When my daughter was diagnosed I found myself craving knowledge and needing to get involved. I kind of jumped in and just ran with it (what an example my daughter was!) So I was blessed to find a local support group. The founder of the group was an inspiration, her daughter is a Type 1 Diabetic and she had a wealth of knowledge to share. She was the one that convinced me diabetic camp was something my daughter needed to do. She has continued to be an inspiration and such a comfort to be able to call on.
Anyway we made it to the monthly support group meeting tonight and there were some newly diagnosed kids and parents there and I felt like I was no longer the newbie. It was odd to sit there and reflect on our first meeting and the past year and realize I have learned SO much. I guess going through it we don't always acknowledge how far we have come. I am so thankful for those in the Diabetic community that have had such an impact on our lives. There are so many similar experiences, feeling and thoughts between kids with Type 1 and their parents, sometimes just sitting down and hearing it makes you feel like you are a community and the support factor is AMAZING!
Tonight there was a parent that I had spoken to on the phone for nearly an hour and she said our conversation had been so comforting I felt blessed to be the one sharing some of my knowledge and helping someone that was in the same position I was not that long ago.
It was a great night with some great reflection and a reminder that this is a crazy, unpredictable disease but we can manage it and move on to the fun stuff!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
just sharing...
Ok SO I have decided to try sharing a post from another Diabetes blog that I absolutely LOVE, keep in mind I am new to blogging so I hope this works...http://sixuntilme.com/blog2/2012/03/second_verse_same_as_the_first.html
Friday, March 2, 2012
A bit of Inspiration
Yesterday I received an email from the doctor that was sent out to all of his patients. It was just reminding us that sometimes it is not about making Diabetes the fight but about working together to manage it. This was a bit of inspiration for me. I have been blessed with an amazing team at my daughters school that works with me every step of the way and are really out to make things as simple as possible. I realize not all Diabetes families are this lucky and have to really push to get their kids what they need in order to manage their Diabetes at school. But keeping a good rapport with the school staff is very important.
He quoted Prof Abdul Kalam, former President of India, "You have to dream before your dreams can come true". I thought of this quote in terms of we have to try before we can expect to succeed. If we approach a situation with a positive outlook and strive to settle issues in a pleasant manner it often works. However if we take an angry, my way or the highway, approach it sets a negative tone and the issue may become worse. I am not one to sit back and be taken advantage of but I have learned over the years sometimes you must step back and hear other people out.
When you deal with something, like Diabetes, on a daily basis it is sometimes hard to remember there are people who don't understand. They may not understand what the disease is, what it entails or how important it is for your child to be able to eat a snack at a moments notice. It is hard to know if you're never taught, realistically in most cases a child doesn't face the risk of passing out from not being able to eat a snack. Individuals with Type 1 sometimes need a snack instantly, if their sugar is very low and they do not address it immediately they may very well pass out. Instead of letting this upset you take the time to explain and make it simple. Educating anyone about this disease make it easier for yourself and others.
He quoted Prof Abdul Kalam, former President of India, "You have to dream before your dreams can come true". I thought of this quote in terms of we have to try before we can expect to succeed. If we approach a situation with a positive outlook and strive to settle issues in a pleasant manner it often works. However if we take an angry, my way or the highway, approach it sets a negative tone and the issue may become worse. I am not one to sit back and be taken advantage of but I have learned over the years sometimes you must step back and hear other people out.
When you deal with something, like Diabetes, on a daily basis it is sometimes hard to remember there are people who don't understand. They may not understand what the disease is, what it entails or how important it is for your child to be able to eat a snack at a moments notice. It is hard to know if you're never taught, realistically in most cases a child doesn't face the risk of passing out from not being able to eat a snack. Individuals with Type 1 sometimes need a snack instantly, if their sugar is very low and they do not address it immediately they may very well pass out. Instead of letting this upset you take the time to explain and make it simple. Educating anyone about this disease make it easier for yourself and others.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Diagnosis Anniversary
So looking at hitting the year mark in a few weeks has made me consider what we are going to do. I have heard of many Type 1 Diabetics celebrating their diagnosis anniversary, does this seem odd to you? it's ok if it does, I've heard "what do you mean?" and "why would you want to make a point of remembering?" But hear me out my response to why would you want to make a point to remember is REALLY simple... she can't forget I mean really she can't like EVER "forget" there are a few hours a day, as in between meals, where she can forget but there's never more than a few waking hours where it doesn't nag her and trust me when I say there is NEVER a time she can afford to forget.
That being said I feel like the diagnosis anniversary is kind of a big deal she (we) have came a LONG way! we have a lot to celebrate, she is ALIVE! we have met Type 1 and kicked it's *** I mean why not grab the bull by the horns look it in the eye and laugh in it's face. It's more of a yeah you tried to take us down but we overcame. I mean this girl has been through so much the past year with learning how to test her blood sugar, change a lancet, count carbs, give injections, figure her carb ratio, adjust her carb ratio, program an insulin pump, test for ketones, put in an infusion site, bolus, basal, (trust me there's more but I think you get the point), she's dealt with having to regulate her teenage life and stop when she's having fun to take care of her sugar why not celebrate that she is doing super fantastic??!?!
We have learned a lot too, like how awesome our friends and family are and how important a supportive family is. Her younger sister (5 years old) has tested her sugar for her, knows what carbs and insulin are, can tell you her sister's pancreas doesn't work (it seriously makes me smile every single time she explains to someone her sister has Type 1 Diabetes) and knows where to find the Glucagon! As a family we have all embraced and went with it and as a family we will all celebrate
So I think the decision at this point is a family dinner out, her choice of where and the family will celebrate her; her knowledge, growth and accomplishments. She deserves it and we all deserve to do it with her!
That being said I feel like the diagnosis anniversary is kind of a big deal she (we) have came a LONG way! we have a lot to celebrate, she is ALIVE! we have met Type 1 and kicked it's *** I mean why not grab the bull by the horns look it in the eye and laugh in it's face. It's more of a yeah you tried to take us down but we overcame. I mean this girl has been through so much the past year with learning how to test her blood sugar, change a lancet, count carbs, give injections, figure her carb ratio, adjust her carb ratio, program an insulin pump, test for ketones, put in an infusion site, bolus, basal, (trust me there's more but I think you get the point), she's dealt with having to regulate her teenage life and stop when she's having fun to take care of her sugar why not celebrate that she is doing super fantastic??!?!
We have learned a lot too, like how awesome our friends and family are and how important a supportive family is. Her younger sister (5 years old) has tested her sugar for her, knows what carbs and insulin are, can tell you her sister's pancreas doesn't work (it seriously makes me smile every single time she explains to someone her sister has Type 1 Diabetes) and knows where to find the Glucagon! As a family we have all embraced and went with it and as a family we will all celebrate
So I think the decision at this point is a family dinner out, her choice of where and the family will celebrate her; her knowledge, growth and accomplishments. She deserves it and we all deserve to do it with her!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Hey Sugar Sugar...
So here's the number one misconception about Type 1 Diabetes...you can't eat sugar. Though we are not okay with our kids inhaling every sugary substance they can get their hands on we allow treats and aren't over the top restrictive. Since our oldest daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 I can't even count the number of people that have assumed all she has to do is quit eating sugar.
When she was diagnosed I can't say my thoughts weren't all that different. Therefore I can't fault anyone who doesn't know. We make it a habit though to take every opportunity to educate people and nearly every time we have been met with "wow, I had no idea!" So today we debunk the myth. The reason for this myth is because Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled by diet and exercise (with a lot of work). Since Type 1 and Type 2 share the Diabetes label many assume they are the same. They really aren't it's like apples and oranges, they're both fruits but not close to the same.
Type 1 Diabetes is not controllable by diet! I know it's hard to believe but it isn't, not even close. No matter what a Type 1 Diabetic eats they will always need insulin. To be fair a Type 1 Diabetic may need less insulin depending on what they eat and the amount of insulin needed is different for everyone.
Exercise is also a factor, exercising causes the body to be more sensitive to insulin. This simply means that the same amount of insulin taken while not exercising may act differently during or after exercise. For my daughter this means that she needs to have a higher blood glucose level prior to exercise so her blood glucose levels do not go low during exercise or she can supplement her sugar during exercise. The other catch here is that there is no consistency in other words what works today may not work tomorrow.
So there it is myth debunked; Type 1 Diabetics can eat everything anyone else can(of course a healthy diet is best for everyone) they just have to count the Carbs and take enough insulin to cover them AND Type 1 Diabetics can exercise they just have to be aware of their blood glucose levels so they don't experience low blood sugar.
When she was diagnosed I can't say my thoughts weren't all that different. Therefore I can't fault anyone who doesn't know. We make it a habit though to take every opportunity to educate people and nearly every time we have been met with "wow, I had no idea!" So today we debunk the myth. The reason for this myth is because Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled by diet and exercise (with a lot of work). Since Type 1 and Type 2 share the Diabetes label many assume they are the same. They really aren't it's like apples and oranges, they're both fruits but not close to the same.
Type 1 Diabetes is not controllable by diet! I know it's hard to believe but it isn't, not even close. No matter what a Type 1 Diabetic eats they will always need insulin. To be fair a Type 1 Diabetic may need less insulin depending on what they eat and the amount of insulin needed is different for everyone.
Exercise is also a factor, exercising causes the body to be more sensitive to insulin. This simply means that the same amount of insulin taken while not exercising may act differently during or after exercise. For my daughter this means that she needs to have a higher blood glucose level prior to exercise so her blood glucose levels do not go low during exercise or she can supplement her sugar during exercise. The other catch here is that there is no consistency in other words what works today may not work tomorrow.
So there it is myth debunked; Type 1 Diabetics can eat everything anyone else can(of course a healthy diet is best for everyone) they just have to count the Carbs and take enough insulin to cover them AND Type 1 Diabetics can exercise they just have to be aware of their blood glucose levels so they don't experience low blood sugar.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
When it all started...
Well we are getting close to the year mark of diagnosis, pretty amazing how fast it's gone by! In reality this is about the time last year we started seeing the signs we would later find out was Type 1 Diabetes.
About a year ago my oldest daughter, then 12 years old, started complaining of leg cramps in the middle of the night; though we are still told this isn't a symptom she hasn't experienced them since her blood glucose was regulated. Soon after she started losing weight, why we didn't put two and two together I'll never know. What I can look back and say now is it was awful; watching your normally healthy child lose weight and question what was going on. Now I'm sure a lot of parents say "not my child" at the mention of eating disorders, but I REALLY did say it and think it. Here I have a very upfront, honest, hardworking 12 year old and I actually asked her "are you eating at school?", "have you forced yourself to throw up?" These are the first thoughts that went through my head and looking back I feel awful but in reality I know I was just being the concerned parent...still doesn't make it easier
That being said the day we went to the doctor I was beside myself; she had continued to lose weight, was drinking and urinating constantly and had started to complain of her throat hurting. It also happened that we had went to In-N-Out for lunch that day and after eating she didn't feel well, it seemed her lips were bluish and I panicked. Thank goodness I did because I got her into the doctor and explained everything that had been going on. The doctor tested her urine and that was it... Type 1 Diabetes, the sugar in her urine was sky high and we were headed to the hospital.
I was in such a mess I headed to the local hospital only to realize we were supposed to head to the hospital an hour away because she was being admitted into pediatric ICU.
I wouldn't have survived the next few days if it weren't for my family and friends. It's times like these you realize those friends that are truly your family as well. To this day I wish I could find a way to thank them enough. During this entire ordeal my husband was also in the hospital fighting pneumonia that later led to chest tubes and surgery. So I had a VERY full plate and my parents took on my other two children and were somehow still everywhere I needed them. I cry as I type this because the feelings are all still that fresh, I think these are memories that will be forever etched in my mind.
Getting that all said the hospital was an amazing experience for us we learned SO much. My daughter was a go getter from the start and was giving herself her own injections the next day. I admire her strength so much I can't even put it into words and she continues to amaze me with her knowledge and desire to lock her blood glucose in. She is very hard on herself though and sometimes has to be reminded what a great job she is doing with this still new responsibility.
So there it is my/our first blog post. I am hopeful she will be on here as much or more than I am but creating this blog is something we talked about in the hospital and here it is...FINALLY!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)