(BPT) - People living with type 1 diabetes live with an invisible burden. Between nonstop checking and balancing blood glucose levels, anxiety about every meal or snack, plus juggling everyday obligations - it's a lot like constantly trying to keep a balloon in the air, all day, every day.
Kris Leeper knows exactly what that's like. As an avid traveler, foodie, and golfer, he had a busy, active life at age 26, and considered himself healthy. However, after an unexpected onset of extreme exhaustion, his wife Tierra urged him to seek medical attention. What started as a visit to urgent care quickly escalated to an ER trip, where he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Suddenly, Kris was navigating his everyday life with a new reality - the constant balancing act of managing diabetes.
Every November, the Medtronic Blue Balloon Challenge aims to shine a light on what living with type 1 diabetes is really like for people like Kris. While many people have heard of type 1 diabetes, not everyone truly understands the daily challenges and relentless balancing act required to manage this complex condition around the clock.
What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce insulin, preventing glucose from entering cells and functioning properly. Without proper management, high or low blood glucose can be deadly.
Coping with type 1 diabetes
Because Kris didn't know anything about type 1 diabetes when he was diagnosed, he had a lot of information to absorb and process.
"It was total sensory overload," Kris recalled. "This was 2013, and the doctors' best advice at the time was to 'eat less, carry around a bottle of insulin and needles, and give myself shots six to seven times a day.' I was in disbelief."
Managing all the components of daily treatment along with his busy job and active social life seemed overwhelming. Kris learned the hard way that the need to monitor his blood glucose constantly, plan every meal, and cope with the anxiety that came with it created a significant burden.
"Managing my diabetes is like having two full-time jobs," added Kris. "The Blue Balloon Challenge is a very accurate representation of what it feels like day in and day out."
The mental health burden of type 1 diabetes
Managing type 1 diabetes treatment is a constant balancing act that's invisible to the outside world. In fact, according to the CDC, people with diabetes are 2-3 times more likely to have depression than people without diabetes. These feelings can increase stress levels, which can negatively impact blood glucose and lead to more stress, creating a vicious cycle.
Kris says he's learned a lot over the years about how to keep that balloon in the air - monitoring all those daily details about his health, while handling the stress and anxiety that comes with it. He has also learned that he can lean on friends, family - especially his wife Tierra - for support.
"Watching my husband navigate the emotional burden of type 1 diabetes, I feel the weight of his struggles deeply. I strive to be his safe haven, reminding him it's OK to feel overwhelmed," said Tierra. "Together, we share this journey, finding strength in our love and hope in the smallest victories."
Support from the type 1 diabetes community
One of the main challenges for people like Kris is that type 1 diabetes is largely an invisible illness, making it hard for others to understand its seriousness. Joining the #BlueBalloonChallenge connects you with a supportive community and highlights the hidden struggles of living with diabetes. For further support, join the Medtronic Champion community - a global network dedicated to helping people navigate the ups and downs of life with diabetes.
Diabetes Awareness Month in November and World Diabetes Day on November 14 provide opportunities to learn about this disease and to highlight champions like Kris who strive to thrive with diabetes every day, and the loved ones in their lives who support them.
Help make the invisible, visible by filming your own challenge and sharing it on social media with the hashtag #BlueBalloonChallenge.
Learn more at MedtronicDiabetes.com/blue-balloon-challenge.
