please help Akira manage diabetes in the most magnificent super hero way

I write this just as we are about to hit one month since Akira’s unexpected diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. It threw our lives upside down, and yes things have changed for ever. At the same time, our family does realise as far as diseases that suck go, it could be worse. Diabetes is well researched, and can be well managed. We are determined to face it head on and be the best at handling it that we can. Akira has been courageous, and the colour has returned those beautiful cheeks as the first weeks of treatment come to fruition. In reality he has been unwell for months and months, before any symptoms had shown, so these first signs of him returning to normal is heartwarming. He has been coming to terms with it mentally and emotionally with strength too. His fears were full on of course, and we have slowly driven them away. He understands his treatment plan, and knows it is for the best for him, he will say this over and over to himself as he receives his frequent injections.The other day he said to me, “Mummy, it feels like diabetes is taking over my life. I would like it to be just a little bit of my life so I can have fun again”. That led me to seriously thinking about what is going to be the best way to go forward. That's when I came across the Libre sensor.

Currently Akira fingerpicks his fingers several times a day, this is a fine needle that allows some drops of blood to be used to read his glucose levels. This is absolutely essential in his daily management. His wee fingers are bruised and battered, yet he does it every time.

The most negative situations we must look out for, at all times include:

A hypo (hypoglycaemia). This is when the blood glucose level drops too low. For a child of Akira’s age these are most likely to occur at school, possibly a few times a week. They can be treated with a 10-15 minute procedure when caught quickly. Otherwise it can be extremely dangerous. With the Libre, Akira would continue his day as normal. A one second scan of an implant in his arm will give his reading, and a picture of where his glucose is likely heading.

You can also have a hypo of the other extreme, where the blood glucose is too high. This is most likely to occur when Akira is unwell. Again, it can be extremely dangerous. This involves additional monitoring, this time of the ketones. High ketones occur during illness, and can cause ketoacidous. This requires urgent hospitalisation and treatment. Untreated it can cause organ damage or death.

This means when Akira is unwell with a cold or fever, light or heavy, he will need to be tested every two hours. If you have a child, or know anyone with kids, you can probably figure how many days a year a child of this age encounters those random illnesses and imagine how many sleepless/disrupted nights we have ahead of us - which is terrible for him, and as his mum and the only adult in our house, for me too.

Further, Akira is still in what they call the honeymoon period, where his pancreas is still creating a minimal amount of insulin. This currently gets him through the night. Once it disappears, we will find out if he is prone to hypos of any sort during the night, and again, he may need more frequent monitoring.

Libre is the latest technology available. It is not yet here in NZ, yet we can access it with the full support of our Diabetes Medical team. The lead doctor has said yes, Akira and the Libre would be a perfect match. It involves an implant under the skin, a scanner and reading device. Akira’s glucose levels will be able to read in the most non invasive way. HIs glucose trends will be apparent, we will have signs of what is to come. And at night, I can check him without disturbing his sleep.