Big E and the geese! "MOM! It's gonna bite me!"Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
AH, MAN!
Living in an area that is plagued by tornadoes will keep you on your toes. When you add to that our single-wide living arrangements you get several "ah man!" moments every year.
Nashville is our local viewing area. The meteorologists range from calm to panic stricken. My favorite woman just said, "You need to be in your place of safety right now." I know this is serious but this phrase makes me laugh every time she says it.
Picture a kindergarten teacher clapping her hands and saying, "Okie dokie boys and girls, we need to find our safe place" and you will have her voice exactly... very church lady for you SNL folk.
The last time she said it she added this beauty, "If you live in a single-wide you do not have a safe place. The best place for you is in the road in a ditch." To which Brianne responded, "Well thanks!" Being my normal warped self I told Brianne while she was walking out to the ditch she might want to hold up a golf club so the lightening was directed away from me :)
It's 10pm and the news is alive with a tornado on the ground. It's heading this way. AH, MAN!
I refuse to lie in the ditch so we will head next door to the in-laws if it continues on this path. AH, MAN!
Nashville is our local viewing area. The meteorologists range from calm to panic stricken. My favorite woman just said, "You need to be in your place of safety right now." I know this is serious but this phrase makes me laugh every time she says it.
Picture a kindergarten teacher clapping her hands and saying, "Okie dokie boys and girls, we need to find our safe place" and you will have her voice exactly... very church lady for you SNL folk.
The last time she said it she added this beauty, "If you live in a single-wide you do not have a safe place. The best place for you is in the road in a ditch." To which Brianne responded, "Well thanks!" Being my normal warped self I told Brianne while she was walking out to the ditch she might want to hold up a golf club so the lightening was directed away from me :)
It's 10pm and the news is alive with a tornado on the ground. It's heading this way. AH, MAN!
I refuse to lie in the ditch so we will head next door to the in-laws if it continues on this path. AH, MAN!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Job's friends
There are a lot of thing in life that make one scratch their head. Like why people drive in the passing lane or slow down to merge onto an interstate. Maybe it's why there are people who insist on complaining about everything, even the nice stuff that comes their way. Or maybe it's people who find it necesary to point out your errors. And those that feel you need their help.
All of these things can get under the skin. Right now, for me, it is the latter, the helpers.
I LOVE having help! Help with chores, help with shopping, help with school, all things that I'd rather not do. However there ate those things in my life that I really would not like help with. Most of these things are the "how" things.
For instance, HOW I shop. I really like how I go about shopping. It is very systematic. Allowing me to hit every needed isle just in case an item has been left off the list. Even HOW I school is off limits. It's taken me years to get comfortable with my method so please do not tell me I need to do it your way.
And that too has taken me years... the ability to say I am comfortable with my way.
For too long I have been intimidated by what other, respected friends, have said or done. I have allowed myself to be bullied without even myself or them knowing they were bullying. They would say how they did something different from me and I would quietly beat myself over the head for not doing it the "right" way. The last few years have changed that. It started with Dad's death and it is surfacing with diabetes.
Over the last 8 weeks I have been told of herbs I needed to purchase to stabilize blood sugar. I have been sneered at by what I thought was a good friend because she thinks our eating habits have caused the diabetes... and she has told others her "facts". I have been called an "uncaring" mother because I let Matt eat at Burger King. I have been told by another friend that since she was able to handle gestational diabetes that what Matt has "is doable". I even have friends offering to buy me books about type 2 diabetes so I will have a better grip on how to handle food choices so that Matt can "stop taking" insulin.
To all of you, thank you. I know that you mean well and that you love me. I am thrilled beyond words that you have a desire to help.... but please stop.
Friends listen. They do not sit in a circle when you are at your lowest and berate you for what they believe to be your fault. That is what Job's friends did.
Right now you must trust that Geoff and I know what we are doing. You must put your need behind my son's need. Let us move at our own pace. If we need to change something we will see the need and we will make the change.
Pray for us.
All of these things can get under the skin. Right now, for me, it is the latter, the helpers.
I LOVE having help! Help with chores, help with shopping, help with school, all things that I'd rather not do. However there ate those things in my life that I really would not like help with. Most of these things are the "how" things.
For instance, HOW I shop. I really like how I go about shopping. It is very systematic. Allowing me to hit every needed isle just in case an item has been left off the list. Even HOW I school is off limits. It's taken me years to get comfortable with my method so please do not tell me I need to do it your way.
And that too has taken me years... the ability to say I am comfortable with my way.
For too long I have been intimidated by what other, respected friends, have said or done. I have allowed myself to be bullied without even myself or them knowing they were bullying. They would say how they did something different from me and I would quietly beat myself over the head for not doing it the "right" way. The last few years have changed that. It started with Dad's death and it is surfacing with diabetes.
Over the last 8 weeks I have been told of herbs I needed to purchase to stabilize blood sugar. I have been sneered at by what I thought was a good friend because she thinks our eating habits have caused the diabetes... and she has told others her "facts". I have been called an "uncaring" mother because I let Matt eat at Burger King. I have been told by another friend that since she was able to handle gestational diabetes that what Matt has "is doable". I even have friends offering to buy me books about type 2 diabetes so I will have a better grip on how to handle food choices so that Matt can "stop taking" insulin.
To all of you, thank you. I know that you mean well and that you love me. I am thrilled beyond words that you have a desire to help.... but please stop.
Friends listen. They do not sit in a circle when you are at your lowest and berate you for what they believe to be your fault. That is what Job's friends did.
Right now you must trust that Geoff and I know what we are doing. You must put your need behind my son's need. Let us move at our own pace. If we need to change something we will see the need and we will make the change.
Pray for us.
Knoxville Zoo
The Silver Back Gorilla sat by the window and so did Eli. He's a bit nervous. Sorry for the glare. Gorilla was HUGE!
Red Panda- he looked like he was going to jump right down on us!
The giant turtle... only this one isn't real.
Matt's wingspan vs the Condor's wingspan
We had a very good time. It was arranged by a friend as a school field trip for the local home school group. The weather was perfect!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Today and Tomorrow
Up early making turkey bacon, scrambled eggs and toast. In total the carb count was 22 for Matt- he had 1 egg (1), 2 toasts (9), bacon (0) and milk (12). I DID NOT give him the Novolog because he had less than 25 grams of carbs. He was outside walking the dogs for 30 minutes after lunch. At 10 he checked bg and he was 130s! I was pleased with that. His Lantus and the exercise handled the lower carb breakfast well.
The bread we found at WalMart is "Sara Lee 100% Whole Wheat w/Honey 45 Calories' & Delightful". It is very good considering we are not whole wheat people. For 2 slices it is only 9 carbs (14 - 5 fiber). We were told last week that if the fiber content was OVER 5 we could subtract the fiber from the carbs. Several cereals also have high fiber.
Tomorrow we will be at the Knoxville Zoo. It's our first all day trip since dx 7 weeks ago. I am nervous and the backpack is evident of this. There may be enough supplies in there to operate a T1 clinic!
On the advice of the people from the CWD forum (Children With Diabetes) I have added baby wipes to the pack. These are for hand washing. If you have a child with T1 or are a teen with T1 it is a good idea to check out the CWD forums.
What's in the pack:
syringes
insulin
Carb king book
alcohol swaps
bg tester
sugar tablets
glucogon
log book
lifesavers
3 extra juice boxes
5 lunchables
5 fiber bars
3 waters
bandaides
thermometer
chewable tylenol
advil
antiseptic cream
baby wipes
insurance card
ID and cash
It's a good thing Miss B hurt her knee and needs a wheel chair. I'll rent one tomorrow so she doesn't have to walk on it and she can hold the pack.
I have been taking pics and video. I WILL post some I promise!
On the down side I realized I had not taken my iron in more than 2 weeks.... oops. No wonder I am tired and snippy! My brain is just not wanting to cope with any more! Matt too is showing signs of mental fatigue. He has been very fussy, not like him at all, this week. He nearly cried in the store today. Of course it could have the addition of school today. No more fall break. Math was hard on both of us. We need a zoo trip! The plan is to laugh and sing and forget all about diabetes for as long as possible.
The bread we found at WalMart is "Sara Lee 100% Whole Wheat w/Honey 45 Calories' & Delightful". It is very good considering we are not whole wheat people. For 2 slices it is only 9 carbs (14 - 5 fiber). We were told last week that if the fiber content was OVER 5 we could subtract the fiber from the carbs. Several cereals also have high fiber.
Tomorrow we will be at the Knoxville Zoo. It's our first all day trip since dx 7 weeks ago. I am nervous and the backpack is evident of this. There may be enough supplies in there to operate a T1 clinic!
On the advice of the people from the CWD forum (Children With Diabetes) I have added baby wipes to the pack. These are for hand washing. If you have a child with T1 or are a teen with T1 it is a good idea to check out the CWD forums.
What's in the pack:
syringes
insulin
Carb king book
alcohol swaps
bg tester
sugar tablets
glucogon
log book
lifesavers
3 extra juice boxes
5 lunchables
5 fiber bars
3 waters
bandaides
thermometer
chewable tylenol
advil
antiseptic cream
baby wipes
insurance card
ID and cash
It's a good thing Miss B hurt her knee and needs a wheel chair. I'll rent one tomorrow so she doesn't have to walk on it and she can hold the pack.
I have been taking pics and video. I WILL post some I promise!
On the down side I realized I had not taken my iron in more than 2 weeks.... oops. No wonder I am tired and snippy! My brain is just not wanting to cope with any more! Matt too is showing signs of mental fatigue. He has been very fussy, not like him at all, this week. He nearly cried in the store today. Of course it could have the addition of school today. No more fall break. Math was hard on both of us. We need a zoo trip! The plan is to laugh and sing and forget all about diabetes for as long as possible.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Lows
The last few days have seen an increase in lows. Tomorrow I'll change his breakfast ratio from 1/20 to 1/25 and see if that helps. OR I could give him turkey bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast and forgo a shot altogether!
Home schoolers are always looking for ways to learn and this smells a lot like a science experiment to me :) Now to get Mattie on board with checking his bg more often for the sake of science.
Home schoolers are always looking for ways to learn and this smells a lot like a science experiment to me :) Now to get Mattie on board with checking his bg more often for the sake of science.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
This is the medic alert dog tag I ordered from medicalidstore. I was able to get it in blue. The engraving on the back is DIABETIC, T1. Total cost with shipping was below $20!
Site change, honeymoon or just because....
...your guess is as good as mine, but Mattie's bg #s have been GREAT this week!
Insulin injection sites should be rotated between 4 "ideal" spots: the back of the arm, the thigh, the stomach, and the hip. Matt's preferred spot is his stomach (yeah, sounds creepy to me too but he likes it). The insulin needs to be injected into the fatty tissue.
Since dx Matt has been giving his own shots rotating from the left to the right side of his stomach, making sure to avoid the belly button area. On Sunday he asked me to give his shot in his arm and I did. Again after lunch he asked and I gave the injection in the opposite arm. That evening and night he gave his shots in his stomach. All day Sunday his bg numbers were close to 100! A light went on for me. On Monday I asked if I could give his insulin in his arm and again his numbers all day were great.
Tuesday at Vandy's class I asked about changing injection sites. More specifically would doing so make such a difference. The nurse said yes!
When we were told to change sites we all thought they meant change from one side of the body to the other not from one body part to the other. However, It was recommended to us on Tuesday that we alternate body parts during the day, which we have. The result has been very satisfying. Matt usually gets 4 injections/day so we are now giving 3 in the arm and/or stomach and 1 in the hip. The Lantus stings so it goes in the hip- more fat less stinging????
This week has seen 95% of his numbers between 95 and 130! That's a non-diabetic normal range!
So now I ask is it REALLY the site change or is it the beginning of the "honeymoon phase"?
Yes, you heard me right, my 11 yr old may be honeymooning!
Honeymoon. The pancreas has been working very hard for months to work properly. It's beta cells are being killed and it is fighting to produce insulin. Then all of a sudden insulin is coming into the body from an outside source. The pancreas says, "Ahhhhh" and it rests a bit. After some rest, maybe a few weeks maybe a few months, the pancreas starts to operate at a higher level. The drs call it the last hurray!
The picture in my mind is of the 300 Spartans. At one point they know they will die. Do they turn and run in an attempt to save a few or do they fight. They FIGHT, hard, until there is none left. This is the honeymoon for the pancreas.
The honeymoon can last for weeks or even a year. During honeymoon the requirement for injected insulin is reduced and the bg numbers are more stable.
Whatever the reason for Matt's good numbers I am thrilled about this week. I pray it continues!
Happy Mom! Happy Dad! Happy Matt!
Insulin injection sites should be rotated between 4 "ideal" spots: the back of the arm, the thigh, the stomach, and the hip. Matt's preferred spot is his stomach (yeah, sounds creepy to me too but he likes it). The insulin needs to be injected into the fatty tissue.
Since dx Matt has been giving his own shots rotating from the left to the right side of his stomach, making sure to avoid the belly button area. On Sunday he asked me to give his shot in his arm and I did. Again after lunch he asked and I gave the injection in the opposite arm. That evening and night he gave his shots in his stomach. All day Sunday his bg numbers were close to 100! A light went on for me. On Monday I asked if I could give his insulin in his arm and again his numbers all day were great.
Tuesday at Vandy's class I asked about changing injection sites. More specifically would doing so make such a difference. The nurse said yes!
When we were told to change sites we all thought they meant change from one side of the body to the other not from one body part to the other. However, It was recommended to us on Tuesday that we alternate body parts during the day, which we have. The result has been very satisfying. Matt usually gets 4 injections/day so we are now giving 3 in the arm and/or stomach and 1 in the hip. The Lantus stings so it goes in the hip- more fat less stinging????
This week has seen 95% of his numbers between 95 and 130! That's a non-diabetic normal range!
So now I ask is it REALLY the site change or is it the beginning of the "honeymoon phase"?
Yes, you heard me right, my 11 yr old may be honeymooning!
Honeymoon. The pancreas has been working very hard for months to work properly. It's beta cells are being killed and it is fighting to produce insulin. Then all of a sudden insulin is coming into the body from an outside source. The pancreas says, "Ahhhhh" and it rests a bit. After some rest, maybe a few weeks maybe a few months, the pancreas starts to operate at a higher level. The drs call it the last hurray!
The picture in my mind is of the 300 Spartans. At one point they know they will die. Do they turn and run in an attempt to save a few or do they fight. They FIGHT, hard, until there is none left. This is the honeymoon for the pancreas.
The honeymoon can last for weeks or even a year. During honeymoon the requirement for injected insulin is reduced and the bg numbers are more stable.
Whatever the reason for Matt's good numbers I am thrilled about this week. I pray it continues!
Happy Mom! Happy Dad! Happy Matt!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Home Church Continued
Here are the "3 Things" from the books we've read since the last post"
II KINGS
1. Elisha the Prophet
2. The fall and dispersion of Israel
3. The fall and captivity of Judah
I CHRONICLES
1. Genealogies
2. David organizes the kingdom
3. David prepares to build the temple
II CHRONICLES
1. Solomon is king
2. Kings of Judah
3. Decree of Cyrus
EZRA
1. Zerrubable's return
2. Ezra's ministry
3. Completion of the temple
NEHEMIAH
1. Rebuilding the wall
2. Reading the Law
3. Response of the people
ESTHER
1. Esther is queen
2. Haman tries to kill Jews
3. God uses Esther to save Jews
We are now reading through Job.
I have read through Job several times and thought I knew it pretty well. However, God is teaching us some marvelous things through Job. I am convinced Job is one of the greatest books in the Bible!
II KINGS
1. Elisha the Prophet
2. The fall and dispersion of Israel
3. The fall and captivity of Judah
I CHRONICLES
1. Genealogies
2. David organizes the kingdom
3. David prepares to build the temple
II CHRONICLES
1. Solomon is king
2. Kings of Judah
3. Decree of Cyrus
EZRA
1. Zerrubable's return
2. Ezra's ministry
3. Completion of the temple
NEHEMIAH
1. Rebuilding the wall
2. Reading the Law
3. Response of the people
ESTHER
1. Esther is queen
2. Haman tries to kill Jews
3. God uses Esther to save Jews
We are now reading through Job.
I have read through Job several times and thought I knew it pretty well. However, God is teaching us some marvelous things through Job. I am convinced Job is one of the greatest books in the Bible!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
What we Learned Today
Every time we start out for Vandy I question the trip. Do we REALLY need to go and learn more stuff? I mean we are online all the time reading this stuff so why do we need to show up to learn it all over again? Then upon my arrival home I spend 30 solid minutes telling Geoff all the new stuff.
The first class was mainly about sick day care. I LOVED IT! The nurse that directed the class had been T1 since she was 11. The children picked up on that quickly and listened more intently than they would have done otherwise... so did the moms. Most of what was taught at that meeting was in my previous post. Today was about complications that might arise with prolonged highs and how to avoid them.
The nurse in charge today was another T1 (I'm sorry these lovely ladies have this but secretly I think they have it just so Mattie can get along better... sorry ladies :) I can't remember their names so I'm renaming them Nurse 1 and Nurse 2 in honor of the Cat in the Hat. Nurse 2 is older than Nurse 1. She was dxd at age 8 back in the 60s! Like Nurse 1 she is a beautiful woman in very good health, inspiring.
The first thing on the notepad says "#s on the frig". It was recommended that all important # are placed on the frig- Vandy, local Drs., school nurse (Ooo, ooo, that's me!) and pharmacy. Next is this ratio 90/10.
Of all the diabetics 90% are Type 2 and 10% are Type 1. When you see an info-mercial or commercial that says "diabetes" they are referring to T2.
The rest of the note pad is filled with dietary info: What fat and exercise do to bg; The type of foods we should ALL be eating and the ones to avoid; How to translate label % into grams.; And worst of all the terrible news that diet sodas remove calcium...
WHAT?... it's one thing to give the child info on what he is to eat but DON'T YOU MESS WITH MY DIET SUNKIST SISTER! I said you mean the diet stuff is weakening our bones? Yes.
Matt put his arm around me and lay his head on my shoulder. See I told you he was sensitive.
If Matt can do what he's doing then I can give up Sunkist.
Over all this was a very good class and I'm glad I went. I now have a better grasp of why foods we eat are not "good vs bad" but "better vs worse". And Yes, Virginia, there really is a magic food. It's called W A T E R.
Coolest diabetic thing today- fat is absorbed so slowly that several hrs after eating a high fat meal, even with the right carb/insulin ratio, it can look like the insulin did not work. That's why pizza can be a snafu.
Coolest non diabetic thing today- on the way home we passed the airport at the exact time a huge passenger jet was crossing over the highway. It was right in front of us. It was so low and close Matt said, "I can read the words!" As my brother would say we were EOR (end of runway)... WAY COOL!
The first class was mainly about sick day care. I LOVED IT! The nurse that directed the class had been T1 since she was 11. The children picked up on that quickly and listened more intently than they would have done otherwise... so did the moms. Most of what was taught at that meeting was in my previous post. Today was about complications that might arise with prolonged highs and how to avoid them.
The nurse in charge today was another T1 (I'm sorry these lovely ladies have this but secretly I think they have it just so Mattie can get along better... sorry ladies :) I can't remember their names so I'm renaming them Nurse 1 and Nurse 2 in honor of the Cat in the Hat. Nurse 2 is older than Nurse 1. She was dxd at age 8 back in the 60s! Like Nurse 1 she is a beautiful woman in very good health, inspiring.
The first thing on the notepad says "#s on the frig". It was recommended that all important # are placed on the frig- Vandy, local Drs., school nurse (Ooo, ooo, that's me!) and pharmacy. Next is this ratio 90/10.
Of all the diabetics 90% are Type 2 and 10% are Type 1. When you see an info-mercial or commercial that says "diabetes" they are referring to T2.
The rest of the note pad is filled with dietary info: What fat and exercise do to bg; The type of foods we should ALL be eating and the ones to avoid; How to translate label % into grams.; And worst of all the terrible news that diet sodas remove calcium...
WHAT?... it's one thing to give the child info on what he is to eat but DON'T YOU MESS WITH MY DIET SUNKIST SISTER! I said you mean the diet stuff is weakening our bones? Yes.
Matt put his arm around me and lay his head on my shoulder. See I told you he was sensitive.
If Matt can do what he's doing then I can give up Sunkist.
Over all this was a very good class and I'm glad I went. I now have a better grasp of why foods we eat are not "good vs bad" but "better vs worse". And Yes, Virginia, there really is a magic food. It's called W A T E R.
Coolest diabetic thing today- fat is absorbed so slowly that several hrs after eating a high fat meal, even with the right carb/insulin ratio, it can look like the insulin did not work. That's why pizza can be a snafu.
Coolest non diabetic thing today- on the way home we passed the airport at the exact time a huge passenger jet was crossing over the highway. It was right in front of us. It was so low and close Matt said, "I can read the words!" As my brother would say we were EOR (end of runway)... WAY COOL!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Class #2
Tomorrow is our 2nd diabetes class at Vanderbilt.
The last one was GREAT! I learned so much. The educator is also T1 and she had some very helpful info on dealing with sick days. This class, however, is about complications. I am not looking forward to this.
Matt is a very sensitive child. I'm smiling because I know what everyone thinks when you say your child is sensitive, it means they are an uncontrollable BRAT. But that is not what I mean. I mean that Matt FEELS things more than the rest of us. So I'm of German decent and a couch can sometimes feel more than me BUT really Matt does!
Matt will be the husband that brings his wife flowers just because he thinks she needs them. He gives hugs freely and always knows when things are not right. He wants to make everything better all the time. He is a huge sweety with a big heart. So I DO NOT want him to panic about long term complications. Now if I could stop worrying about him worrying :) ...oh bother.
The last one was GREAT! I learned so much. The educator is also T1 and she had some very helpful info on dealing with sick days. This class, however, is about complications. I am not looking forward to this.
Matt is a very sensitive child. I'm smiling because I know what everyone thinks when you say your child is sensitive, it means they are an uncontrollable BRAT. But that is not what I mean. I mean that Matt FEELS things more than the rest of us. So I'm of German decent and a couch can sometimes feel more than me BUT really Matt does!
Matt will be the husband that brings his wife flowers just because he thinks she needs them. He gives hugs freely and always knows when things are not right. He wants to make everything better all the time. He is a huge sweety with a big heart. So I DO NOT want him to panic about long term complications. Now if I could stop worrying about him worrying :) ...oh bother.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
24 Hours, Then Reboot
This post is about how I am dealing with diabetes... one day at a time and not so well.
Ever had something happen to you or your family and find your mind going to others who have it much worse? It's a good way of dealing in the here and now. "My situation is not as bad as..." "At least we don't have to go through..." You say these things thinking you can relax for a moment and maybe breathe.
Breathe. Relax. Smile. HEY! What did you just eat?!
Insulin. It's the ONLY hormone in the body that can turn food into energy. Insulin opens the body's cells and allows them to use food (in the form of sugar). Mattie doesn't have any so he must inject it or slowly starve to death. Unlike the much more common T2 (type 2) diabetes Matt's body will eat itself without his daily injections. He will loose weight and his body will produce Ketones.
Ketones. They are the bi-product of the body eating fat and muscle stores because it can not access the sugar in the blood stream. Ketones are deadly. They are the dread of every mother with a T1 child. If Mattie's bg (blood glucose) goes above 300 for 2 consecutive tests (he tests 5x daily) then we must test for ketones. If they are in the mild range we keep on testing. If they are in the mod-high range we call Vanderbilt and then head to the ER. If, God forbid, our child becomes sick then we must test for ketones every 2 hours.
Sickness. Sickness, in particular vomiting, can turn a healthy T1 into a very sick T1 in a matter of hours. Vanderbilt has given us a very strict sick day regimen. If Mattie throws up we are to call them asap. We then begin a 2-3 hr bg and ketone check. If his bg is below 150 we give him carbs in liquid form, anything he can hold down. If his bg goes above 200 we give insulin in half units for every 100 above 200... clear as mud right? If the ketones go above the moderate range we take him to the ER. We can not give him Phenergan- the lovely no throw up med- because it will make him too tired. If he is drugged he may not "feel" a low in time for it to be treated before he looses consciousness or has a seizure.
Lows. A low is any bg reading below 80. A bad low (like Rob Lowe :) is anything below 70. If the bg is below 70 we treat with "fast acting carbs"- anything sugar in liquid form- soda, juice, low fat milk (fat slow the absorption of sugar) or sugar tablets. The idea is to give 15 carbs then wait 10-15 minutes and retest. If the bg is still below 70 the process starts all over again. If it is above 70 then give "slow acting carbs"- food. If at any point Mattie should loose consciousness we are to test bg, call 911, then give Glucagon if bg is blow 70.
Glucagon- A hormone that will cause the liver to release stored sugar. We have 2 emergency glucagon kits. The kits contain glucagon in powder form and a water filled syringe. It is mixed then given in a large muscle. Once it is given the patient is rolled on their side because a common side effect is vomiting. One of the kits is in the kitchen and one is in Mattie's bag.
Matt's Bag. For now he has a green bag that we came home with him from the hospital. He carries it with him EVERYWHERE. Where he goes the bag goes, no exceptions. It contains: 1 juice box, 2 packages of glucose tablets, food bar, glucagin kit -these are for treating lows; bg monitor kit (monitor, lancet, and test strips); syringes; log book; Novolog.
Novolog/Lantus. Lantus if the slow acting insulin that Mattie injects every night. It provides a steady low dose throughout the day. Novolog is the faster acting insulin that he injects to cover the carbs he eats. Novolog acts fast and is gone a few hrs later.
Carbs. Carbohydrates are what they body uses as sugar. ALL carbs are turned into sugar. Simple, complex, doesn't matter, the body sees them in the same way, as sugar- energy. Complex carbs are broken down more slowly and therefore are a better choice. Because they do not hit the bloodstream as fast, complex carbs don't give big swings up. But they still must be accounted for with insulin. Every carb that goes into his mouth needs to be counted.
Carb Counting. IT STINKS! Well, okay, it doesn't stink if what he's eating came in a package with a label but what about homemade food. We eat at Gran's several times a week what about then. Do I stand next to her and quiz her about the Tbls of floor in her gravy or cups of flour in her biscuits? I tried guessing once and his bg went to 44! Now I'm low balling them. But you may ask what am I even talking about???
Carb Plan #1. For every 25 carbs that he eats we give 1 unit of insulin. If he eats 37 carbs he gets 1.5 units. I HATE 1/2 UNITS!
Carb Plan #2. The first one was not working well. His bg #s between breakfast and lunch were always high so here is the new plan. 1/20 carb ratio at breakfast and a 1/25 ratio the rest of the day. This is where we are right now but this will change.
Change. As Matt grows his insulin needs will change. Right now he needs little compared to the other 2 children in our "class group" at Vandy. The thought is that his pancreas is still producing some small amounts of insulin. When it finally gives out his #s will go up. When he is a teen his needs will increase again.
Our day. It stats with a bg test at 3am to make sure he is not dropping while he sleeps. He tests before each meal and if he doesn't feel well- headache, stomach ache, dizzy, hot, cold, sweaty, shaky, anything "odd". He is allowed 15-20 carbs for snack twice daily with no injection. Any snack more than 20 carbs gets a shot. Every meal that is over 20 carbs gets a shot. He is a growing boy that needs carbs so he gets insulin for every meal.
Rinse and Repeat. No cure, no remission. A lifetime of serious just around the corner. One day at a time. "Day by day and with each passing moment strength I find to meet my trials here. Resting in my Father's wise bestowment I've no cause for worry or for fear"... but I do worry, I do fear.
Ever had something happen to you or your family and find your mind going to others who have it much worse? It's a good way of dealing in the here and now. "My situation is not as bad as..." "At least we don't have to go through..." You say these things thinking you can relax for a moment and maybe breathe.
Breathe. Relax. Smile. HEY! What did you just eat?!
Insulin. It's the ONLY hormone in the body that can turn food into energy. Insulin opens the body's cells and allows them to use food (in the form of sugar). Mattie doesn't have any so he must inject it or slowly starve to death. Unlike the much more common T2 (type 2) diabetes Matt's body will eat itself without his daily injections. He will loose weight and his body will produce Ketones.
Ketones. They are the bi-product of the body eating fat and muscle stores because it can not access the sugar in the blood stream. Ketones are deadly. They are the dread of every mother with a T1 child. If Mattie's bg (blood glucose) goes above 300 for 2 consecutive tests (he tests 5x daily) then we must test for ketones. If they are in the mild range we keep on testing. If they are in the mod-high range we call Vanderbilt and then head to the ER. If, God forbid, our child becomes sick then we must test for ketones every 2 hours.
Sickness. Sickness, in particular vomiting, can turn a healthy T1 into a very sick T1 in a matter of hours. Vanderbilt has given us a very strict sick day regimen. If Mattie throws up we are to call them asap. We then begin a 2-3 hr bg and ketone check. If his bg is below 150 we give him carbs in liquid form, anything he can hold down. If his bg goes above 200 we give insulin in half units for every 100 above 200... clear as mud right? If the ketones go above the moderate range we take him to the ER. We can not give him Phenergan- the lovely no throw up med- because it will make him too tired. If he is drugged he may not "feel" a low in time for it to be treated before he looses consciousness or has a seizure.
Lows. A low is any bg reading below 80. A bad low (like Rob Lowe :) is anything below 70. If the bg is below 70 we treat with "fast acting carbs"- anything sugar in liquid form- soda, juice, low fat milk (fat slow the absorption of sugar) or sugar tablets. The idea is to give 15 carbs then wait 10-15 minutes and retest. If the bg is still below 70 the process starts all over again. If it is above 70 then give "slow acting carbs"- food. If at any point Mattie should loose consciousness we are to test bg, call 911, then give Glucagon if bg is blow 70.
Glucagon- A hormone that will cause the liver to release stored sugar. We have 2 emergency glucagon kits. The kits contain glucagon in powder form and a water filled syringe. It is mixed then given in a large muscle. Once it is given the patient is rolled on their side because a common side effect is vomiting. One of the kits is in the kitchen and one is in Mattie's bag.
Matt's Bag. For now he has a green bag that we came home with him from the hospital. He carries it with him EVERYWHERE. Where he goes the bag goes, no exceptions. It contains: 1 juice box, 2 packages of glucose tablets, food bar, glucagin kit -these are for treating lows; bg monitor kit (monitor, lancet, and test strips); syringes; log book; Novolog.
Novolog/Lantus. Lantus if the slow acting insulin that Mattie injects every night. It provides a steady low dose throughout the day. Novolog is the faster acting insulin that he injects to cover the carbs he eats. Novolog acts fast and is gone a few hrs later.
Carbs. Carbohydrates are what they body uses as sugar. ALL carbs are turned into sugar. Simple, complex, doesn't matter, the body sees them in the same way, as sugar- energy. Complex carbs are broken down more slowly and therefore are a better choice. Because they do not hit the bloodstream as fast, complex carbs don't give big swings up. But they still must be accounted for with insulin. Every carb that goes into his mouth needs to be counted.
Carb Counting. IT STINKS! Well, okay, it doesn't stink if what he's eating came in a package with a label but what about homemade food. We eat at Gran's several times a week what about then. Do I stand next to her and quiz her about the Tbls of floor in her gravy or cups of flour in her biscuits? I tried guessing once and his bg went to 44! Now I'm low balling them. But you may ask what am I even talking about???
Carb Plan #1. For every 25 carbs that he eats we give 1 unit of insulin. If he eats 37 carbs he gets 1.5 units. I HATE 1/2 UNITS!
Carb Plan #2. The first one was not working well. His bg #s between breakfast and lunch were always high so here is the new plan. 1/20 carb ratio at breakfast and a 1/25 ratio the rest of the day. This is where we are right now but this will change.
Change. As Matt grows his insulin needs will change. Right now he needs little compared to the other 2 children in our "class group" at Vandy. The thought is that his pancreas is still producing some small amounts of insulin. When it finally gives out his #s will go up. When he is a teen his needs will increase again.
Our day. It stats with a bg test at 3am to make sure he is not dropping while he sleeps. He tests before each meal and if he doesn't feel well- headache, stomach ache, dizzy, hot, cold, sweaty, shaky, anything "odd". He is allowed 15-20 carbs for snack twice daily with no injection. Any snack more than 20 carbs gets a shot. Every meal that is over 20 carbs gets a shot. He is a growing boy that needs carbs so he gets insulin for every meal.
Rinse and Repeat. No cure, no remission. A lifetime of serious just around the corner. One day at a time. "Day by day and with each passing moment strength I find to meet my trials here. Resting in my Father's wise bestowment I've no cause for worry or for fear"... but I do worry, I do fear.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn Geoff, Matt and I will had to Vandy for our 2nd appointment. The last 13 days feel like an eternity. How can it just have been 2 weeks since he was dxed?....
"Dxed" that's diabetic lingo for "diagnosed". There are others: bg- blood glucose, T1- type 1, and d- diabetes.
I hate that I know that! I want to scream GO AWAY!! How can such a sweet kid have to learn this? It is so incredibly unfair. Yes, God is with us. Yes, we lean on Him. But we still feel betrayed. Why us? Why our Mattie? And how will he feel? Will this toughen him... God I pray not. He is such a gentle soul.
Lean not on your own understanding... I have no place to lean. My life has been spent leaning on my wits, my logic. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths... I don't want to be on this path so how can He direct me?
"Dxed" that's diabetic lingo for "diagnosed". There are others: bg- blood glucose, T1- type 1, and d- diabetes.
I hate that I know that! I want to scream GO AWAY!! How can such a sweet kid have to learn this? It is so incredibly unfair. Yes, God is with us. Yes, we lean on Him. But we still feel betrayed. Why us? Why our Mattie? And how will he feel? Will this toughen him... God I pray not. He is such a gentle soul.
Lean not on your own understanding... I have no place to lean. My life has been spent leaning on my wits, my logic. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths... I don't want to be on this path so how can He direct me?
Thursday, September 9, 2010
A New Way of Life
When we are told that a child is on the way the worry begins. Will the baby have 10 toes and 10 fingers? Will it have a genetic deformity? Will it's brain be damaged? Shortly after birth many of these questions are answered and for most people they are answered very pleasantly. Now it is time for the real worry to begin!
For almost as long as I have known my husband I have known that his brother and father had a rare disease. They were type 1 diabetics.
There are 2 main forms of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. By far the most common is type 2. T2 diabetics are almost always over 40 yrs of age and overweight. Their disease can be controlled to a large extent by the food they eat and by the amount of exercise they get. Many can go through life with little or even no medication as long as they stick to a low carbohydrate diet and drink plenty of fluids. T1 diabetics are not so blessed.
The body is an amazing machine created by God! After we eat, the pancreas measures the sugar in the blood and releases just the perfect amount of insulin to unlock the cells of our body so sugar can be let in and used. For T2 diabetics the pancreas functions very well and releases insulin but the cells have trouble unlocking. Sugar and insulin build up to dangerous levels. The cure is pills that help the cells unlock and limited amounts of sugar in the diet. T1 diabetics are at the opposite end... their pancreas is not working... there is no insulin. No insulin to unlock the cells so the sugar builds and builds. The body squeezes water out of cells to help flush the dangerous levels of sugar out of the body. This triggers the brain to tell the T1 to drink more water. They drink more causing them to spend increasing amounts of time in the bathroom.
So how did this happen? For T1s it is a destruction of the pancreas cells by the body. Yep, that's right, the body itself is doing the damage!
For some reason (many doctors believe it is triggered by a virus) the body's own immune system targets the pancreas as a foreign object. The immune system begins a slow destruction of what it thinks is the enemy... in short it is doing what it is meant to do but in this instance it is aiming at the wrong target! Because of this type 1 diabetes is classified as an "autoimmune disease". A disease that is the result of a malfunctioning immune system.
So why am I posting this? Why a post about a disease that has a 1 in 250 chance of effecting me? Because we are in the 1 and not the 249. Last week our oldest son, age 11, was diagnosed as T1 diabetic. He also was diagnosed as having another autoimmune called Hashimoto's disease. Hashimoto's attacks are focused on the thyroid glad. I have Hashimotos. With 2 parents having autoimmune genes the chances that our children will be T1 goes to 1 in 2o... sorry guys... we wish we could take it on ourselves!
What does all this mean? It means that our son must get his insulin from somewhere else. It means his parents, and at some point in the future himself, must become his pancreas. We must know how much sugar (carbs) are in every bite he eats and then inject the proper amount of insulin. We test his blood glucose (BG) a minimum of 5x/day and he gives himself insulin shots after every meal and at bedtime. the goal is to keep his BG from rising above 180 or falling below 80... that is our ideal.
Two weeks ago our ideal was a larger house and a newer truck. This week our ideal is what every parent longs for, a happy, healthy child.
For almost as long as I have known my husband I have known that his brother and father had a rare disease. They were type 1 diabetics.
There are 2 main forms of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. By far the most common is type 2. T2 diabetics are almost always over 40 yrs of age and overweight. Their disease can be controlled to a large extent by the food they eat and by the amount of exercise they get. Many can go through life with little or even no medication as long as they stick to a low carbohydrate diet and drink plenty of fluids. T1 diabetics are not so blessed.
The body is an amazing machine created by God! After we eat, the pancreas measures the sugar in the blood and releases just the perfect amount of insulin to unlock the cells of our body so sugar can be let in and used. For T2 diabetics the pancreas functions very well and releases insulin but the cells have trouble unlocking. Sugar and insulin build up to dangerous levels. The cure is pills that help the cells unlock and limited amounts of sugar in the diet. T1 diabetics are at the opposite end... their pancreas is not working... there is no insulin. No insulin to unlock the cells so the sugar builds and builds. The body squeezes water out of cells to help flush the dangerous levels of sugar out of the body. This triggers the brain to tell the T1 to drink more water. They drink more causing them to spend increasing amounts of time in the bathroom.
So how did this happen? For T1s it is a destruction of the pancreas cells by the body. Yep, that's right, the body itself is doing the damage!
For some reason (many doctors believe it is triggered by a virus) the body's own immune system targets the pancreas as a foreign object. The immune system begins a slow destruction of what it thinks is the enemy... in short it is doing what it is meant to do but in this instance it is aiming at the wrong target! Because of this type 1 diabetes is classified as an "autoimmune disease". A disease that is the result of a malfunctioning immune system.
So why am I posting this? Why a post about a disease that has a 1 in 250 chance of effecting me? Because we are in the 1 and not the 249. Last week our oldest son, age 11, was diagnosed as T1 diabetic. He also was diagnosed as having another autoimmune called Hashimoto's disease. Hashimoto's attacks are focused on the thyroid glad. I have Hashimotos. With 2 parents having autoimmune genes the chances that our children will be T1 goes to 1 in 2o... sorry guys... we wish we could take it on ourselves!
What does all this mean? It means that our son must get his insulin from somewhere else. It means his parents, and at some point in the future himself, must become his pancreas. We must know how much sugar (carbs) are in every bite he eats and then inject the proper amount of insulin. We test his blood glucose (BG) a minimum of 5x/day and he gives himself insulin shots after every meal and at bedtime. the goal is to keep his BG from rising above 180 or falling below 80... that is our ideal.
Two weeks ago our ideal was a larger house and a newer truck. This week our ideal is what every parent longs for, a happy, healthy child.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Home School Mom aka:Doberman Pinscher
"The Doberman Pinscher is a dog bred for stressful and dangerous work at the side of a brave handler. For this work, the Doberman must have character and an impetuous but controlled spirit supported by a courageous heart." I could also say this of a home school Mom!
She is forced to deal bravely with the daily chores of teaching her children and keeping her house. No one sets her schedule, no one chooses her path, so she must be disciplined. Her work is most definitely stressful and can be, depending on her adventurous spirit, dangerous! But it is her heart that keeps it all running smoothly... a heart devoted to her Master.
"To understand the Doberman, or any dog, one must understand certain deeply ingrained instincts. One of these core instincts is the Pack Mentality. Dogs run in packs. This is necessary for their survival. In nature, dogs and wolves live in highly organized communities usually consisting of family members. This community we call a pack." I love this quote for it sums up a home school mom's need for other home school moms very well. It is necessary for our survival!
At some point every parent asks themselves, "Am I the only one going through this?" The answer is always a loud "NO!" but it usually feels like a sobbing "yes". Add to this that home school moms are very often alone with just their immediate family and you multiply this feeling. So like birds of a feather we congregate together... for survival.
We reach out to one another and find relationships. We find friendships for ourselves and for our children. We find other mothers who have "been there and done that". We find comfort for our doubts and hope for our failures. We find God in others and we are comforted!
The Doberman tends to treat the children of the home as he would puppies. Puppies are valuable in the dog's mind. The Doberman can also sense the children's vulnerability and their importance to the family. Because of this, the Doberman is highly protective of the children. Highly protective is putting it mildly when talking about HS moms. Just attend a HS meeting and watch the faces as soon as a man enters the room! Moms go on high alert. Locating their own in the mass of playing children within seconds and then watching the man to see if he is greeted by anyone. Once his family has been identified and he has been welcomed into the pack (a hugs as good as a sniff!) then all goes back to normal, poor guy. But as in the dog world new comers, especially those who may pose a threat, need to be put into place before harmony can be established.
For the most part HS moms are like any other mom. They have a need to be welcomed, a need for security and a need for guidance but the HS mom rarely finds these needs nearby. Thus forcing her to go in search of her pack.
May God lead us each to the place we can best serve Him.
She is forced to deal bravely with the daily chores of teaching her children and keeping her house. No one sets her schedule, no one chooses her path, so she must be disciplined. Her work is most definitely stressful and can be, depending on her adventurous spirit, dangerous! But it is her heart that keeps it all running smoothly... a heart devoted to her Master.
"To understand the Doberman, or any dog, one must understand certain deeply ingrained instincts. One of these core instincts is the Pack Mentality. Dogs run in packs. This is necessary for their survival. In nature, dogs and wolves live in highly organized communities usually consisting of family members. This community we call a pack." I love this quote for it sums up a home school mom's need for other home school moms very well. It is necessary for our survival!
At some point every parent asks themselves, "Am I the only one going through this?" The answer is always a loud "NO!" but it usually feels like a sobbing "yes". Add to this that home school moms are very often alone with just their immediate family and you multiply this feeling. So like birds of a feather we congregate together... for survival.
We reach out to one another and find relationships. We find friendships for ourselves and for our children. We find other mothers who have "been there and done that". We find comfort for our doubts and hope for our failures. We find God in others and we are comforted!
"We have encountered many false notions concerning the Doberman’s temperament. Two of the most destructive are “the Doberman is just like any other dog” and “Dobermans are stubborn and can be vicious.”
It is true, any dog not properly cared for can become dangerous and all dogs need to be respected. The Doberman is unique in that it owns an extremely powerful set of tools that it should not be held responsible for. The Doberman owner must harness these tools reliably under all conditions, with thorough training. One must understand that viciousness is a behavior, and all behavior is a result of instinct and conditioning. Viciousness in a dog is a reaction to a situation where it feels threatened." The home school mom is this to a tee. She is often, if not frequently, misunderstood and she must be properly trained.
How many times has the HS mom heard slurs about home education while waiting in line at Wally World or had to endure what should have bee a relaxing visit with the family only to be berated with "well meaning" comments on how much "better off" they all would be if they were in the government system. The world looks at what they believe to be truth and then wrongly judges those who stand in a different place. Many believe home school parents MUST be religious zealots or that they just think they are better than everyone else. What ever the misconception it comes down to them against us, thus forcing the HS parent into a corner... not a good place to confront either a Doberman or a HS mom!
So how does the HS mom handle these situations? With proper training. Training only found at the feet of Jesus! Daily must she go to her heavenly Father and seek His guidance. And most importantly, like all well trained dogs, when out in public the HS mom must always be aware of her Lord and constantly be casting her eyes upon Him. Asking "What? Where? How?" Looking to Him for our path.
"Dobermans are bred to have sure confident temperaments, so they do not often feel a threat unwarranted, and are in fact less likely to over react with viciousness or biting." Here is a wonderful thing about HS MOMS. They are confident! Not so much in the how but in the why of what they have taken on. This confidence is not placed in their ability to accomplish some great goal of raising NASA scientists but in the great task of raising Christians. Children that know God. Not the god of the school teacher but their God. This confidence is placed in His work and His power. It adds beauty to the HS moms countenance but makes leading her a bit like leading a Doberman, intimidating.
The pack is capable of amazing cooperation. As is the home school co-op as long as the leader is not easily intimidated... or at least doesn't look like she is!The Doberman tends to treat the children of the home as he would puppies. Puppies are valuable in the dog's mind. The Doberman can also sense the children's vulnerability and their importance to the family. Because of this, the Doberman is highly protective of the children. Highly protective is putting it mildly when talking about HS moms. Just attend a HS meeting and watch the faces as soon as a man enters the room! Moms go on high alert. Locating their own in the mass of playing children within seconds and then watching the man to see if he is greeted by anyone. Once his family has been identified and he has been welcomed into the pack (a hugs as good as a sniff!) then all goes back to normal, poor guy. But as in the dog world new comers, especially those who may pose a threat, need to be put into place before harmony can be established.
For the most part HS moms are like any other mom. They have a need to be welcomed, a need for security and a need for guidance but the HS mom rarely finds these needs nearby. Thus forcing her to go in search of her pack.
May God lead us each to the place we can best serve Him.
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