I just found out about Diabetes Blog Week. More than 100 bloggers with a different subject every day. How cool is that? First is “A day in the life… with diabetes.” As you know, for us, it’s a day in the life with a 5 year old with diabetes (diagnosed at 23 months). So here goes:
Sleeping. Hear a noise. Up. Check? Yes, just in case. Good number. Back to bed.
Breakfast. He checks his own blood sugar. Feel proud that he can do it. Feel sad that he’s five and he has to. Feel guilty that you ruined feeling proud with feeling sad. What? Oh, breakfast.
Count the carbs, give the bolus.
Off for a family day at the park. Pack extra test strips and lancets. Driving there, realize you forgot extra pump supplies, just in case. Remember you stashed a couple of insets in your purse last week when you had to drive to preschool because his came out. Feel grateful that preschool takes such good care of him. Worry what will happen this fall when he goes to Kindergarten. Remember other kids in school with type 1 and tell yourself he’ll be fine. Deep breath, feel better. Realize extra insets are in your other purse.
Test bg. Eat snack. Bolus.
At the park, see a child with a disability (or with dangerous food allergies, or hear about a child with cancer). Feel thankful that diabetes management has come so far. Feel terrible and guilty about feeling thankful. Feel sorry for the other family. Feel stupid, 'cause you don’t want anyone’s pity. Settle on: everybody’s got something.
Laugh and enjoy the time with your family.
Test bg. Eat. Look up carbs in ice cream treat you’ve never seen before. Spider-Man has gumball eyes?Bolus.
Test bg.
Playing hard, number comes up low. Juice box - back in action. Should we suspend the pump for an hour? Remember that worked really well a while back. Remember it didn’t work so well that other time. Wonder if he should have an extra cookie. Will test again in 20 minutes. Eat the other extra cookie yourself.
Test bg, test bg, test bg.
Are the numbers going up this week? He’s growing again - look at those pants! Probably have to adjust basal. Call the doctor tomorrow. Feel grateful for our incredible doctors. Hope they think we’re good patients. Remember the fit he pitched when they drew blood last year? Remember they need to do that again, next visit. Mental note to ask husband to take him. Erase the note, want to be there to hold him while your heart is breaking.
Home. Eat. Bolus. Bedtime. Test.
Sleep. Dream of a cure.
Oh my gosh. That seriously MOVED me.