Teenage Guessing Games

Hello Blogosphere, I am still around.....and yes I still have five daughters, 2 of which have Type 1.


My Awesome Teen Type 1 - Whom I worry about


My teen Type 1 is currenlty flooded with pubescent homronal surges that threaten her daily diabetes life more frequently then I would like. However I strive to  be a mature (Ha, ya right) father and I must gently pursuade or encourage her to be responsible with her diabetes. In other words I try to lead by example, and yes.....I constantly remind her to test before; eating, moving, sleeping, skate-boarding, breathing, blinking, you get my point.

I worry....who doesn't, but here are my biggest worry's:

Me "What's your suger?"

Her: "It's fine, I can tell" - As she injects a huge amount to chase the carb she ate 30 minutes ago

Next:

Me "Did you test" - Before she is about to leave with her friends to go long boarding

Her "No, but it was good before"

Me "When? Before....!"

Her "This Morning" 8 hrs ago

Me "Test or you don't go" My thoughts - I wish she didn't have diabetes.....but I want her safe and alive.

Next:

Her "My stomach hurts"

Me "What's your sugar"

Her "Don't know"

Me "why?

Her "Haven't checked today"

The list goes on and on....

I try not to nag but man, I worry about her safety, the blind injections, the not testing, the guessing, the everything.....then I remember that when I was a 15 yr old Type one they didn't even have meters, and I took 2 shots per day, I survived, and I know she will too.

Cheers!
Trev

Let me Out of the Hamster Wheel!

It's the end of yet another day as I sit here at my computer and think; where does the time go?

Then I pictured a shrunken me staring out a cage, running on a hamster wheel. But really getting nowhere.

Strange thought I know. Just being honest. 

I just think life is ass backwards sometimes. Like, I drop my children off all day, work nine hours and see them for a fraction of my day after I am mentally exhausted. Not right, but reality.

Diabetes, has simply sped up the hamster wheel, how? Well, in many ways.  

As a parent of two Type 1's I am spending much mental energy, and physical energy testing, problem solving and worrying about their diabetes care, let alone their general well being, which makes the world seem to spin that much faster. Throw in my diabetes management, 2 full time working parents, 3 other kids, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and a rabbit, it's a little crazy. 

Yes, I know, I made my bed and now I must lye in it(or something like that, can't remember the exact saying) I am responsible for my own choices in life, and I can live with that. With one acception, diabetes. We didn't choose this. But we must buck up and deal with it. 

I say ass backwards because, work is first, family second in our society in terms of time committment. It should be the reversed.

Hopefully the hamster wheel slows a little so I can jump off, and chill out on the hamster hammock, or take a hamster dip, hell I'd settle to just stop for more then 30 minutes, to peer out at a nice hamster view.

Funny, I always envisioned life a little less stressful as a kid.  Now I understand why my dad would come home from work, grab the newspaper, and kick his feet up and ignore us on occasion. He was flippin tired.

Well, time to go pick up the off-spring!  Until next time.

Trev 

Wanted - Diabetic Child to Feel Low

"Our baby"

Now if you read this and don't have Diabetes the title looks really bad, and please don't call the authorities.

I am not referring to a mood state of low. I have posted many a times regarding the same issue (my kids hypo unawareness) and here we go again.

We pick her up from the park (she was with her two older sisters) and load them into the van. We perform a routine check and........

Ready for this 1.2 mmol.  If you live in the US multiply by 18.  Yes I know, I gasped, as my wife scrambled for a juice box which she inhaled. I peeled into a 7-11 to grab more juice.

I was so disturbed, and shaken by this low that we just sat in front of the store in shock, of course,  nursing the sugar back up into a safe range.

Like no sign at all.  She did not look sweaty, she wasn't shaky, didn't feel hungry, actually told us she felt fine. Her natural complexion could land her a roll in a vampire movie, but what the hell. And yes we double checked the reading.

Then my wife turned to me and said, "I am so glad we picked her up when we did." If we were 10-15 minutes later the outcome makes me nauseous to ponder.

"Medtronic Sensor"

I went to the pharmacy this weekend and they now stock medtronic sensors,  $220 for 4 of them.  I think it's time. But those cannulas, which I've sampled are like the ones they use for tissue biopsies, BIG MO FO's.  I did read online that they are coming out with smaller ones in the USA so maybe by the time Rowan's my age we may get them. Also still waiting on the Dex for goodness sake.

Once again we had a very close encounter with a potentially deadly outcome.

Just needed to air this and get it off my chest. Just checked her she is 10 mmol and I am okay to sleep now.

I feel selfish complaining, when people are fleeing their countries for fear of being shot or poisoned by radiation. It does keep me humble, but nevertheless it doesn't make my worry any less.

I love my kid, more then myself, and the thought of not having the technology due to financial reasons, or because it is not child friendly, really chews me up inside.

I have started to prey again and I hope and prey that she soon starts to feel and sense when she is low. Please GOD, help me out here.

Trev

A Diabetes Mind-Game

Life.

I swear it speeds up with each passing moment, days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and before we know it a decade has passed.  Your probably thinking, does this have anything remotely to do with diabetes?

Well for me it really does.  Life is crazy for most of us, in this modern day we live by the clock, work, family, home, and the list goes on. 

One thing for sure, diabetes is an additional thing that must take importance in our lives and thus also eats up time. Pharmacies, testing, doctors appointments etc...

There is also one more thing; WORRY.

We constantly hear things, be it in  the media or from others in general.  "My aunt lost a limb from diabetes" or "Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness" You get my point, its mostly negative, sensationalized crap.

As a long time diabetic I inevitably find myself  in silence thinking, how long will I live, will I go blind, or be on dialysis for kidney failure. 

I have actually looked up mortality rates for those with diabetes.  Crazy! But true.

Then I decided to look at some facts. Like, with tight control you can prevent most of the complications associated with Diabetes.  Really, I thought, many years ago now. 

Now I realize that for every sad story of someone with diabetes there are many positive stories.  Like, folks with diabetes who have lived well into their 80`s.  Athletes with diabetes, and many others.

I have to be honest though. For me it's a daily struggle. Since it's the kinda thing you can`t really place in the back of your mind.

For me "The Worry" is a constant mind game.  Many moments spent telling myself "good control equals a long complication free life." But one can`t help to worry, when the mood is low, or when you get a horrific reading on your meter and a terrible A1C, you can`t help the dance that ensues in your mind thinking; will I make it or will this bloody diabetes finally catch up with me.

Most days I feel I can control it, beat it, and  I'm up for the challenge.  But there are those days, you know the ones, you just can`t seem to look at the bright side.

Then I say to myself, "let the mind-game begin" and most often I go to bed at night with renewed faith that tomorrow I will get up to face the challenge that diabetes brings.

For those who live with diabetes you are not alone and know one thing for sure; it is absolutely possible to live a long and healthy life with diabetes. 

Trev