ogunnaike said about her son. Playing the drums, sports, and everything about being an active 6-year-old boy came into question when Brendon Ogunnaike was challenged by a life-changing illness.
"The only thing we noticed was that he was very thirsty and he had to use the bathroom a lot - he had to urinate constantly. When he had to go, he had to go and that was new to him," she said. Ogunnaike took her son to the doctor, where her suspicions were confirmed.
It was Type 1 or juvenile onset diabetes, a rare form affecting only 5 to 10 percent of all diabetics and prevalent in eight percent of African Americans. Type 1diabetes is an autoimmune disease - T cells infiltrate the pancreas, eventually destroying the insulin-producing B-islet cells. As a result, the pancreas stops producing the hormone insulin, which is used to convert/store glucose for energy in the body.
Type 1 diabetics are treated by insulin injections, because digestive fluids in the stomach would destroy an insulin pill before it could be used by the body. Brendon had to learn how to give himself shots.
"Sometimes I would be scared because I was really afraid of needles, and then I would just go ahead and do it to get it over with," said Brandon who at one time took 12 to 15 shots a day. "They hurt."
That was three years ago. Brendon, now nine, manages his insulin-dependent diabetes with an insulin pump.
"I turn it on and then I go to 'Menu,' click 'Bolus,' then I click on 'Carb Smart,' then I put in my levels and counts for the carbs that I have eaten for that meal," Brendon said. The medical term bolus refers to a large dose of a substance injected to rapidly achieve the needed therapeutic concentration in the bloodstream.
Brendon uses the insulin pump about four our five times a day, in addition to sticking his fingers about six or seven times a day to check his blood sugar levels.
"The only thing we noticed was that he was very thirsty and he had to use the bathroom a lot - he had to urinate constantly. When he had to go, he had to go and that was new to him," she said. Ogunnaike took her son to the doctor, where her suspicions were confirmed.
It was Type 1 or juvenile onset diabetes, a rare form affecting only 5 to 10 percent of all diabetics and prevalent in eight percent of African Americans. Type 1diabetes is an autoimmune disease - T cells infiltrate the pancreas, eventually destroying the insulin-producing B-islet cells. As a result, the pancreas stops producing the hormone insulin, which is used to convert/store glucose for energy in the body.
Type 1 diabetics are treated by insulin injections, because digestive fluids in the stomach would destroy an insulin pill before it could be used by the body. Brendon had to learn how to give himself shots.
"Sometimes I would be scared because I was really afraid of needles, and then I would just go ahead and do it to get it over with," said Brandon who at one time took 12 to 15 shots a day. "They hurt."
That was three years ago. Brendon, now nine, manages his insulin-dependent diabetes with an insulin pump.
"I turn it on and then I go to 'Menu,' click 'Bolus,' then I click on 'Carb Smart,' then I put in my levels and counts for the carbs that I have eaten for that meal," Brendon said. The medical term bolus refers to a large dose of a substance injected to rapidly achieve the needed therapeutic concentration in the bloodstream.
Brendon uses the insulin pump about four our five times a day, in addition to sticking his fingers about six or seven times a day to check his blood sugar levels.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
Melissa
posted 12/11/07 @ 3:04 AM EST
Hats off to Brendon and his family. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a preteen and have used an insulin pump for over 11 years. It does get easier in some ways but puberty can be a real wild ride!
To the author: when you say "affecting only 5 to 10 percent of all diabetics and prevalent in eight percent of African Americans" surely you don't mean that 8% of all African Americans have type 1 diabetes? Perhaps 8% of African Americans have some form of diabetes, which would mean a large number of people with type 2 diabetes. (Continued…)
Post a Comment