First thing Monday we were at the doctors: examination and X rays later produced “the good news”. It is NOT pneumonia, “just bronchitis” with his chest feeling “a bit tight”. We went home with a handful of stuff from the pharmacy:
Recently, Mr T had felt exhausted and out of sorts, resting AND sleeping during the day over that weekend. He normally NEVER sleeps during the day. On Sunday night, he was kind of wheezing while breathing in his sleep - something that happened to him for the first time.
First thing Monday we were at the doctors: examination and X rays later produced “the good news”. It is NOT pneumonia, “just bronchitis” with his chest feeling “a bit tight”. We went home with a handful of stuff from the pharmacy:
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I am dreading the next HbA1c. I know, I know – it is only a number. I, my self have said that to other worried mothers many a time. Well, I am a bit of a worried mother at the moment. We have been traveling continually for 5 months, staying in places for few weeks at a time. It is very hard to keep to a routine when one is on the go like that. The food varies from place to place, different countries have different product labeling laws (very loose in most places). My carbs guessing abilities have been pushed to the limits. When traveling, before diabetes entered our lives, my “essential stuff” packing list looked something like this:
Everything else we could get / buy along the way, or do without.
Seven years ago, today, we were walking out of the hospital with Mr T’s Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. The life of multiple daily blood glucose checks and insulin injections had begun for us. Seven years ago, Mr T was a very, very sick three year old. Today, Mr T is a healthy ten year old who lacks nothing besides his own insulin. Seven years ago I was crying a lot, away from Mr T’s eyes. Today, I rarely cry, but I laugh and smile and enjoy every day I share with my boy. Seven years ago, Mr T was using insulin pens, 4 to 6 times a day. Today, Mr T has an insulin pump and he can now deliver insulin as often as needed without multiple needle pricks. Seven years ago, I did not know much about diabetes. Today, I know that I can learn something new about diabetes and self management, daily. Seven years ago, Mr T‘s first BG test showed 27 mmol/l, and his HbA1c was 8.3 Today, Mr T’s BG is more often than not under 8 mmol/l and his most recent HbA1c was 6.2 - the lowest since diagnosis and almost in the non diabetic range. Seven years ago, I had no clue what carbohydrates were or how many of those we had in a meal, often unnecessarily. Today, all of us in our family know how different foods affect our bodies. We all eat a well balanced, healthy diet. Seven years ago, we felt isolated and lost in a jungle filled with horrifying information about life with diabetes and the dreadful complications it may bring. Today, we are part of a big D1 family where warm support and a wealth of knowledge is just a click on a computer or a phone call away. It would be WONDERFUL if in seven years from today I can report that the cure for diabetes has been found and perfected, that Mr T, as well as millions of other sweet friends, no longer need to check their BG or inject insulin – they can now produce their own again. With that hope in my heart, I raise my glass tonight. For at least 77 more, healthy years ahead of us.
From a diabetes management point of view that means: no time for testing BG, likely to go low with such amounts of activity, likely to mis-bolus for food which could end up taking his BG either too high or too low and, worst of all, possibly not feeling the onset of a low during all the excitement.
In one word - a challenge. A scary challenge. Mr T received his new pump a few days ago. It is an Animas VIBE [for more info click HERE and for Australian readers please click HERE], the upgrade for his old(er) Animas 2020 model. He knew it was coming since Animas gave us a call the day it was shipped. When he finally got to open the package, the following day, I could not believe the glow on his face, the size of his smile. It is just a pump, an insulin pump, not much different from the old one – it is even the same colour. I did not get it, but he was like a child in a candy store – very, very excited! As I suspected while writing the post "I am going back to carbs counting school" (LINK here), over the years I have got bit relaxed with counting carbs, quicker at guessing and generous in rounding off. It was time I for a refresher course in carbs counting. Time to calibrate my key tool – my EYE.
Today is a big day for me. Another first. First time Mr T has gone on a school excursion without me in a tow, and I am fine with it. Not stressing at all. Now, how is that possible for the self confessed helicopter parent, D mom like me? Well I do want my boy to grow into an independent, responsible, yet happy and not so much different to others, young man. So I try to look out for opportunities for his independence to shine through, within a safe environment. The other day we had a day of perfect numbers. YEEEY! They do come along, sometimes. As I wrote previously in a post "Perfect Numbers", I do get a bit suspicious when the numbers are so stable for a prolonged time. They usually precede Mr T getting a virus. 6.4 at breakfast……5.2 at morning tea…..5.1 at lunch…….and 5.7 when I picked him up after school at 3pm. Could it be that I finally got it ALL right? Was it my “fault” or did the stars get aligned? |
About me....
Born in Serbia, married in South Africa, gave birth to Categories
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October 2014
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