OK, that question keeps showing up in my log files for this site, so I’m going to answer it because it scares the hell out of me that anyone would be asking it. The answer is: If a type 1 diabetic doesn’t take his or her insulin for a week, then they will die. As a matter of fact, they will die way before the week is up. A type 1 diabetic who doesn’t take their insulin will die after just a day or three, especially if they eat more than just protein and fat. If they eat carbs, they’re going to be dead even quicker.
While you’d think that a type 1 diabetic could last awhile if they didn’t eat anything, or just ate meat and fat, that’s just not true. A type 1 diabetic, just like everyone else, needs insulin to move the sugar in the body into the cells so that your brain and muscles can work. So, even if you’re not eating anything, you still need insulin so that your cells can use the energy that your body provides from fat stores. For example; I need 60 units of insulin a day just to keep my body working, and that’s just my basil rate, I need more if I eat anything.
On the first day that the diabetic doesn’t have insulin, he or she is going to feel nauseous, sweating and have a really bad headache. The headache is from their blood getting thicker and thicker. It will get so thick that it will start popping the smaller blood vessels in the head and eyes. After their blood sugar gets over 600, they will start going into a coma, and if they don’t receive treatment quickly, they will experience brain death from lack of nutrients and oxygen, followed by clinical death. All of this can happen in a day, or just a few hours, depending on the diabetic and how brittle they are and how many carbs they had to eat.
All I can tell you is that if you’re a diabetic, make sure you keep a couple weeks worth of insulin around at all times, and ALWAYS take your blood glucose and insulin kit with you wherever you go. Something as simple as forgetting your insulin kit when having lunch with a friend, then having a flat tire on the way home and forgetting your cell phone, could kill you.
Tags: Not Taking Insulin, High Blood Sugar, Type 1 Diabetes
My daughter (12 years old) is a type 1 diabetic and has been off of insulin and maintaining her BG levels for 34 days now. She eats a very healthy, organic diet consisting of carbs, protiens and healthy fats. No processed foods, no high fructose corn syrup, lots of nuts, veggies, fruits and lean meats…almond milk, coconut milk, dark chocolate, stevia, cinnamon, agave nectar and enzymes and cayenne for digestion. She is doing fabulous. And no, she was not misdiagnosed. The doctors had to wean her off bc she was going so low on the insulin and responded so well to the diet. Maybe this is a rare case, but we’ve blogged about it at http://www.t1ontherun.com. So far so good. Just wanted to share because everyone is different and I do want to stress that we weaned off with consent of her physicians. Best of luck to you.
I just wanted to say that while it’s certainly DANGEROUS for a diabetic to stop taking insulin for any amount of time, that does not necessarily mean they will die in a day, or even three. I’m a type 1 diabetic. I was diagnosed when I was 6. As a young adult, I rebelled against my condition and stopped injecting. I did end up in DKA several times, and yes I may have died. But I did go longer than a week without insulin, several times. (I know I did irreversible damage to my body – it was, in retrospect, the STUPIDEST thing I’ve ever done). But no, I didn’t die. I felt like shit cause I was probably running 300-400 all the time (my A1C was 11).
Jayne Nelson – I am Type 1 (B) for 21 years (My make up is Native American-Asian-African American). Type 1 (B) is an NOT an auto-immune disease. But, the opposit not enough anti-bodies. Type 1 (A) are mostly (white) Caucasians. Type 1 (A) is an auto-immune disease. What type of Type 1 is your daughter? Also, what is her racial make up? Race plays a part is Type 1 Diabetes. Race Pre- Dispositions and genetics play a role Type 1 types. (NOT Type 2 Diabetes). Type 2 with insulin dependency is an NOT an auto-immune disease.
Type 1 (B) diabetics can go without insulin for long periods of time, even years without going into ketoacidosis or complications. Type 1 (B) is the most unstudied diabetes and the most uncommon when reported.
Is it common for people to get mis-diagnosed by family practioners? They are mis-Diagnosed all of the time! Make sure you get multiple diagnosises from multiple Endocrinologists. No one needs to take more insulin than they need to nor be short not enough insulin. I am on a County Assistance Medical plan. I can’t qualify for medical insurance due to medical pre-conditions (Diabetes Type 1 (B)). I must see a Endocrinologists once a month (12 times) a year minimum. I take Lantus and Humalog. I also take take 11 other medications for diabetic complications. I am 5’9 148lbs and have always maintained that weight all of my life. Throughout the years I have seen many different methods of treatments. Again, depending on the type of Diabetes, the diabetes will respond differently.
Warning! Type 1 (A) is an Auto-immune disease ! – with this disease usually comes associated diseases that are currently present or will appear in the future. Type 1 (B) is the complete opposit, lacks antibodies. Very simular to Type 1(A) it too has associated diseases and complications.
Should you give up ? NO NO NO!
Should you take Type 1 (A) & (B) extremely serious? YES – Its just as bad as any CANCER ! Both will KILL ! Being overly prepared is a Good thing. Being under prepared can be deadly.
Note: Many types of diabetic types exist. Type 1 Diabetics and other types of diabetics in general (Type 2 and Type 2 insulin dependent and etc..). I have ONLY mentioned two in which are Type 1(A) and Type 1(B), in the previous messages.
Follow up, on previous message I posted. I stated,”Type 1 (B) diabetics can go without insulin for long periods of time, even years without going into ketoacidosis or complications.” I do not want to imply that you nor anybody who has any type of diabetes should stop taking their insulin and experiment. I previously posted that diabetes is no different than CANCER, its a chronic deadly disease. Without effective treatment the disease will kill you. You ususally don’t hear of a person dying from diabetes. Its usually, stroke, heart attack, heart disease, kideny failure or pneumonia. The next time someone dies from one of these, ask if the person had diabetes. You see, these are what diabetics call diabetes complications.
Recently, some parents were convicted by the Court for not allowing treatment of their daughter who had Type 1 (A). They refused to allow her to be treated with insulin. She died and they were convicted by the Court.
Depending on the type of diabetes determines the outcome due to insulin usage. 95% of all Diabetics are Type 2 Diabetics. Only 5% of all Diabetics take insulin. That means MOST doctors whom treat diabetes do not come across Diabetics whom use insulin. Wow! But will a Doctor tell you that? No, they will try to convience you they deal with insulin users everyday. The reality, based on statistics a family practioner can go for years without ever encountering an insulin dependent diabetic. An Endocrinologists could even go for years without encountering an insulin diabetic. Most diabetics take Pills in which are not insulin.
Ok.. Im type 1 diabetes found out when i was 19 and I have stopped taking insulin for days at some times. Ive never been close to dieng.. Ive missed all my insulin shots for over a week and im still here?? Its bad to tell people they will die if they miss insulin for 3 days~
Well, a “REAL” type 1 diabetic would have gone into a comma, and we wouldn’t be having this conversation. LOL