Texas’ new U.S. senator had a medical emergency a few years ago, prompted by his political campaign — and it led to a diagnosis of an incurable illness.
“I was lucky to be alive. The nurses and doctors in Williamson County saved my life,” James Talarico said during a recent CNN & Jubilee town hall.
“I was in perfect health and decided to do something a little unusual,” he said, recalling his first run for the Texas House of Representatives in 2018.
“I decided to walk the entire length of my legislative district… It was 25 miles, I did it all on foot in one day, all in the Texas heat, and I helped three city halls along the way.”
He wasn’t worried about his ability to do it because he hiked in Big Bend National Park every year, he said. This walk was relatively flat.
“But halfway through the walk, I started feeling tired and nauseous. (I) actually vomited several times throughout the walk,” he said. “I finished it somehow. I went home. I thought I was dehydrated and just needed a good night’s sleep.”
But he didn’t wake up for a full 36 hours. His family took him to the emergency room, where nurses tested his blood sugar.
After fasting, normal blood sugar would be less than 100 mg/dL. Talarico’s was 900 mg/dL.
“I was in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis, which leads to coma and death without insulin,” he said. “I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes right away.” I was lucky to be alive. The nurses and doctors of Williamson County saved my life.
What is type 1 diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which insulin production is insufficient or does not allow it to be used correctly. This causes sugar to build up in the bloodstream instead of entering cells to be used for energy.
Over time, this high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves, leading to potential complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, vision loss and nerve damage.
While type 2 diabetes is more common in adulthood and is linked to lifestyle factors, type 1 usually appears in childhood – and until the last decade it was called juvenile diabetes. The exact causes are unknown.
Meanwhile, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can be life-threatening and is often the first sign of diabetes. The body doesn’t get the glucose it needs, forcing it to burn fat instead of glucose. This floods the system with acidic chemicals called ketones.
If there are too many ketones, the blood becomes acidic, causing vomiting and abdominal pain. If acidity levels continue to rise, DKA can cause a drop in blood pressure, coma, and death.
Anything can happen in a few hours. They may pee more often, be extremely thirsty, have dry mouth, cold skin, and feel nauseous or vomit like Talarico did.
In the hospital, people with DKA will receive IV fluids to treat dehydration and insulin therapy to lower blood sugar.
People with type 1 diabetes, the less common form caused by genetic and environmental factors, are at greater risk for DKA. People with type 2 diabetes are less likely to develop DKA.
Although diabetes has no cure, it is considered a chronic and manageable disease. Diabetics monitor their blood sugar and use tools such as medications, insulin therapy, diet and exercise to regulate it.
Gn Health
