A scary Diagnosis for a Very Little Boy
Matthew was only 17 months old when I can home with his little sister. Matthew was my second child and the only one who went to bed in his crib with all of his little light up musical crib toys. He had been sick on and off since he turned one. I remember visting my sister when he was bit by a mosquito. His wrist turned bright red and swelled up 3 times the size. Since then, he always gets bad bug bites. We had no benedryl so we waiting until we got home to treat it. From then on he was sick with sinus infections, ear infections, colds, all kinds of things. He was being treated for an ear infection after I brought my daughter home. She was only 5 weeks old. We gave Matthew the Augmentin the doctor prescribed, and so it began. Matthew was so allergic to the Augmentin that they prescribed oral steroides for the hives he got EVERYWHERE. That night we went to bed early to get ready for my oldest son's first day of Kindergarten. I MISSED IT !.
That morning I woke up and fed the baby. Matthew got up. I went to get him from the crib and he looked so pale and gaunt that I knew something was wrong. He was so thin overnight. I picked him up, and he was soaked. It took me a minute to realize that the urine was not normal.OH NO. I know what's wrong I thought. That was the beginning of the journey.
That morning I woke up and fed the baby. Matthew got up. I went to get him from the crib and he looked so pale and gaunt that I knew something was wrong. He was so thin overnight. I picked him up, and he was soaked. It took me a minute to realize that the urine was not normal.OH NO. I know what's wrong I thought. That was the beginning of the journey.
He Has Diabetes
It begins
It beginsMatthew's urine was sticky. For an instant I thought he spilled apple juice, but I knew he didn't. He started to cry, so I took him downstairs and got him water. I dialed the doctor as tears started to pour down my face. Matthew smacked the cup against the water cooler and screamed MORE! MORE!. Matthew never said more before. He was only 17 months old, he didn't say much of anything. He drank 4 cups of water and then threw up. Panic set in. Just how sick is Matthew? I started to wonder. The doctor was paged and he called back. I told him I thought my son had diabetes.
Explaining What That Means
Diabetes mellitus type 1 (type I diabetes, T1D, T1DM, IDDM, juvenile diabetes) is a form of diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease[1] that results in destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Lack of insulin causes an increase of fasting blood glucose (around 70-120 mg/dL in nondiabetic people) that begins to appear in the urine above the renal threshold (about 190-200 mg/dl in most people), thus connecting to the symptom by which the disease was identified in antiquity, sweet urine. Glycosuria or glucose in the urine causes the patients to urinate more frequently, and drink more than normal (polydipsia). Classically, these were the characteristic symptoms which prompted discovery of the disease.
Type 1 is lethal unless treated with exogenous insulin. Injection is the traditional and still most common method for administering insulin; jet injection, indwelling catheters, and inhaled insulin has also been available at various times, and there are several experimental methods as well. All replace the missing hormone formerly produced by the now non-functional beta cells in the pancreas. In recent years, pancreas transplants have also been used to treat type 1 diabetes. Islet cell transplant is also being investigated and has been achieved in mice and rats, and in experimental trials in humans as well[2]. Use of stem cells to produce a new population of functioning beta cells seems to be a future possibility, but has yet to be demonstrated even in laboratories as of 2008.
Type 1 diabetes (formerly known as "childhood", "juvenile" or "insulin-dependent" diabetes) is not exclusively a childhood problem; the adult incidence of type 1 is noteworthy - many adults who contract type 1 diabetes are misdiagnosed with type 2 due to confusion on this point.
There is currently no clinically useful preventive measure against developing type 1 diabetes, though a vaccine has been proposed and anti-antibody approaches are also being investigated. Most people who develop type 1 were otherwise healthy and of a healthy weight on onset, but they can lose weight quickly and dangerously, if not promptly diagnosed. Although the cause of type 1 diabetes is still not fully understood, the immune system damage is characteristic of type 1.
The most definite laboratory test to distinguish type 1 from type 2 diabetes is the C-peptide assay, which is a measure of endogenous insulin production since external insulin has not (to date) included C-peptide. The presence of anti-islet antibodies (to Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase, Insulinoma Associated Peptide-2 or insulin), or lack of insulin resistance, determined by a glucose tolerance test, would also be suggestive of type 1. Many type 2 diabetics continue to produce insulin internally, and all have some degree of insulin resistance.
Testing for GAD 65 antibodies has been proposed as an improved test for differentiating between type 1 and type 2 diabetes as it appears that the immune system malfunction is connected with their presence
Type 1 is lethal unless treated with exogenous insulin. Injection is the traditional and still most common method for administering insulin; jet injection, indwelling catheters, and inhaled insulin has also been available at various times, and there are several experimental methods as well. All replace the missing hormone formerly produced by the now non-functional beta cells in the pancreas. In recent years, pancreas transplants have also been used to treat type 1 diabetes. Islet cell transplant is also being investigated and has been achieved in mice and rats, and in experimental trials in humans as well[2]. Use of stem cells to produce a new population of functioning beta cells seems to be a future possibility, but has yet to be demonstrated even in laboratories as of 2008.
Type 1 diabetes (formerly known as "childhood", "juvenile" or "insulin-dependent" diabetes) is not exclusively a childhood problem; the adult incidence of type 1 is noteworthy - many adults who contract type 1 diabetes are misdiagnosed with type 2 due to confusion on this point.
There is currently no clinically useful preventive measure against developing type 1 diabetes, though a vaccine has been proposed and anti-antibody approaches are also being investigated. Most people who develop type 1 were otherwise healthy and of a healthy weight on onset, but they can lose weight quickly and dangerously, if not promptly diagnosed. Although the cause of type 1 diabetes is still not fully understood, the immune system damage is characteristic of type 1.
The most definite laboratory test to distinguish type 1 from type 2 diabetes is the C-peptide assay, which is a measure of endogenous insulin production since external insulin has not (to date) included C-peptide. The presence of anti-islet antibodies (to Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase, Insulinoma Associated Peptide-2 or insulin), or lack of insulin resistance, determined by a glucose tolerance test, would also be suggestive of type 1. Many type 2 diabetics continue to produce insulin internally, and all have some degree of insulin resistance.
Testing for GAD 65 antibodies has been proposed as an improved test for differentiating between type 1 and type 2 diabetes as it appears that the immune system malfunction is connected with their presence
- Diabetes mellitus type 1 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Checking your Sugar
Matthew has to test his Blood Sugar 8 times a day. We use this same glucometer
How To Test Your Diabetic Cat's Blood Sugar At Home
You can monitor your diabetic cat's blood sugar at home using a glucometer -- the same over-the-counter device used by human diabetics. Hometesting can save your cat's life! For more information on this topic go to felinediabetes.com
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Diabetic supplies you may need
ACCU-CHEK Aviva Blood Glucose Meter
Amazon Price: $15.00 (as of 12/27/2009) 
Insta Glucose Gel Tri Pack - 31 Gm
Amazon Price: $17.30 (as of 12/27/2009)
What Should I Do?
I apologized for being inaudible. He said to bring Matthew to the office because he was there already and he would test him. I called hy husband and then his mother. She came over to watch my other children and get my older son on the bus to Kindergarten. Off we went past the older children and their parents at the bus stop. They were all smiling at us, and I had to stop and try to explain that I was on my way with Matthew to the doctor and why. It was hard not to cry, but it didn't matter, they could tell I had been anyway. Sharing Hearts
Proud Member
The Sharing Hearts Group is a Squidoo group that showcases and promotes lenses that tell an inspirational personal story. Stories told by the wonderful Squidoo lensmasters who are willing to share a part of their lives with us, in an effort to help other people. These are stories about how real people deal with real life issues, problems, medical conditions and more. These are stories about how these people deal with lifes challenges, obstacles and disasters. Stories about over-coming adversity and finding hope in hopeless situations. These lensmasters are real life heroes and this lens celebrates all of their award winning lenses. Off to the Doctor
The office visit
Once I got to the doctor's office with matthew, we used a sticky plastic bag to collect Matthew's urine. I was able to calm down a little and watch him play with the toys in the waiting room. I knew he had diabetes because I watched my father go through the diagnosis in his 40,s. I knew the signs. That's ALL I knew. I kept wondering how sick he was. Once the urine was collected, the doctor simply used a dip stip to test for sugar. Yes, he has diabetes. A nurse had arrived by this time. They both looked at me with such empathy. He will need to go to the hospital, I was told. Will he have to stay there? I asked. Yes the doctor said. I of course started to cry again. I was 5 weeks postpardome and my oldest is starting kindergarten today I was thinking. What will I do? My sister came to the office and took us to the hospital. It was 30 minutes away. Matthew slept the whole ride there. When we got to the hospital, things really started to roll. The Hospital
THE HOSPITAL
So we get to the floor where the nurses are waiting for us. We are told they have these great doctors here and they will help us with everything. This team of people took Matthew into a room where they put an IV into his arm. Then they wrapped it so he could not move his arm. It was just like a cast. Matthew was so upset. They took blood and did all kinds of tests on him. I remember thinking that I know he will be taken care of now, and I don't have to panic. At some point my husband arrived at the hospital. He looked so concerned. Matthew got a room and he stayed there for 4 days. He was lucky enough to not need to be in ICU because he never went into DKA. There was a snack room with HEALTHY snacks that he could chose from. There was a play room where he could paint and play. It was during this stay that we met with the endocronologist. He came with with a HUGE team so we were very impressed. That's how we learned it was a teaching hospital. I must have told and retold Matthew's story 50 times. At least I got it all out. People brought him stuffed animals and toys. He was in pretty good spirits most of the time.
How to Inject Insulin
Nick Jonas Raise Public Awareness WORLDWIDE About Diabetes
Statistics You Might Not Know *In order for diabetic kids to stay alive, they must infuse insulin through pumps or inject insulin into their bodies on a daily basis and check their blood sugar level multiple times during one day. *Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes to develop in children or teenagers, thus is commonly referred to as juvenile diabetes *Even if diabetic children inject themselves with insulin on a daily basis, their life span is still shortened by an average ...
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Coping With Grief
My husband and I spent our time differently. He threw himself into work and only came by for about an hour day. Then he went home to our other two children, I took that small visit time to shower since I was still postpardome. The doctors asked if we were divorced. The truth is I did not know how to connect with him at that point. He was on one side of the room, and I was on the other. I was angry that he wasn't more supportive, and yet he was crying alone too. We were both greiving the loss of our sons health. The loss of being spontanious. It was so easy to live day to day without the knowledge of what happens to children with diseases. It was easy to think I had it rough with three kids. Diabetes became a whole another person in a way. Something else to take care of. But worse, I became intimidated by it, and I allowed it to take control of our lives instead of taking control of it. Newly diagnosed
Coming Home
Well, after being in the hospital for the four days we went home. The strange thing of it was that the reason I had to stay there was to learn how to take care of him, and how to give shots. It was like a college education in fast forward. there was so much to learn. High sugar, low sugar, carbs, glucogon, NPH, Humalog, blood glucose monitors, alcohol swabs, syringes, lancets. OMG. I had so much information thrown at me that I was spinning. I really thought I might go crazy. So anyway, home we went. An entire shelf in the kitchen became the diabetes shelf. I was at the beck and call of the disease. Make sure you have enough of everything you need all of the time. I had two diaper bags. One was just for his supplies. That included snacks and juice. I was told to feed him every two hours. Almost like a newborn. I remember looking back that I was also told he could eat whatever he wanted and we should work around it. VERY BAD ADVICE
.Nutrition
This all happened in September 0f 2002. Here I am in 2009 with an 8 year old who now hides food, and eats while I am sleeping at night. His sugar has never been in control. Fruits and vegetables are NEVER on his plate unless you count an occasional gherkin pickle or marrashino cherry. The only protein he eats is chicken nuggets, hotdogs, Peanut butter or cheese. I know, I know, he sounds just like so many other 8 years olds. BUT HE'S NOT LIKE THEM. Nutrition is everything, and I missed the boat. Now I am trying to correct this behavior. It's not as easy as is sounds. Matthew has learned to play the game. matthew the following summer 2003
Children With Diabetes
Children with Diabetes
This site has been very helpful
- children with DIABETES Online Community
Children with Diabetes is the online community for parents, kids, adults, and families living with type 1 diabetes.
Children With Diabetes
There are a lot of things Matthew needs. Here are a few
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
The Game
The game
So, when you come home to a newborn, a diabetic toddler and a Kindergartener you really just want everything to run like a NORMAL household should. My husband was SUPER busy with work and never home. When he was I knew his thoughts were still at work and I was on my own. He had none of the education I got from the hospital. So I had to do it all by myself, and I was :SCARED
.The biggest fear they put into my head was hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). He could have seizures or just pass out. OK I thought, I will never let him go low. Matthew quickly learned that juice and other sugary snacks made his numbers go up. I almost always had his sugar at 200. OK, yes that's terrible, but I did not know that. Matthew learned that if he acted sleepy whoever was with him would assume he was low and give him whatever he wanted. The game soon advanced into preschool where he used the diabetes to score extra attention and naps. Just a little whinning went a long way. This worked with school, daddy, Grandma, Aunts, and even me.
Hypoglycemia
I became so sick with stomache issues for two years over all of this. I finally took control over the disease a little, and started to force the people he was around to get the correct information and learn how to test his sugar and give him insulin. I tried to cut back on junk and explain to him about what diabetes is. He gets what it is now, but he still plays the game. Now in my defense I have to tell you he has had those lows I have feared. A normal person should be 80-120. We went to the boardwalk and Matthew looked right through me. His eyes looked like he had been drugged. I grabbed the emergency juice, (now in my huge purse) and he drank it down and passed out in my arms. Thank goodness there were two police officers only 4 feet away. I got their attention and they took us to a little room. One stayed behind to grab my daughter off of the kiddie bumper cars. My husband and other son managed to see us running and they caught up with us. His sugar was a 16 (after the juice). In 5 minutes it was in the 80's and he was coming around. He had a similar episode at Storybook land. His sugar was 27 and I cut the food line for regular soda. it's always an adrenaline rush when it happens. Now you understand why we are always intimidated. No warnings, no signs, just and istant low sugar. Things You Don't Think Of
Interesting things
The thing of it is, that when you have a certain perspective, it's hard to change it. When Matthew was still very small with diabetes, he would ask me to take off his medical alert braclet. What he would say though is "take diabetes off". I think he thought that if you remove the braclet he would be fine. there are other times when he wanted to go play with the masses of kids, and I would have to say wait a minute. Sometimes he would stomp his foot and ask why he always has to stay behind. The same thing happens all of the time with sleepovers and playdates. Matthew has only had 2 playdates in his life at someone else's house. The only sleepovers he has had are the ones with his grandmother or his uncle because they know how to give him shots. It's tough to watch your children try to grow and break free when you know that is not an option without supervision. He has always seemed to be able to maintain a level of understanding about it though. Maybe because I am always there. iIhave been his class mom every year. His CCD teacher, and I am his Cub Scout Leader. Mostly so that he can just blend in without issues. Of course now I have to deal with the jealousy that his siblings feel because he has so much of my attention. Underlying Issues
Field Day 2009
Today was Matthew's field day in school. In case you don't know what that is, it's an end of the year outdoor activities event. The childern go to different stations and play games. Matthew's was from 12:30-2:30.I volunteered to be there. My station was a version of flag football. I saw Matthew's teacher walking towards the school with him around 1:30. He was feeling low and nurse's office. So the next question is. Why was he itchy? Now What
The Bumps
About a year and a half ago Matthew started to come in from playing and complain that he was itchy. He insisted he was allergic to the cold. I told him no one is allergic to the cold. I was wrong. Since the itch continued, I started to become more concerned. I noticed he would get hives from whatever was causing it. I took him to the allergist and they did the ice cube test. Sure enough he is allergic to the cold. We were told not to let him swim in the ocean ever. Cool breezes and cold food could trigger it. Give him Benardyl before going out in the cold. Keep skin covered when in a windy place. By now you know where I am going with this. Today was a very windy day here. The temperature was in the 70's, but the wind gave me goosebumps and wind burn. Matthew got hives, the bumps, and spent have of his field day in the nurse's office on the couch. We got rid of the hives, but he did not want to go back out there. Those are the things that just kill you as a parent. Cold Indused Urticaria
Cold Induced Urticaria
What is Cold Urticaria?
Cold urticaria is a form of physical urticaria that is characterized by the development of hives and swelling with cold exposure. A variety of cold triggers can cause symptoms in people with this syndrome, including cold weather, cold food and drinks, as well as swimming in cold water.
While most people with cold urticaria experience only mild symptoms of itching and hives with cold exposure, some people have experienced life-threatening anaphylaxis with aquatic activities involving cold water. Cold urticaria may also be caused by a number of underlying medical problems, including a variety of infections, autoimmune diseases, some cancers, and side effects from certain medications. There are also forms of cold urticaria that run in families.
Help Support a Great Cause
JDRF is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.
What is the Ice Cube Test?
How is Cold Urticaria Diagnosed?The diagnosis of cold urticaria is made with an ice-cube test. This test involves the placement of an ice-cube (or other cold object such as a cold freezer pack) on the forearm. The cold object is left on the arm for up to 10 minutes, with a positive test showing the appearance of a hive or swelling at the site within 5 minutes after removal of the cold object. The amount of time of exposure to the cold object that it takes can predict the severity of the disease; a positive test with shorter exposure times is associated with more severe symptoms.
Some forms of cold urticaria may not have a positive ice-cube test. These include:
Delayed cold urticaria, with symptoms occurring 12 to 48 hours after cold exposure. The ice-cube test may show a positive result many hours after placement in these people.
Cold-dependent dermatographism, where symptoms only occur with rubbing or pressure on cold skin. The site of the ice-cube test may show a hive if rubbed with a blunt object, such as a pen.
Cold-induced cholinergic urticaria, with symptoms usually occurring with exercise in cold environments. If symptoms also occur with exercise in warm environments, it is more likely that a person has cholinergic urticaria.
Localized cold reflex urticaria leads to symptoms of hives and swelling away from the area of direct exposure to cold. An ice-cube test on the arm may cause hives to form a few inches away from the site of ice-cube application, for example.
Once someone is diagnosed with cold urticaria, it may be necessary to look for underlying causes of the disease. This may include blood tests to evaluate for autoimmune diseases, cancers (such as leukemia), infections (such as mononucleosis, viral hepatitis and syphilis), as well as reviewing the medications being taken. Medications such as penicillin (and related antibiotics), birth control pills, and certain anti-fungal medications (such as griseofulvin) have been reported to cause cold urticaria.
What Do You Do?
How is Cold Urticaria Treated?Avoidance of cold environments, particularly swimming in cold water, is an important way to prevent symptoms in people with cold urticaria. Those with cold urticaria should never swim alone, given the potential for severe anaphylaxis with cold water exposure, and therefore a risk of drowning. It also may be necessary to avoid cold foods, such as ice cream and cold beverages. People with severe symptoms should carry and injectable epinephrine and wear a Medic-Alert bracelet. Symptoms may be decreased with the use of various antihistamines, particularly the older, sedating antihistamines such as cyproheptadine
An Image of Hives
10.1
Bad News
Today I took Matthew to the endocronologist. We go ever 3 months. They moved the office, so now it takes 45 minutes to get there. They check Matthew's height and weight and his A1C. Today it was 10.1. A god one is in the 6's. If we can't fix this soon, he will start to have kidney problems. I took Matthew to lunch after, and he did eat chicken, fries and ketchup (a vegetable) with a diet coke.When we finished we went to A&P to shop for healthy choices. He would not even consider the produce aisle. We decided, with approval to have 1/4 cup of feta cheese and 15 g of cheese its after school. He will also have 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream before bed.
They also raised his insulin.
Wish us luck. Our next appointment is with the Kidney specialist on the 19th.
If you know a way to sneak in protein or veggies let me know. remember he is VERY picky. No sauces or meatballs or hamburgers or meatloaf. No yogurt or milk.
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This is our dog Bigzbee. She is half a Pug and half a beagle These are the cutest dogs ever.
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When I became pregnant with Katie, I knew on the fourth day. It was a long pregnancy. When she was born I cried so hard the nurses wanted to give me a tranquilizer. I said, no, I'm not upset, I'm so happy I will never have to be pregnant again. That...
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Dad
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I don't remember a lot about being little. My mother liked to bake at Christmas. She made dinner every night for the four kids and my dad. She liked country music, and crafty things. My dad liked to garden and leave the weather channel on all day....
A1C
No, It's Not Steak Sauce
What is a hemoglobin A1c (A1c)?
To explain what an A1c is, think in simple terms. Sugar sticks, and when it's around for a long time, it's harder to get it off. In the body, sugar sticks too, particularly to proteins. The red blood cells that circulate in the body live for about three months before they die. When sugar sticks to these cells, it gives us an idea of how much sugar has been around for the preceding three months. In most labs, the normal range is 4-5.9 %. In poorly controlled diabetes, its 8.0% or above, and in well controlled patients it's less than 7.0%. The benefits of measuring A1c is that is gives a more reasonable view of what's happening over the course of time (3 months), and the value does not bounce as much as finger stick blood sugar measurements.
There is a correlation between A1c levels and average blood sugar levels as follows:
While there are no guidelines to use A1c as a screening tool, it gives a physician a good idea that someone is diabetic if the value is elevated. Right now, it is used as a standard tool to determine blood sugar control in patients known to have diabetes.
A1c(%) Mean blood sugar (mg/dl)
6 135
7 170
8 205
9 240
10 275
11 310
12 345
The American Diabetes Association currently recommends an A1c goal of less than 7.0%, while other groups such as the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommend a goal of less than 6.5%.
Of interest, studies have shown that there is a 10% decrease in relative risk for every 1% eduction in A1c. So, if a patients starts off with an A1c of 10.7 and drops to 8.2, though there are not yet at goal, they have managed to decrease their risk of microvascular complications by about 20%. The closer to normal the A1c, the lower the absolute risk for microvascular complications.
To explain what an A1c is, think in simple terms. Sugar sticks, and when it's around for a long time, it's harder to get it off. In the body, sugar sticks too, particularly to proteins. The red blood cells that circulate in the body live for about three months before they die. When sugar sticks to these cells, it gives us an idea of how much sugar has been around for the preceding three months. In most labs, the normal range is 4-5.9 %. In poorly controlled diabetes, its 8.0% or above, and in well controlled patients it's less than 7.0%. The benefits of measuring A1c is that is gives a more reasonable view of what's happening over the course of time (3 months), and the value does not bounce as much as finger stick blood sugar measurements.
There is a correlation between A1c levels and average blood sugar levels as follows:
While there are no guidelines to use A1c as a screening tool, it gives a physician a good idea that someone is diabetic if the value is elevated. Right now, it is used as a standard tool to determine blood sugar control in patients known to have diabetes.
A1c(%) Mean blood sugar (mg/dl)
6 135
7 170
8 205
9 240
10 275
11 310
12 345
The American Diabetes Association currently recommends an A1c goal of less than 7.0%, while other groups such as the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommend a goal of less than 6.5%.
Of interest, studies have shown that there is a 10% decrease in relative risk for every 1% eduction in A1c. So, if a patients starts off with an A1c of 10.7 and drops to 8.2, though there are not yet at goal, they have managed to decrease their risk of microvascular complications by about 20%. The closer to normal the A1c, the lower the absolute risk for microvascular complications.
How to Count Carbs
I have to watch EVERYTHING Matthew eats. All carbs need to be covered with insulin.
Reb Stevenson: Counting Carbs in England
Canadian travel writer Reb Stevenson plugs away at the mundane job of sorting potatoes while wwoofing on a farm in East Bergholt, Essex, England. Wwoof is a global scheme that allows participants to exchange labour for food and accommodation.
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How Low Can You Go
Low Numbers
We went to visit the Endocronologist the other day. He decided that Matthew's numbers were so bad that if we don't do something soon, his kidney's will start to suffer. So, the doctor increased all of his insulin. I followed all of the instructions. The problem is that NOW he is low all of the time.We went to a birthday party at a gorgeous park over the weekend. Matthew had lunch and insulin before we got there. I was talking to my family when I noticed I did not see Matthew in the playground where I left him. My older son, my brother and his sons were gone too, so I figured they were together. My mother and I went to find him with my daughter (who stayed put). We found them wandering around by the bay on the other side of the park. My sons tried to tell me that I knew where they were.
We came back to the picnic, and I tested Matthew. he was 58. If he would have gone any lower he would have not known who or where he was, and my brother would have had to carry him back along with his 3 year old son. Thank goodness my other son, Chris has a phone.
At the picnic, Matthew kept saying he wasn't hungry. I got him to take 6 sips of regular soda, then he dropped down to a 36. He started to fall asleep and insist he did not want to eat or drink. So here I am without my emergency Glucogon like an idiot. I made him drink a little more soda.
Thank goodness my sister had a watermellom jolly rancher that he could not refuse.
It brought hm back up into the 80's. The ice cream man came after that and he had a little watermellon ice.
I called the doctor the next day because the rest of the weekend went the same.
They changed his insulin AGAIN
Jolly Ranchers Came to our Rescue
Jolly Rancher Hard Candies, Fire, 7-Ounce Bags (Pack of 12)
Amazon Price: $19.59 (as of 12/27/2009)
Jolly Rancher Hard Candies, Assorted Flavors, 7-Ounce Bags (Pack of 12)
Amazon Price: $16.86 (as of 12/27/2009)
Thank You for a Second Chance
The Kidney Specialist
OMG THANK YOUWe went to the Kidney specialist after Matthew had two urine tests. they told us that as of right now, there is no sign of kidney damage. I can't even begin to tell you how relieved that makes us. After all of the mistakes we have made, we were given a chance to start over in a way. I know his last doctors believed that no damage shows on the body before puberty. I can't say that's right, but I hope we have been given that extra time.
We have been working very hard with Matthew since then to improve his numbers. He went to Cub Scout camp last week, and this year he had a great time. I noticed a big difference in his stamina this time. On Friday, he did sit out a physical game and half of sports because he was weak and felt sick. I got a lot of fluid into him, and he perked up. His sugar was not really an issue.
We took time to answer questions from his camp mates, because they wanted to know what we were doing with the glucometer and the insulin shots. We always take the opportunity to teach when that happens.
School Bus Crash
The First Day of School
So off to third grade matthew goes.That morning I wanted him to wear his medical ID braclet but it was itchy so we put it on the handle to his back pack.
The good braclet broke awhile ago and I never got around to ordering another one.
NEVER PUT THAT OFF
The nurse called as usual to go over the lunch insulin and carb info. She only does that in the beginning of the year or if there is something funky going on.
No problem... Just a normal day.
I went to the bus stop at 3:30 to get the kids. Of course the bus will be late because it was the first day. It's expected.
I waited there with all of the other parents until aroung 4:15PM. Then I called the school, but there was no answer. That to me means the buses we released and they were on the way.
We all heard the sirens in the distance, but they turned them off as they approached the scene so the children would not be scared I guess.
At 5:15 a car came FLYING around the corner towards us. The driver door was opened and the father was hanging out as he stopped. He asked if we were waiting for that bus. He assumed we were because we were all huddled there.
When we said yes, he told us the bus was in an accident and where it was No one was hurt. It was only around the corner so I walked as quickly as I could. Other parents had there cars and drove around.
A Survey on School Nurses
Every day matthew goes to the nurse 3 or 4 times. Sometimes his sugar is high so she gives him insulin to bring him down. He will be thirsty so he will need water or a sugar free drink too. Sometimes he is low and has to stay there and have a snack. He missed a lot of class time and starts to fall behind. If he is getting sick or he is growing or even in a bad mood, those things will all raise his sugar. If he is hot or Exercising (gym) or did not eat enough he will go low. It takes about a month each school year to become readjusted to a new class and teacher. The worst days are when he has a substitute nurse. What do you think about the nurses in school?
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The Accident Scene
When I got to the bus, I wasn't really thinking. I was in the mode to just get Matthew to a glucometer.Matthew and Katie saw me and came running up crying. All of the other parents started to show up, and their little ones started to cry as well. Now you have to realize we know all of these children very well, and always have each others backs. No one would leave anyone behind.
The parents scooped up there children and signed them out with the police on the site. Not for nothing, but that was a nightmare in itself. I signed out my kids and started to walk away when one of the boys who parents were on the other side of the bus looked up at me with those eyes and said don't leave me.
I hugged him and said I promise I won't. I pointed at his parents, but duh he was too short to see the car. At some point he ran over ther because when I looked down he was gone, and they were standing by the bus. I knew my older son had taken him there. Thank goodness he had boy scout training or I think I would have had to handle a lot more on my own. My 12 year old really kicked into emergency mode and made sure all of the parents and children were united before we headed home.
We're Home
Once we got home the kids calmed down.I really made no big deal out of the thing becasue it was just a little fender bender after all of that.
BUT
Why wasn't Matthew's blood sugar checked?
His sugar was only 64 when I got him home.
Matthew and Katie both told the police officer that he was a diabetic, and the officer did NOTHING
If Matthew had been any lower when he got onto that bus, he may have been passed out when I got there.
Transportation FAILED
They should have that information on the roster in the bus, and at the main office.
The head bus driver was on the scene with a walkie and they never figured out they had a diabetic on the bus.
I will be making a new lens about school bus accidents and safety and diabetics.
I will post it when I make it.
Matthew is OK, but he was nervous like the other children about taking the bus again. He tried to make himself throw up the next day so he could stay home, but I wouldn't let him.
8.6
Good News
Well, we went to the endocronologist this week and they check Matthew's A1C in the office now. We love that because there is no lab or needle in the arm anymore. They test him with a finger stick just like when he checks his sugar. They even have him do the stick himself.Matthew contimues to have high sugar around 8 or 9PM everyday, so they are changing a few things around to try to fix that. He also wakes up with lows a lot so we are also trying to fix that.
All in all it was a good appointment. His new A1C is 8.6 which is down a great deal from the last one.
YIPPIE!
Today he will be going for a check up with the kidney doctor. We still have to do two urine tests, but we finished the kidney ultrasound already. That was pretty easy, but his little ribs were soar from trying to see in between them. He has a photo of his kidney now though.
I really wish he would eat a little healthier. We might have better numbers if he did.
Diabetic with the Swine Flu
Scary stuff
Matthew got sick last week.Still today we are fighting this together.
I can't say if it's the flu or not, but he started with a stomache ache in school.
Friday he was worse, so we got an antibiotic.
Saturday and Sunday he was throwing up, had a fever, coughed NON STOP and was spilling Ketones into his urine.
Monday he went back to the doctor and got another antibiotic.
Today he is still feeling sick, and coughing.
So I guess we are off to the doctor AGAIN
They haven't called it the flu, but what else could it be?
He is pale, and sick, and feverish.
Maybe it is not the swine flu, but it is some kind.
Of course our doctor was out of the flu shot when we went for it, so now he gets to suffer through this.
Wish us luck
Matthew at The Great Wolf Lodge
Is This Thing On?
The Truth about Adults
It took me five years to be able to allow myself to trust other adults with my sons health. I was sick quite literally for all those years. I finally went on anxiety medication, and started to feel a lot better. Maybe all that time I just knew better. That motherly instinct they talk about. It's real. I'll tell you how I know.
My children go to public school, so they also have to go to CCD. Like most children they would rather not go. Last night I checked Matthew's blood sugar at 4:25. It was 125. I took him to CCD and an hour later I went to get him. The sun had gone down and so did the temperature. I got to the door where you have to get your child, and the teacher was there asking Matthew where his coat is. He was crying and sitting on the step. His teacher noticed me and said that on the way out he told her wasn't feeling well. I bent down and asked what was wrong. He told me he felt really really low and thinks he is going to die. He was crying because he did not see me, and was afraid.
I snatched him up and got him the the emergency juice I keep in the car. I could not stay there and ask why they did nothing for him, because I need to fix the low of course. Later on I asked why he didn't tell them he felt low and needed juice. He said he did and they told him to go to the front of the line.
HUH
When did we go over that as a gameplan?
I remembered that night that I gave them emergency juice in September.
So what the heck happened?
People just FREAK OUT when Matthew has an issue. They don't take the time to listen and respond. When I got him home his sugar was 80 after the emergency juice. So I am left to wonder, how low was he when I got there?
My children go to public school, so they also have to go to CCD. Like most children they would rather not go. Last night I checked Matthew's blood sugar at 4:25. It was 125. I took him to CCD and an hour later I went to get him. The sun had gone down and so did the temperature. I got to the door where you have to get your child, and the teacher was there asking Matthew where his coat is. He was crying and sitting on the step. His teacher noticed me and said that on the way out he told her wasn't feeling well. I bent down and asked what was wrong. He told me he felt really really low and thinks he is going to die. He was crying because he did not see me, and was afraid.
I snatched him up and got him the the emergency juice I keep in the car. I could not stay there and ask why they did nothing for him, because I need to fix the low of course. Later on I asked why he didn't tell them he felt low and needed juice. He said he did and they told him to go to the front of the line.
HUH
When did we go over that as a gameplan?
I remembered that night that I gave them emergency juice in September.
So what the heck happened?
People just FREAK OUT when Matthew has an issue. They don't take the time to listen and respond. When I got him home his sugar was 80 after the emergency juice. So I am left to wonder, how low was he when I got there?
Thank you For Your Time Today
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- Yellowhawk Yellowhawk Nov 20, 2009 @ 7:45 am
- Thank you for your story.
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- CCGAL CCGAL Jun 9, 2009 @ 9:57 am
- Gosh, I feel for you. I think it's a good thing, though, when people can share their struggles and in essence "light a candle" to show the way for others. I feel confident that you are going to help others who face juvenile diabetes as they learn from watching you. May God richly bless you and your family.
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by Matthewsmom
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