Nels

Anderson
Diabetes Patient

At first, I said
I didnt want
diabetes to change
my life at all.
Then realized
I had type 1
diabetes and
nothing was going
to change that.

NELS ANDERSON

mericas largest diabetes case study was conducted in 2008 and revealed that 23
million Americans were diagnosed with diabetes.Three million of those diagnosed
were patients with type 1 diabetes. Nearly 15,000 of these patients were adults,
and the remaining number came from children aged 1 to18 years old.

Often found in young children, type 1 diabetes is a hereditary autoimmune
disease that is incurable. The immune system attacks and destroys healthy,
insulin producing cells within the pancreas. Many patients with type 1 diabetes in
their family histories reach a certain age and falsely believe they wont ever be
diagnosed with the disease. This was the case for Nels Anderson. Andersons brother had been diagnosed with
type 1 diabetes when he was young, but when Anderson turned the age of twenty, he believed he had completely
dodged any chances of getting diabetes. However, when he reached age thirty, he was proven wrong. I lost forty
pounds in one month. I said,Wow, this is a great diet that Im on. But I wasnt on a diet. My clothes were too loose. It was
just bad. Symptoms of both types of diabetes include weight
was aware of the ups and downs of diabetes, such as weight
loss, excessive urination, dehydration, and constant sweating.
fluctuations and a restricted diet containing low carbohydrate
When he was younger, Anderson was incredibly athletic. He
foods (vegetables and meats).
was so sure that he didnt have diabetes that he actually thought

Andersons life continued and he kept doing the things
he had contracted HIV instead, as they share similar symptoms.
he loved like running, working, and going out with friends. His
I was living in San Francisco and it was 1987,
diet restricted him, but he didnt let that affect
and I said, With any luck at all, I dont have
his hobbies. He still struggled every now and
what everyone else has...
then, but his life became significantly easier

While he was somewhat relieved
in 1992. I tried out as an FDA test patient
he didnt have HIV, Anderson was still
for internal insulin pumps that they called an
wishing he had something that could be
Artificial Pancreas at the time. And it worked
I lost forty pounds in
cured like type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes
one month. I said, Wow, fantastically. My A1C (blood glucose) levels
is a condition where the body becomes
this is a great diet that Im were at normal. It looked as if I was not a
resistant to insulin. Luckily, type 2 diabetes
on. But I wasnt on a diet. diabetic. The insulin pump worked like a
can be cured with a strict diet and lifestyle
charm and the struggles of being a diabetic
My clothes were too loose.
change. At first, I said I didnt want diabetes
faded. The pump was used to help regulate
It
was
just
bad.
to change my life at all.When the first doctor
blood sugar. Instead of constantly having to
told me I was a type 1 diabetic, I said to him,
prick his finger and manually check his blood
Lets try treatment with the pills for type
sugar, Anderson could just listen for an alarm
Nels Anderson
2 diabetics. And they didnt do very much. I
coming from his device. Its a continuous
think I was still in denial. I think I was hoping I
blood glucose monitor. I set the scales for
had type 2 diabetes, and I was hoping I could
where I want my high and low blood sugar to
have been cured. Then, my doctor gave me
be. It sends out alarms if I am falling or rising
a shot of insulin, and I felt the best that I had in six months. I
too quickly from the norm, which I set to 130. But, if it goes
then realized that I had type 1 diabetes and nothing was going
above 200, I get an alarm to start taking insulin immediately, and
to change that. As time went on, he became more and more
if it drops below 60, I get an alarm to eat something. Blood
comfortable with his diabetes. Checking his blood glucose
sugar ranges vary from person to person. Some people feel
levels and administering insulin became a less exasperating task
less lightheaded with higher blood sugar while some people
for him. Because of his brothers earlier diagnosis, Anderson
think its healthier to have lower blood sugar. However, overall,

everyones range is very similar.

facilitates that infection to grow and never heal. Doctors, rather

When Anderson finally felt completely comfortable
than risk someone dying, amputate a toe, then a foot, then the
with the pump, something unbelievable happened. The needle
leg, if the high blood sugar levels and infection persist. To this
in the pump occluded internally, so I couldnt tell what was
day, Anderson double checks for possible infections. Hes never
going on. I fell into ketoacidosis as my blood sugar level rose
had a limb amputated nor has anyone in his family. Hed like to
and trying to take insulin the way I had for the last two years
keep it that way.
wasnt doing anything, so I had to got to a hospital to shake off

Currently, Anderson is living a comfortable life.
the symptoms of that. Ketoacidosis is a diabetes complication
Ketoacidosis has been a rare occurrence, and Andersons foot
when a patients blood pressure raises too high. The patients
condition has been improving. Anderson is constantly keeping
body cant process sugar in a normal way and instead tries
himself updated by doing constant internet research and
to metabolize protein. Since the proteins are getting eaten
reading articles on his disease. He also frequently gets involved
away, blood acids are released into the body,
in the future of diabetes and a possible cure
poisoning the patient.While this complication
by doing research on future beta testing
hospitalizes nearly 200,000 diabetics a year,
for diabetic applied science. Hes very
its luckily not fatal and can be easily treated
much interested in the new technologies
The next generation of
with insulin injections. Around this time,
of insulin pumps. The next generation of
insulin pumps will be
Anderson became aware of the hardships of
called Duo-Insulin Pumps. insulin pumps will be called Duo-Insulin
having a pump. Sometimes the pump would
Pumps. They will distribute glucagon as well
They will distribute
automatically inject insulin, and Andersons
as insulin simultaneously, proportionately.
glucagon
as
well
as
blood sugar would drop extremely low.
Its similar to how your pancreas works. It
insulin
simultaneously,
Then, Anderson would eat something high in
makes a softer landing rather than spiking
proportionately.
Its
carbs to raise his blood sugar, but it would
your blood sugar levels or dipping it so low
similar to how your
rise too high and he would be injected with
that you feel like youre going to pass out. It
pancreas works.
insulin again. While it is flawed, many people
will be a cushion/shock absorber, and it will
still use diabetic pumps, as using one would
be the next step in insulin pumps.
Nels
Anderson
be far easier than manually controlling your

Anderson mentioned a Harvard
blood sugar.
scientist who is currently trying to use

While struggling to maintain blood
stem cell technology to replace damaged
sugar with the pump, another obstacle stood
pancreatic cells in diabetics. Many news
in Andersons way.When he was forty-seven years old,Anderson
outlets have considered the experiment to be a giant leap.
got into an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident and severely hurt
These results lay the groundwork for future human studies
his neck. The nerves in his feet were affected by the accident
using these formulations with the goal of achieving long-term
and running became unbearable. That, along with his already
replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes, said Dr. Daniel
rising diabetic nerve pain, made even standing a difficult task.
Anderson, professor of applied technology at MIT. Current
Unfortunately, diabetic nerve pain is a very common thing.
testing on diabetic rats is going farther than anyone would have
When too much glucose enters the system and theres no way
expected. With this discovery and many more on the way, a
of combating the carbohydrates, the glucose attacks the nerves,
permanent cure to diabetes may be right around the corner.
numbing them. Despite his lack of well functioning nerves, he
Hopefully, the 23 million Americans that have been diagnosed
still worked hard to stay in good condition to avoid possible
can finally have closure.
amputation. Hes well aware that diabetics limbs are more
By Katie Anderson
susceptible to amputation. What happens to amputees has to
Diabetes Latest. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for
do with an untested ulcer or wound that becomes infected.

Disease Control and Prevention, 17 June 2014. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
Welling, David. Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Diabetic Ketoacidosis Symptoms -
The inability to heal itself because of high blood sugar levels

Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 21 Aug. 2015. Web. 06 Dec. 2016