Posted: May 21, 2021 / 10:28 pm EDTUpdated: May 21, 2021 / 11:43 PM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Just over a million people in the US live with type 1 diabetes … including infants. When treating these small patients, fingerprints are often used throughout the day to test blood sugar levels. For a little girl, a new type of technology eliminates this difficult step.
For 21-month-old Peyton, nothing beats hanging out with a good book. It is a welcome relief for her mother. Not so long ago …
“She was at my mother’s house and she called me and said, ‘Something is different, you know, she drinks six bottles and her mouth is sandpaper,'” recalled Peyton’s mother, Christina Duncan.
After eight months, Peyton was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Your pancreas was not producing any insulin. If left untreated, it can lead to coma or even death.
“She is the youngest type 1 diabetes patient I have ever looked after,” said Dr. Daniela Cohen, a pediatric endocrinologist at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
The diagnosis meant that Peyton would need insulin every day of her life.
“And the other thing is, we have to keep our blood sugar checked,” explained Dr. Cohen.
What makes it harder is that a baby as young as Peyton can’t tell us how they’re feeling.
“Your blood sugar can fluctuate in 30 to 40 minutes,” recalls Christina.
“So most parents do a fingerstick 10 to 20 times a day,” said Dr. Cohen.
For this reason, Doctor Daniela Cohen introduced Peyton’s mother, Christina, to a type of blood sugar sensor, the Dexcom G6. It’s FDA cleared for children ages two and up, but doctors thought Peyton was a good candidate for it.
“This sensor is inserted under the skin, checks the blood sugar every five minutes and shows it on a screen for the parents,” said Dr. Cohen.
An alarm will also sound if the numbers are out of range so Peyton can get a snack or insulin to correct it.
“It calmed our minds. She can do what other children do, ”said Christina.
Unlike other blood glucose sensors, the Dexcom G6 only needs to be changed once every ten days. Parents can even monitor levels from their cell phones. Most doctors say the benefits are enormous.
Contributors to this news report include: Cyndy McGrath, Executive Producer; Jennifer Winter, field producer; Rusty Reed, videographer; Roque Correa, editor.
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Swell:
https://www.healthline.com/health/type-1-diabetes-causes-symtoms-treatments#life-expectancy-and-statistics
