Field trips were also looked at in a new way. Being a teacher myself, I rarely had the opportunity to go with Kelsey on her field trips. It was difficult for me to get substitute coverage and I usually saved my time off for doctor’s appointments and sick days. Now it was mandatory. Sometime the school nurse would go if it were a half day trip, but it was difficult to leave the other nurse alone for any longer than that. As a working mom I always missed out on the field trips and class parties so it was fun seeing Kelsey interact with her classmates. It was great getting to know the other parents as well. I was relieved that Kelsey wasn’t at that age yet where she was embarrassed by her mother.
Going out to eat was now a challenge. She could no longer get chicken fingers and french fries-her favorite meal- every time. The nutritionist asked us to limit that meal since it was high in fat-fatty foods make it difficult for insulin to be absorbed into the body. This was a real sacrifice for Kelsey as it was -and still is one of her favorite meals.
I now had to ask restaurants for the nutritional information. Even though restaurants are supposed to provide this information, it I found it rare to ever receive it. After a few months I accumulated a folder full of nutritional pamphlets from most of the local fast food places such as McDonalds and Subway. I also stumbled on to a great carb counting book (The Doctor’s Pocket Calorie Fat & Carbohydrate Counter- www.calorie king.com) It has nutritional information for over 150 restaurants. It was essential in helping us count carbohydrates more accurately.
Through all of these new challenges, Kelsey continued to impress me with her optimism and determination. I had little pity parties for myself all the time . When would her time come? I was waiting for the frustration to build and the tears to come and sure enough they did. One summer night the neighborhood girls were running around the neighborhood .They were riding their bikes,going from house to house, when Kelsy started feeling low. She came back home to take get a juice and I made her stay and rest until her sugar was at a safer level.If she dropped too quickly she could pass out.Riding her bike would only bring it down more. Her body needed time to process the carbs and steady her blood sugar.
The girls were coninuing to play and she was missing out. It all of a sudden occurred to her that this diabetes was interfering with her life. She was crying hard now and complaining through her tears that it wasn’t fair. She didn’t want to get shots anymore, She didn’t want to take her blood sugar anymore. She just wanted to ride her bike.Why was she the only one? Why couldn’t someone else she knew get it so she wouldn’t be the only one. Then it wouldn’t be so bard. My heart was breaking. I wanted to give her answers but I couldn’t. I just hugged her until she calmed down . I promised her that I would be there for her and help her through this struggle . She cried herself to sleep and I could only hope and pray that she would get through this. We were so lucky that she’d been handling things so well up until this point. How could so much be asked of a 10year old? She was right. It wasn’t fair at all.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Life Goes On-Part 1
Kelsey soon became comfortable with her routine at school. She left her last class before lunch 5 minutes early in order to stop at the nurse to take her blood sugar and get her insulin. Her teacher allowed her to pick a friend to accompany her. This of course made her very popular. Who wouldn’t want to get out of class 5 minutes early? I was amazed at how accepting her friends were and how easily Kelsey seemed to accept this enormous change in her life. She had very few low blood sugars during school which was a relief to me. However , we did have trouble on certain days calculating some of her carbohydrates and as a result her sugars would run high.For example, if it were someone’s birthday she would have a cupcake or if it were pizza day in the cafeteria she would buy instead of pack lunch that day. We would estimate the carbs to our best ability but we never got it quite right.On these days she would come home with a blood sugar that was often in the range of the high 200 or 300’s. It became easier to pack Kelsey’s lunch each day. This way I could read each food label and count the carbs more precisely. The school nurses and I often talked about how much easier it would be if the school lunch calender had the carb counts listed after each food selection. This would be especially helpful to the nurses who spend extra time each day getting out the carb counting book and calculating the school lunches. At the same time they are giving out lunch time meds, taking care of sick kids, and doing vision and hearing screenings, So under the direction of the nurses, the parents of the diabetic children wrote the Director of Food services and asked for this change in order to better care for our children. To our surprise, they approved it and the new calenders were out the next month. I felt victorious. I know it seems like a minor victory but it made me realize that I had the power to make things better for Kelsey. I could hear Renee’s voice telling me that we had to be an advocate for our child. This small change made or lives easier and Kelsey healthier.
I would find that each week would bring about a new challenge. Things that were once routine for Kelsey now took some thought . When she was unpacking her book bag one night she handed me a birthday invitation that she received from a girls in class. She was very excited about going because it was a Halloween party and everyone was dressing up. She was explaining in detail how she wanted her costume to look and all I could think about was who was going to watch her,would she be able to eat cake,would they have diet soda for her,would I have to stay and give her her shot? Things were finally running smoothly and someone had to go and throw a monkey wrench in it by handing out a birthday invitation. This was the first time that she would be without a knowledgeable adult and responsible for making her own decisions. At school she had the nurse and teacher to rely on. Here it was just a parent who would be very preoccupied with her daughter’s birthday party. Now , don’t get me wrong. I don’t think that everyone is a complete idiot and not capable of handling Kelsey’s situation. It’s just that too many people are uninformed. I know. I was one of those people. I can’t tell you how many people-upon hearing that Kelsey is diabetic will say ”Oh I know what your going through,my grand mother was diabetic. When I proceed to tell her that Kesley is Type 1 and not Type 2 like her grandmother probably was -I get that confused look. Most people still think that as long as they eat sugar free things they will be ok.
I was tempted to tell Kelsey she couldn’t go to the party but I knew it would be a mistake. Michael and I made a promise to ourselves-and Kesley that we wouldn’t let this disease stop from from doing anything . I just didn’t think I’d have to face it so soon.
The next day I call the mother of the birthday girl and explained Kelsey’s situation as being a newly diagnosed diabetic.I asked her all the important food and drink questions as well as informed her of the ever important blue book bag that was filled with all of Kelsey‘s necessary supplies. I gave her my cell number and asked to to call if she had any questions. . I was preparing for this woman to think I was neurotic,overprotective mother when she actually put mind at rest. She told me that her husband was a nurse (Hallelujah!) and that she too had a child with medical needs so she knew exactly where I was coming from. Her youngest had severe asthma and food allergies. We talked for quite awhile sharing our experiences and bonding instantly. I hung up with her feeling relieved and assured.When we dropped Kesley off at the party we made sure she knew where her supply bag was,talked briefly with the parents,and headed to a nearby restaurant to wait until the party was over.Michael and I sat at the table trying to to talk about other things and enjoy our dinner,but this was difficult when we both kept checking our cell phones every 3 minutes-to see if we missed a call. We knew she was ok but we didn’t seem to exhale until we picked her up and saw the huge smile on her face.
Each season brought it’s new set of challenges for Kelsey. For Halloween she went trick-or-treating/ She was allowed to keep a few pierces of candy but then we “bought’ the rest from her. Our diabetic educator suggested this and it worked out well. Our local hospital also offers a night where the children can trade their candy for all kinds of cool prizes such as movie tickets or toys.
During the summer she and her friends spent hours in the pool. All of this activity brought her sugar down so low so she spent most of her time on the side of the pool trying to recover. We soon learned to give her a snack before swimming . This would elevate her blood sugar and help avoid the lows. It was also difficult for Kelsey not to snack in the summer. We tried to appease her with carb free string cheese and pepperoni, but it was difficult when her friends were all snacking on chips and cookies.
Weekends brought about sleepovers. Kelsey is fortunate to live in a neighborhood filled with many girls her age. Each weekend they discuss which parent they want to talk into a sleepover. I knew it wouldn‘t be long until she‘s be invited to a sleep over in the neighborhood. Luckily, I knew all of the neighborhood moms well and they were well informed about Kelsey‘s diabetes routine. I would visit Kelsey at about 10:00pm to give her her Lantus -which is a long lasting insulin given at night and helps keep her blood sugars steady and last for a period of 24 hours.Then she would call me with blood sugar checks before she went to bed and when she woke in the morning. We quickly got into this routine but not with out a couple of late night phone calls to the house because Kelsey forgot to call me. This was one of the reasons we got Kelsey a cell phone at such a young age. It was much easier to keep in touch with Kelsey when she wasn’t at home. One time at one of Kelsey’s checkups the nurse asked her if thee was anything positive about her diabetes . She said yes-getting a cell phone .
I would find that each week would bring about a new challenge. Things that were once routine for Kelsey now took some thought . When she was unpacking her book bag one night she handed me a birthday invitation that she received from a girls in class. She was very excited about going because it was a Halloween party and everyone was dressing up. She was explaining in detail how she wanted her costume to look and all I could think about was who was going to watch her,would she be able to eat cake,would they have diet soda for her,would I have to stay and give her her shot? Things were finally running smoothly and someone had to go and throw a monkey wrench in it by handing out a birthday invitation. This was the first time that she would be without a knowledgeable adult and responsible for making her own decisions. At school she had the nurse and teacher to rely on. Here it was just a parent who would be very preoccupied with her daughter’s birthday party. Now , don’t get me wrong. I don’t think that everyone is a complete idiot and not capable of handling Kelsey’s situation. It’s just that too many people are uninformed. I know. I was one of those people. I can’t tell you how many people-upon hearing that Kelsey is diabetic will say ”Oh I know what your going through,my grand mother was diabetic. When I proceed to tell her that Kesley is Type 1 and not Type 2 like her grandmother probably was -I get that confused look. Most people still think that as long as they eat sugar free things they will be ok.
I was tempted to tell Kelsey she couldn’t go to the party but I knew it would be a mistake. Michael and I made a promise to ourselves-and Kesley that we wouldn’t let this disease stop from from doing anything . I just didn’t think I’d have to face it so soon.
The next day I call the mother of the birthday girl and explained Kelsey’s situation as being a newly diagnosed diabetic.I asked her all the important food and drink questions as well as informed her of the ever important blue book bag that was filled with all of Kelsey‘s necessary supplies. I gave her my cell number and asked to to call if she had any questions. . I was preparing for this woman to think I was neurotic,overprotective mother when she actually put mind at rest. She told me that her husband was a nurse (Hallelujah!) and that she too had a child with medical needs so she knew exactly where I was coming from. Her youngest had severe asthma and food allergies. We talked for quite awhile sharing our experiences and bonding instantly. I hung up with her feeling relieved and assured.When we dropped Kesley off at the party we made sure she knew where her supply bag was,talked briefly with the parents,and headed to a nearby restaurant to wait until the party was over.Michael and I sat at the table trying to to talk about other things and enjoy our dinner,but this was difficult when we both kept checking our cell phones every 3 minutes-to see if we missed a call. We knew she was ok but we didn’t seem to exhale until we picked her up and saw the huge smile on her face.
Each season brought it’s new set of challenges for Kelsey. For Halloween she went trick-or-treating/ She was allowed to keep a few pierces of candy but then we “bought’ the rest from her. Our diabetic educator suggested this and it worked out well. Our local hospital also offers a night where the children can trade their candy for all kinds of cool prizes such as movie tickets or toys.
During the summer she and her friends spent hours in the pool. All of this activity brought her sugar down so low so she spent most of her time on the side of the pool trying to recover. We soon learned to give her a snack before swimming . This would elevate her blood sugar and help avoid the lows. It was also difficult for Kelsey not to snack in the summer. We tried to appease her with carb free string cheese and pepperoni, but it was difficult when her friends were all snacking on chips and cookies.
Weekends brought about sleepovers. Kelsey is fortunate to live in a neighborhood filled with many girls her age. Each weekend they discuss which parent they want to talk into a sleepover. I knew it wouldn‘t be long until she‘s be invited to a sleep over in the neighborhood. Luckily, I knew all of the neighborhood moms well and they were well informed about Kelsey‘s diabetes routine. I would visit Kelsey at about 10:00pm to give her her Lantus -which is a long lasting insulin given at night and helps keep her blood sugars steady and last for a period of 24 hours.Then she would call me with blood sugar checks before she went to bed and when she woke in the morning. We quickly got into this routine but not with out a couple of late night phone calls to the house because Kelsey forgot to call me. This was one of the reasons we got Kelsey a cell phone at such a young age. It was much easier to keep in touch with Kelsey when she wasn’t at home. One time at one of Kelsey’s checkups the nurse asked her if thee was anything positive about her diabetes . She said yes-getting a cell phone .
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Homecoming
As we pulled into our driveway, several of the neighborhood children and their parents came out to greet Kelsey. Some had gifts for her,others carried poster size signs saying “Welcome Back, Kelsey ! We Missed You!” The outpouring of kindness and concern was overwhelming. While Kelsey was impressing her friends with the horror story of her IV, the parents were asking me questions about Kelsey’s diabetes.
Once something like this happens to someone you know, you all of a sudden take a different look at it. I saw the fear in their eyes-wondering -could this happen to my child too. Everyone thinks they are untouchable and that things like this happen to other people’s children. I know I did.
By the time we unloaded the car and dumped all of our diabetes “stuff” on the kitchen table Kelsey said she felt shaky. Michael and I looked at each other and quietly panicked. This can’t happen now. We aren’t ready yet. I haven’t reviewed my notes yet.Where were my notes ? How many carbs do I give her? Should we just give her dinner since it’s almost 5:00? Should she take her blood sugar? Where is the glucometer? Oh my God, did we lose the glucometer already.? How can we possible handle this when we can’t even remember how to treat a low blood sugar.
By the time we found the glucometer, tensions were high and Michael and I were extremely irritable with each other. Luckily, Kelsey’s low blood sugar was treated quickly and without incidence. It was actually reassuring to see how easily Kelsey pricked her finger and inserted the test strip in to the glucometer. It would be the first of many times. that she would amaze me with her strength and determination. .This is when we came to the realization that -diabetes waits for no one. There are no lesson plans that script your day into a nice tidy routine.Test blood sugar from 9:00-9:15, eat 15 carbs from 12:00-12:20. Have a low blood sugar from 1:00-1:30 Treat the low blood sugar from 1:30-2:00. My nice organized,controlled life was no longer. It was time to change plans.
I immediately got my self as organized as I could. I cleared out two cabinets for Kesley’s glucometer,test strips, lancets, and syringes. I started files on all of her paperwork, and posted cheat sheets for high and low blood sugar treatments on the refrigerator.We went through the pantry and threw out all of the food that were no longer diabetic friendly and headed out to the grocery store to restock it with the proper foods.
We took Kelsey with us so she could be a part of this and pick out the foods she liked. I think she was afraid she would never be able to eat anything “good” again and we wanted to put her mind at ease. Before we left we had to pack a small blue back pack with her glucometer, juice, crackers, and her glucagons shot. I learned the hard way that diabetes can be unpredictable and didn’t want to be caught unprepared again. That blue backpack would soon become a permanent fixture accompanying us to every outing or event she went to.
A typical 30 minute trip to the grocery store took us almost two hours. We went aisle by aisle,reading the nutrition labels and carbohydrate grams. We bought low carb snacks for Kesley as well as a supply of juice and crackers for the school nurse’s office fro when she got low at school.
Like anything unfamiliar , I knew this would take time getting used to but at this moment in time I was completely overwhelmed. I couldn’t imagine reading every label and counting every carb, calculating her carb to insulin ratio, and administering the correct amount of insulin for every thing she ate. Our life now revolved around numbers. Blood sugar numbers, grams of carbohydrates, correction factors,insulin doses,and hours until she needs to eat so her blood sugar won’t drop.She would no longer be able to eat even the smallest of snacks without taking her blood sugar,counting the carbs, and giving the insulin.
I’m thankful that Kelsey seemed unaware of what I was feeling. She actually seemed to enjoy picking out new snacks and drinks. We came home with every diet soda flavor you could think of as well , string cheese ,ice pops, and popcorn. Knowing she had a variety of food options made her feel that this diabetes thing might actually be do-able.
Our next stop was a meeting with the school nurses. We were surprised to find out that there were two other diabetic children in Kelsey’s elementary school. It was hard to believe that these families have already been through what we are now experiencing . I was now wondering if there were any diabetic children in the school I taught at.. Shouldn’t I know that? How could I have been so unaware of a disease that is reaching epidemic proportions?
The nurses showed me the drawer where Kelsey would keep her supplies and informed me that she would come down to their office 5 minutes before lunchtime to check her blood sugar , record it in their log, count her carbs
With the nurses’ help we had to inform every adult Kelsey came in contact about her diabetes.. Her teachers,the cafeteria workers,her cheer leading coach,the band instructor-even the bus driver. She had to wear a medical id bracelet at all times and carry her necessary supplies in her book bag.
Kelsey was starting back to school the next day. Was she ready for this? There was absolutely no easing into this. I hope and prayed that it wouldn’t interfere too much with her academics and she could go about business as usual. Kelsey has always loved school and it would be devastating if her diabetes took anything away from that. I guess only time would tell.
Michael and I drove Kelsey into school the next day . I walked her to her classroom, kissed her goodbye,got in my car, and cried all the way to work.
Once something like this happens to someone you know, you all of a sudden take a different look at it. I saw the fear in their eyes-wondering -could this happen to my child too. Everyone thinks they are untouchable and that things like this happen to other people’s children. I know I did.
By the time we unloaded the car and dumped all of our diabetes “stuff” on the kitchen table Kelsey said she felt shaky. Michael and I looked at each other and quietly panicked. This can’t happen now. We aren’t ready yet. I haven’t reviewed my notes yet.Where were my notes ? How many carbs do I give her? Should we just give her dinner since it’s almost 5:00? Should she take her blood sugar? Where is the glucometer? Oh my God, did we lose the glucometer already.? How can we possible handle this when we can’t even remember how to treat a low blood sugar.
By the time we found the glucometer, tensions were high and Michael and I were extremely irritable with each other. Luckily, Kelsey’s low blood sugar was treated quickly and without incidence. It was actually reassuring to see how easily Kelsey pricked her finger and inserted the test strip in to the glucometer. It would be the first of many times. that she would amaze me with her strength and determination. .This is when we came to the realization that -diabetes waits for no one. There are no lesson plans that script your day into a nice tidy routine.Test blood sugar from 9:00-9:15, eat 15 carbs from 12:00-12:20. Have a low blood sugar from 1:00-1:30 Treat the low blood sugar from 1:30-2:00. My nice organized,controlled life was no longer. It was time to change plans.
I immediately got my self as organized as I could. I cleared out two cabinets for Kesley’s glucometer,test strips, lancets, and syringes. I started files on all of her paperwork, and posted cheat sheets for high and low blood sugar treatments on the refrigerator.We went through the pantry and threw out all of the food that were no longer diabetic friendly and headed out to the grocery store to restock it with the proper foods.
We took Kelsey with us so she could be a part of this and pick out the foods she liked. I think she was afraid she would never be able to eat anything “good” again and we wanted to put her mind at ease. Before we left we had to pack a small blue back pack with her glucometer, juice, crackers, and her glucagons shot. I learned the hard way that diabetes can be unpredictable and didn’t want to be caught unprepared again. That blue backpack would soon become a permanent fixture accompanying us to every outing or event she went to.
A typical 30 minute trip to the grocery store took us almost two hours. We went aisle by aisle,reading the nutrition labels and carbohydrate grams. We bought low carb snacks for Kesley as well as a supply of juice and crackers for the school nurse’s office fro when she got low at school.
Like anything unfamiliar , I knew this would take time getting used to but at this moment in time I was completely overwhelmed. I couldn’t imagine reading every label and counting every carb, calculating her carb to insulin ratio, and administering the correct amount of insulin for every thing she ate. Our life now revolved around numbers. Blood sugar numbers, grams of carbohydrates, correction factors,insulin doses,and hours until she needs to eat so her blood sugar won’t drop.She would no longer be able to eat even the smallest of snacks without taking her blood sugar,counting the carbs, and giving the insulin.
I’m thankful that Kelsey seemed unaware of what I was feeling. She actually seemed to enjoy picking out new snacks and drinks. We came home with every diet soda flavor you could think of as well , string cheese ,ice pops, and popcorn. Knowing she had a variety of food options made her feel that this diabetes thing might actually be do-able.
Our next stop was a meeting with the school nurses. We were surprised to find out that there were two other diabetic children in Kelsey’s elementary school. It was hard to believe that these families have already been through what we are now experiencing . I was now wondering if there were any diabetic children in the school I taught at.. Shouldn’t I know that? How could I have been so unaware of a disease that is reaching epidemic proportions?
The nurses showed me the drawer where Kelsey would keep her supplies and informed me that she would come down to their office 5 minutes before lunchtime to check her blood sugar , record it in their log, count her carbs
With the nurses’ help we had to inform every adult Kelsey came in contact about her diabetes.. Her teachers,the cafeteria workers,her cheer leading coach,the band instructor-even the bus driver. She had to wear a medical id bracelet at all times and carry her necessary supplies in her book bag.
Kelsey was starting back to school the next day. Was she ready for this? There was absolutely no easing into this. I hope and prayed that it wouldn’t interfere too much with her academics and she could go about business as usual. Kelsey has always loved school and it would be devastating if her diabetes took anything away from that. I guess only time would tell.
Michael and I drove Kelsey into school the next day . I walked her to her classroom, kissed her goodbye,got in my car, and cried all the way to work.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Diabetes 101
After scrambling for substitute coverage for my class for the next few days and someone to take care of Mollie after school until Michael got home, Kelsey was admitted to the AI DuPont Hospital for Children . I “slept” on a cot in her room but most of the night was spent learning to check her blood sugars with a glucometer and answering nurse’s questions about her health history. With each shift change the same routine continued..Through it all I was impressed by Kelsey’s ability to handle it all. All I wanted to do was go to sleep and hope that when I woke up in the morning it would all have been a bad dream.
No such luck.When morning arrived Micahel, Kesley, and I were expected to meet the diabetic educator for an all day training.. How could I possibly listen to this critical information when I ‘ve had maybe 2 hours of sleep, I had a horrible headache, and was about to break down in tears at any moment? Before I could really wallow in my self pity we were introduced to our diabetic educator,Renee and another newly diagnosed family. For the rest of the day the six of us listened intently to everything Renee had to offer. We learned how to recognize symptoms of high and low blood sugars,administer the glucagons emergency shot,take our blood sugars,and give insulin shots. We actually had to practice by giving ourselves saline shots in the abdomen. All I could think of is who’s going to pick my husband up off the ground when he passes out from just the sight of the needle. If we had anxiety about needles can you imagine what was going through the mind of our nine year old daughter? She didn’t have a choice. Needles were now a way of life to her.
We managed to give the injections without any problem and to my relief they didn’t push Kelsey to give her own injection until she was ready. I understand that the hospital’s procedure now is to not let the child be discharged from the hospital until they can give their own injections. Thank goodness for small favors.
Over the next few days Renee continued to teach us about A1C’s, long and fast acting insulin,complications,doctors’ visits ,school procedures, patient’s rights,medical supplies, and support organizations such as the American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
We met with the nutritionist to discuss carbohydrate counting and balanced nutrition. We met with the social worker and psychologist to discuss the need for possible family counseling. We took quizzes to test our knowledge of what we’ve learned so far. Through all of this Michael and I diligently took notes knowing that we couldn’t possibly remember all of this when we got home. Little did we know that it would all soon become second nature.
To this day I will be forever indebted to our diabetic educator Renee. She was truly a godsend. During our three days together we discover that she too was diabetic .The pager I thought she had attached to her waistband was actually an insulin pump. She told us she was was diagnosed in college and as a result changed her career path . She sat patiently and answered all of our questions that weren’t on her list. How long will she live? Can she have children? Will she be able to drive. Can she go away to college? Should she tell her friends? When should she give her own injections?
She calmed some of our fears, listened to out tears, and helped us to accept this diagnoses and move forward. She gave me hope that if she could live successfully with this disease then so could Kesley.
After three very intense days, we gathered our diabetes supplies, exchanged phone numbers with the other family,and said our goodbyes to the endocrine staff at the hospital . It was now time to go home and put into practice what we have learned. We were terrified.
No such luck.When morning arrived Micahel, Kesley, and I were expected to meet the diabetic educator for an all day training.. How could I possibly listen to this critical information when I ‘ve had maybe 2 hours of sleep, I had a horrible headache, and was about to break down in tears at any moment? Before I could really wallow in my self pity we were introduced to our diabetic educator,Renee and another newly diagnosed family. For the rest of the day the six of us listened intently to everything Renee had to offer. We learned how to recognize symptoms of high and low blood sugars,administer the glucagons emergency shot,take our blood sugars,and give insulin shots. We actually had to practice by giving ourselves saline shots in the abdomen. All I could think of is who’s going to pick my husband up off the ground when he passes out from just the sight of the needle. If we had anxiety about needles can you imagine what was going through the mind of our nine year old daughter? She didn’t have a choice. Needles were now a way of life to her.
We managed to give the injections without any problem and to my relief they didn’t push Kelsey to give her own injection until she was ready. I understand that the hospital’s procedure now is to not let the child be discharged from the hospital until they can give their own injections. Thank goodness for small favors.
Over the next few days Renee continued to teach us about A1C’s, long and fast acting insulin,complications,doctors’ visits ,school procedures, patient’s rights,medical supplies, and support organizations such as the American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
We met with the nutritionist to discuss carbohydrate counting and balanced nutrition. We met with the social worker and psychologist to discuss the need for possible family counseling. We took quizzes to test our knowledge of what we’ve learned so far. Through all of this Michael and I diligently took notes knowing that we couldn’t possibly remember all of this when we got home. Little did we know that it would all soon become second nature.
To this day I will be forever indebted to our diabetic educator Renee. She was truly a godsend. During our three days together we discover that she too was diabetic .The pager I thought she had attached to her waistband was actually an insulin pump. She told us she was was diagnosed in college and as a result changed her career path . She sat patiently and answered all of our questions that weren’t on her list. How long will she live? Can she have children? Will she be able to drive. Can she go away to college? Should she tell her friends? When should she give her own injections?
She calmed some of our fears, listened to out tears, and helped us to accept this diagnoses and move forward. She gave me hope that if she could live successfully with this disease then so could Kesley.
After three very intense days, we gathered our diabetes supplies, exchanged phone numbers with the other family,and said our goodbyes to the endocrine staff at the hospital . It was now time to go home and put into practice what we have learned. We were terrified.
The Diagnosis
September 16,2002.-otherwise known in our house as D-Day- is a date I won‘t ever forget.. A routine visit to the doctor turned into a day that changed our lives forever. I picked up my 9 year old daughter Kelsey from school early that day. We headed to our pediatrician’s office to get a physical. Kelsey wanted to join a local cheer leading squad and a physical form was necessary in order for her to join. As we waited for the doctor to see us, all I could think about was all I had to do when I got home. My plan was to get to the grocery store before the mad rush at five , get home to make a quick dinner, and get started on my lesson plans. The school year was just getting underway for me and I had a lot to do before work the next day.
Finally they called our name and the nurse led us back to the examination room. As almost an afterthought, she handed Kelsey a cup and asked her to give a urine specimen before heading to the exam room. Once in the exam room, everything went pretty smoothly. Dr. Murphy listened to her vital signs asked her the routine safety questions, and we were ready to go on our way. Yes! I would make it to the grocery store before rush hour. Then the nurse came in with a piece of paper with the urine test results on them. I could see a number that was highlighted boldly in yellow. When she handed the paper to Dr. Murphy she tapped the highlighted number and motioned for him to leave the room . I knew something was wrong but couldn’t for the life of me predict what was to come next.
When the muffled conversation between the two stopped outside of the door ,Dr. Murphy returned with a slightly more serious demeanor. He explained that Kelsey’s glucose level in her urine was more than 3xs it’s normal level. He believed she had diabetes and wanted me to take her immediately to the emergency room where they would run more tests on her and give her the fluids she needed. I don’t really remember much more of that conversation. Dr. Murphy was explaining normal glucose levels to me and all I could do was try to wrap my head around what Kelsey having diabetes really meant. I had to explain it to her and I wasn’t sure what to tell her.
We waited for Dr. Murphy to call the children's hospital to let them know we were coming. Kelsey sat on my lap and cried. All she knew was that diabetes meant getting shots everyday -like her Aunt Donna-and the thought of that terrified her, I reassured her that it would be alright but inside my mind was racing.
It wasn’t the first time I’ve encountered someone with diabetes. My husband’s sister has been diabetes since she was 6 years old and I had a student in my Math class who was diagnosed the time that I taught her . The school nurse reassured me that as long as she had juice or a pack of crackers nearby she’d be fine. I can’t believe I thought it was that simple. If they are feeling shaky give them some juice or crackers and when they eat give them some insulin . Sounds easy to me.
You know I’d like to think of myself as a fairly educated person,but when it came to diabetes I obviously had a lot to learn- and I was about to get a crash course on it.
Even on the way to the children’s hospital I think I was in denial. This won’t be so bad. Aunt Donna does it. Maybe when we get to the hospital they’ll see that Dr, Murphy was wrong. I’m sure something else can cause a 365 blood glucose level.
On the way to the hospital I called my husband at work to break the news. I could hear the emotion in his voice when he told me he’d meet me at the hospital. Michael was not in denial. He knew what to expect. He grew up watching his older sister get injections,experience lows, and miss out on sweets and candies. His sister was diagnosed in the late sixties. This was before glucometers,pumps, and insulin pens. He remembers his mother boiling the reusable needles and the only way for his sister to check her blood sugar was through urine tests. I’m sure this news brought back a flood of emotions and memories.
Michael picked up our oldest daughter Mollie and met us at the hospital. Kelsey was given an IV and had blood drawn Both procedures were difficult for the nurses because Kelsey was so dehydrated.To this day Kelsey most traumatic memory of that day was the IV and getting blood drawn.
The blood was sent to the lab and we waited for what seemed like an eternity to get the results that deep in our hearts we really already knew.While we were waiting the nurse asked me if Kelsey showed any of the usual warning signs of diabetes-excessive thirst,frequent urination, and weight loss. Looking back she was thirsty all of the time. I attributed that to her being as active child running around in the summer heat. The frequent urination was of course due to all of her drinking from the hot weather, and the weight loss was due to a growth spurt. How could I not have noticed those glaring symptoms? What was wrong with me. I felt extremely inadequate and that I somehow let Kelsey down.
The results came back from the lab. The official diagnosis was Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes Mellittus. Kelsey’s life ,our lives would be forever changed.
Finally they called our name and the nurse led us back to the examination room. As almost an afterthought, she handed Kelsey a cup and asked her to give a urine specimen before heading to the exam room. Once in the exam room, everything went pretty smoothly. Dr. Murphy listened to her vital signs asked her the routine safety questions, and we were ready to go on our way. Yes! I would make it to the grocery store before rush hour. Then the nurse came in with a piece of paper with the urine test results on them. I could see a number that was highlighted boldly in yellow. When she handed the paper to Dr. Murphy she tapped the highlighted number and motioned for him to leave the room . I knew something was wrong but couldn’t for the life of me predict what was to come next.
When the muffled conversation between the two stopped outside of the door ,Dr. Murphy returned with a slightly more serious demeanor. He explained that Kelsey’s glucose level in her urine was more than 3xs it’s normal level. He believed she had diabetes and wanted me to take her immediately to the emergency room where they would run more tests on her and give her the fluids she needed. I don’t really remember much more of that conversation. Dr. Murphy was explaining normal glucose levels to me and all I could do was try to wrap my head around what Kelsey having diabetes really meant. I had to explain it to her and I wasn’t sure what to tell her.
We waited for Dr. Murphy to call the children's hospital to let them know we were coming. Kelsey sat on my lap and cried. All she knew was that diabetes meant getting shots everyday -like her Aunt Donna-and the thought of that terrified her, I reassured her that it would be alright but inside my mind was racing.
It wasn’t the first time I’ve encountered someone with diabetes. My husband’s sister has been diabetes since she was 6 years old and I had a student in my Math class who was diagnosed the time that I taught her . The school nurse reassured me that as long as she had juice or a pack of crackers nearby she’d be fine. I can’t believe I thought it was that simple. If they are feeling shaky give them some juice or crackers and when they eat give them some insulin . Sounds easy to me.
You know I’d like to think of myself as a fairly educated person,but when it came to diabetes I obviously had a lot to learn- and I was about to get a crash course on it.
Even on the way to the children’s hospital I think I was in denial. This won’t be so bad. Aunt Donna does it. Maybe when we get to the hospital they’ll see that Dr, Murphy was wrong. I’m sure something else can cause a 365 blood glucose level.
On the way to the hospital I called my husband at work to break the news. I could hear the emotion in his voice when he told me he’d meet me at the hospital. Michael was not in denial. He knew what to expect. He grew up watching his older sister get injections,experience lows, and miss out on sweets and candies. His sister was diagnosed in the late sixties. This was before glucometers,pumps, and insulin pens. He remembers his mother boiling the reusable needles and the only way for his sister to check her blood sugar was through urine tests. I’m sure this news brought back a flood of emotions and memories.
Michael picked up our oldest daughter Mollie and met us at the hospital. Kelsey was given an IV and had blood drawn Both procedures were difficult for the nurses because Kelsey was so dehydrated.To this day Kelsey most traumatic memory of that day was the IV and getting blood drawn.
The blood was sent to the lab and we waited for what seemed like an eternity to get the results that deep in our hearts we really already knew.While we were waiting the nurse asked me if Kelsey showed any of the usual warning signs of diabetes-excessive thirst,frequent urination, and weight loss. Looking back she was thirsty all of the time. I attributed that to her being as active child running around in the summer heat. The frequent urination was of course due to all of her drinking from the hot weather, and the weight loss was due to a growth spurt. How could I not have noticed those glaring symptoms? What was wrong with me. I felt extremely inadequate and that I somehow let Kelsey down.
The results came back from the lab. The official diagnosis was Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes Mellittus. Kelsey’s life ,our lives would be forever changed.
Diary of a Type 3 Diabetic
Hi. My name is Beth McGill and I am a Type 3 Diabetic. What? Never heard of a Type 3 Diabetic you say? Well I'm not surprised because it doesn't really exist. . A Type 3 Diabetic is a term used to describe a person who knows or loves someone with Diabetes-Type 1 or Type 2. This disease affects more than just the person who has it. It affects them and everyone around them. In my case, the person I know who has diabetes is my 17 year old daughter Kelsey. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was just 9 years old.This blog is about how this disease affects her life and the lives of those around her. My blog will not be filled with medical jargon and the latest results on stem cell research-but it will be filled with the challenges "we" face on a daily basis and how we handle them.It will be about Kelsey as an individual and how we as a family unit deal with her disease-the good,the bad, and the ugly. My goal in having this blog is two-fold. 1.It will help support anyone else who knows someone dealing with Type 1 diabetes-and there are a lot of you out there.2. Selfishly, it will help me sort out my feelings by getting them down a paper and out of my head.So-welcome to my blog. Hope you gain something from this as much as I think I will.
Beth
Beth
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Kelsey,Carissa, and Danielle
SFWR Rock Wall
Carissa on the zip line
Kelsey and Danielle
JR. Ambassadors for JDRF
Dance For Diabetes
The Mighty McGills
