Let me start with the disclaimer right away. I am not a doctor, nor do I pretend to be one, well maybe on Halloween, but other than that...no.I don't know all of the medical terms, nor do I know what most of the medical terms mean. I am simply just a type 1 diabetic and a parent of a type 1 diabetic. I speak from experience; nothing more, nothing less. Now on to today's thoughts.
Managing blood sugars for the average non diabetic human is pretty simple. You eat what you choose to eat and let you body handle the rest. That's the way that our bodies are suppose to work. With type 1 diabetes, there is no insulin producing pancreas to help balance out your sugar intake, so us fortunate type 1 diabetics get to inject our own insulin to break down those sugars. Still sounds easy...right? Just eat, then take a shot. Well, not exactly. Diabetics have to be good at math, because we have to figure out how much sugars we are putting into our body, then figure out the precise amount of insulin it will take to keep our blood sugars normal. Normal blood sugars (according to our doctor) should be anywhere between 80 and 100. So type 1 diabetics have a 20 point window to play with.
If you miss calculate, this is where your trouble begins. Too much insulin and not enough sugars will result in low blood sugars (less than 80). This will cause you to become uncoordinated, shaky, sweaty, anxious and fatigued. So you then have to eat something to bring your blood sugars back up into that 80-120 range. If you eat too much, then you have high blood sugars and have to correct with insulin.
If your blood sugars are high (over 100) then you have to correct with insulin. High blood sugars make you thirsty, hungry, causes frequent urination, fruity smelling breath, irritated emotionally and causes sore muscles. If you over correct with insulin, it may cause your blood sugars to get below 80 and then you will have to correct with sugars.
It is a balancing act and goes on every 2 hours in our house.
The most taxing time is when Micheala's blood sugars are high right before bed. If they are good before bed, then we can sleep through the night and be worry free. If they are high, then we have to make sure we wake up and check her throughout the night to make sure that her levels are normal. This is not pleasant. Wake your 6 year old up every 2 hours throughout the night to poke her finger, then you will know what it is like. Nobody wants to be doing this at this time and emotions run high.
Diabetes changes your life. I have been diabetic for almost 20 years and still struggle with this. The best part is going into your doctor appointments and having the doctor scold you for having not perfect blood sugars. I know their intentions are good, but sheesh!
I felt it was important to write about this today because there are still people out there that just don't get how diabetes works. That's alright, because I am trying to educate them as we cross paths in life. Also for the struggling parents of diabetics out there, don't feel guilty about a bad blood sugar here or there. You are not killing your child so don't feel that guilt. Help is available for you; either at your doctor office or through Eastern Iowa JDRF...use them!
Keep fighting the good fight and I will leave you with this quote today:
"A man is not finished when he has been defeated; he is finished when he gives up."
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