A Blood Sugar of 48 – Now and Then

Graham Daugherty • March 7, 2017

By Kirstie Bradway

So if you’re either a diabetic yourself or have a loved one with Type 1 Diabetes, you know that all lows are completely different. You could have a low of 50 and feel completely ‘normal’ as if you were 100, or you could have a low of 70 and feel as if you were 40 or 50.

Tonight was one of the bad lows. The really bad ones. I never got an alarm telling me his sugar was dropping. He went to bed 45 mins ago at around 100 with a straight line. I didn’t think we had anything to worry about, but I was wrong. Way wrong. I normally check my phone every 15 mins or so to see where he is because I’m over obsessed with checking his numbers on his CGM; as I’m sure any of you parents of T1’s are also! But tonight I was working (I’m a photographer) so I was editing away and the time just happened to get away from me until around 8ish. I realized it had been awhile so I checked and he was 48! FORTY EIGHT!!! I freaked out and ran up the stairs hoping that his CGM was just off and he wasn’t actually that low.


I wish I was wrong, but I wasn’t. He tested at 52. He wouldn’t open his mouth. He wouldn’t even move. I shook him and he finally moved a tiny bit. I put the straw in his mouth and his instincts finally kicked in and his started drinking. Once he started stirring a little bit, he also started shaking. A lot. Probably the most I’ve ever seen him shake during a low. I scooped him up and held him while he slept for the next 10 minutes kissing him with tears rolling down my face.

This was a scary one. One of the scariest yet I think. Not just because of the number, but how he was reacting to this number. He’s been at 48 before and you would have never even known by looking at him. He felt like a million bucks. But this low was one of his worst yet.



I hate that my baby has to live with this battle every single second of every single minute of every single day. It’s not fair to him; not one little bit. If I could take this away from him, I would in the blink of an eye. The constant fear of this disease weighs on me every minute of my life. The what-ifs that run through my head scare me half to death.

But unfortunately there is nothing we can do about any of it. And it sucks. So until there is a cure, I advocate. I raise awareness. And I fight. For him. For my husband. And for the thousands of other T1’s just like them. Because they are warriors. They are superheroes. And they deserve a cure.


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A young boy is sleeping on a bed with a box of milk and a thermometer.
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A woman is doing a split with the words if i can just inspire one person

Because of Diabetes, I Am Who I Am Today: A Personal Journey

By Sasha Amiscaray • April 15, 2026
TL;DR After 15 years of living with type 1 diabetes, Sasha shares her journey from diagnosis and denial to acceptance, advocacy, and a career in healthcare. Through challenges like fear of injections, managing diabetes as an athlete, and navigating school and college, she discovered strength, community, and purpose. Her story shows that while diabetes is difficult, it can also shape identity, open doors, and lead to meaningful connections and opportunities.
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By Dr. Holly O'Donnell • April 3, 2026
Type 1 diabetes affects mental health in youth and families. Learn about risks like depression, anxiety, and distress, plus support options and when to seek help.
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By R. Paul Wadwa, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at the BDC • April 2, 2026
Type 1 diabetes is often misdiagnosed as flu, UTI, or viral illness. Learn key symptoms, DKA warning signs, and when to ask your doctor for testing to avoid delays.
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From Childhood to College: One Patient’s Story Living With Type 1 Diabetes

By Madeline VanOrman • March 20, 2026
Follow one patient’s journey with type 1 diabetes from childhood diagnosis to college life, sharing challenges, independence, and finding support along the way.
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Your Identity when Type 1 Diabetes is in the Mix

By Cheryl Lebsock • March 18, 2026
A parent shares how naming type 1 diabetes “Frank” and reframing it helped protect their child’s identity, improve mental health, and strengthen family support.
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Donate Your Tax Refund to CDF

By CDF Staff • March 18, 2026
Donate your Colorado state tax refund to the Children’s Diabetes Foundation. Learn how to use form DR 0104CH to support T1D patients and families.
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The 3 Stages of Type 1 Diabetes: Why Early Screening and Detection Matter

By Hali Broncucia, Research Scientist at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes • March 16, 2026
Learn the three stages of type 1 diabetes and why early screening matters, including how detection can reduce DKA risk and delay onset with new therapies.
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From Generosity to Legacy: Honoring My Father’s Impact on Type 1 Diabetes this Father’s Day

By Stacy Robinson • June 14, 2024
With Father’s Day just around the corner, I am thinking about my dad even more than I usually do. He was a special man who lived a remarkable, impactful life right up until the day he passed away at the age of 98, a little over a year and a half ago. He was a decorated World War II veteran, a bookie in Vegas during the Rat Pack era who married the love of his life between rounds of a prize fight, and who later went on to become a successful entrepreneur. Most importantly though, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
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Cheers to The World’s Greatest T1Dad!

By Lindsay Klatt • June 14, 2024
Author: Lindsay Klatt Being the dad of two daughters already has its highs and lows; having one of them (who admittedly was already a little feisty) diagnosed with type 1 diabetes makes him a saint. My wonderful dad navigated these challenges with such love and grace. As we approach Father’s Day and as I recently celebrated my 27th Diaversary, I reflect on the things he deserves to be thanked for. There are too many to count and no way to properly express gratitude for the additional struggles type 1 fathers face, but here’s a toast to a few of the things etched on my heart: Cheers to my dad who, when I was diagnosed, had the best balance of acknowledging the sadness of the event and being encouraging for the future. It made me feel seen to see him upset, and to see him determined. He has always maintained that balance I am so grateful for.