Insulin is a lifesaver, but not a cure.

If it wasn't for insulin, Andrew would already be dead. Insulin shots have been around for less than a hundred years, so it's a very sobering thought. We are very thankful for the role insulin plays keeping Andrew healthy. However, it is not a cure & it is not without risks. Too much insulin will send the blood sugar too low. The brain needs a constant supply of blood sugar for energy and quickly begins to starve if the BG drops too low. Too much insulin can cause disorientation, seizures, coma, and death all pretty quickly if not treated. Some people prefer to let their BG run a little high rather than face low BG. High BG over a period of time, however, can cause heart, kidney, eye, & nerve damage. Since BG is affected by food, activity, growth hormones, stress, illness, etc. it's not always easy to balance insulin needs.