Mrs.

My 5-year old son, Jordan is a Type I diabetic. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar (glucose), starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

Jordan receives insulin four times a day. The breakfast, lunch, and dinner insulin are given three times a day. The insulin that he receives at meals is a fast acting insulin-Humalog. At bedtime, he receives a 24-hour insulin (Lantus). The 24-hour insulin is long lasting. I am analyzing the amount of insulin received based on the time of day, the amount of carbohydrates eaten, and the measure of blood sugar levels.

The blood sugar levels vary throughout the time of day, based on the activity of the body. A good blood sugar level falls in a range of 70-170. 200-239, is slightly high. 240+ is severely, and can be dangerous. If the blood sugar level is 240+, we must check the urine for ketones. Ketocidosis means dangerously high levels of ketones. Ketones are acids that build up in the blood. They appear in the urine when the body doesn't have enough insulin. Ketones can poison the body. They are a warning sign that diabetes is out of control. Prevention of ketoacidosis is by learning the warning signs and checking the urine and blood regularly.

Because he receives insulin with meals three times a day, we must measure his meals and count carbohydrates to determine the amount of insulin he receives. This may vary from week to week, depending on his body's reactions to all of the activities, the amount of carbohydrates he receives, and the blood sugar levels. To determine the changes of insulin the diabetes team requires that patients keep logs of their activities, meals, and blood sugar readings.

For this project I kept a of Jordan's blood sugar readings for 12