Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 35

We're 5 days from the end of our fundraiser and I am once again truly floored by everyones generosity. Just when I think we're done, that we've reached out limit, I see the little piggy on her page fill up more and more. In just a few weeks we've reached $3,353 in donations. And they're still coming in!

It means the world to us, especially Caitlin, to know that there are people out there that are pulling for her. That know that T1D is a struggle and that no child should have to endure the constant needle sticks, carb counting, and dangers of complication associated with this disease. 

So thank you, each and every one of you. Thank you for caring enough to help us ensure a bright and healthy future for all those affected by Type 1 Diabetes. Because some day, in the future, I'd love to be able to say that my daughter used to have Type 1 Diabetes. 

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 34

Halloween?  Yes, please...

I've been asked many times. "What does she do on Halloween?" Um, goes trick-or-treating, of course. Type 1 Diabetes is not a life sentence of "you-can't-eat-that". Some things are harder to dose for than others but she can eat anything anyone else does. In moderation, of course, just like everyone else should. 

Halloween gives us the opportunity to stock up on fun-size packages of candy to treat lows. Manufacturers have, conveniently enough, packaged them in perfect increments of 15 grams of fast acting sugar. Exactly what we treat lows with! The Rule of 15's in T1D is to treat a low blood sugar with 15 grams of fast acting sugar and recheck blood sugar in 15 minutes to make sure it's come up to a safe level. 

So throw those Skittles, Gummy Bears (Haribo only please, I'm a bear snob), Starburst, and Sour Patch Kids in her bag. They'll be put to good use throughout the year. 

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 33

If I had a duck for every test strip......

They are everywhere, and I mean everywhere. I find them stuck to the bottom of my shoes, in the dryer, dishwasher, bottom of my purse, sprinkled throughout her room like fairy dust. It's almost impossible to walk into a room in our home and not find one somewhere. 

Without insurance the simple act of checking blood sugar can be a financial struggle for some families. The strips we use cost about $1.63 each. She checks a minimum of 5 times a day but most days checks more often. Averaged out over the year our strips would cost about $4,200 out of pocket without insurance. That's before factoring in pump sites, insulin, ketone strips, syringes, Glucagon, and the other assorted sundries that come alone with the joy of T1D. 

I've become accustomed to finding them. Everywhere! I've accepted it, embrace it even, because if there are test strips it mean she's checking. If she's checking she's taking care of herself. if she's taking care of herself she has a better chance of avoiding complications associated with T1D. Like heart disease, nerve damage, kidney disease, and retinopathy.

With JDRF and your help maybe we can get to a point where she doesn't need to check. Or find a way to check with less pain and discomfort. Because they're not only focused on a cure, they're also focused on finding better ways to live with T1D. Help us turn Type 1 into Type None with your tax deductible donation today and help this carefree girl live a long and healthy life without the burden of T1D.

JDRF Team Page

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 31

5:15am and diabetes has already reared its ugly head, interrupted her sleep. I check her every morning when I wake up. She sleeps through it and I get to poke the fingers she avoids so it's a win-win. If she's high it's an easy fix. Her pump does the math and delivers her correction dose at my prompting. If she's low she has to eat. As delicious as candy and cookies are it's a rude awakening when it's being coaxed into your mouth at the crack of dawn. She's mastered the art of "sleep eating" so it's usually uneventful. I feed her 15g of carbs, she goes back to sleep, I recheck in 15 minutes and treat again if necessary.

If she's very high it sets off a series of unfortunate events. Troubleshooting begins; did her site fail, dose she have ketones, is she getting sick, did we forget to bolus for something last night? Check her blood sugar again, check for ketones, do the math and give a subq injection of insulin, prepare new pump site, pull off old pump site, apply new pump site and auto insert it. That's 5 needle sticks before her feet hit the floor. And if we're very lucky she sleeps through the whole thing. But more often than not she's awake by poke number 3 and very unhappy. 

So imagine for a moment being snuggled up in your nice warm bed when someone sneaks in and starts poking and squeezing your fingers and sticking your abdomen or the backs of your arms with needles. And imagine having to live with this for the rest of your life.

We need a cure.

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 30

Caitlin's blood sugar is 179, she has 1.75 units of active insulin on board, she ate a protein bar with 25g of carbohydrates 2 hours ago, she's getting ready to eat 1 slice of pizza, a small apple, and 1 cup of milk. Her insulin to carb ration is 1:20 for lunch, her target blood sugar is 120, and her correction factor is 1:75. She's going to run the mile in gym after lunch and is coming down with a virus.

This is a ridiculous amount of information to have to process just to eat lunch. But why is it all important? Because accurate carb counting and insulin dosing are the only way to maintain control of blood sugars.

Every person with T1D works tirelessly with their endocrinologist to come up with a plan that works best for them. We meet with our team every three months to review numbers and tweak what needs to be tweaked. We have target blood sugars for different times of the day, higher during the night to keep her safe wile sleeping. Insulin to carb ratios to mimic the human pancreas; she needs far more insulin for her breakfast than at an other time of the day. And a correction factor which is how many points her blood sugar will drop from 1 unit of insulin, 1:75 for Caitlin.

But why is all the other information important? That  she has insulin on board, had a snack, is going to run, is getting sick? Because it's not just the math. A number of other things must be factored in as well. Active insulin must be subtracted from her correction and lunch bolus to minimize the risk of "stacking insulin" and causing a hypoglycemic event. Has she fully digested her protein bar yet? Protein slows absorption of carbs and can enter the bloodstream up to 3-4 hours after eaten. This in turn can cause a hypoglycemic event, because the insulin acts before the food absorbs, followed by a hyperglycemic event. And strenuous physical activity drops blood sugar while illness raises it. 

The pump does the math, thankfully. Calculates the IOB (insulin on board), I:C (insulin to carb ratio), CF (correction factor) but the rest is up to us. And up to her when we're not with her which is happening more frequently as she gets older. Sometimes we nail it and other times we fail miserably. 

So the next time you belly up to the buffet try eyeballing the foods you're loading up on and carb counting them. Then think about fat, protein, and fiber content and try to guess how long it will take your body to absorb them. Three years ago a buffet would have terrified me. Now? Challenge accepted!

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 29

Diabetes - The Toll it Takes

Her school trip is approaching. Something the kids get excited about years before they go. Planning what they'll bring, who they'll bunk with. It's been on my mind for nearly as long. Three nights and four days away from home. She's been away longer than that before. It's not the duration of the trip I'm worried about. It's her first time away with no one familiar caring for her diabetes. I didn't think it was on her mind. It's a grown-up worry, not for her. Until she told me last night she didn't want to go. I knew why, she didn't have to say it. And my heart broke a little bit for her. I realized that although she rarely complains about diabetes or makes it seem like a big deal, that it does take a toll on her. That it wears on her and chips away at her innocence a little at a time.

In her world of school, trips to the mall, and sleepovers her diabetes is hers. Her friends and classmates get a very small glimpse of what it entails. They know she can snack in class, carries extra stuff with her, stops at the nurses office before lunch, most don't even know why. Only her closest of friends have ever seen her check her blood sugar or even take her pump out to bolus. It's transparent. At camp it won't be so simple. There are tasks that must be preformed. Bedtime checks, pod changes, maybe even a nighttime low that will require treatment.

She'll go on the trip. I know she does want to go. She's a social butterfly and it would kill her to miss it. I know she's in turmoil, as I am, about how she's going to manage. But we'll figure it out. We always do. Because she has diabetes but I will not let it have her.

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 28

A Typical Day

I've said it before, diabetes is hard. Not just the constant monitoring, poking yourself with sharp things, and monotony of it. But because it doesn't play fair. You can do and eat exactly the same things and treat exactly the same way 10 days in a row and get different results every single day. And just when you think you nailed something, like how to bolus for pizza, diabetes says F you and everything changes.

The picture below is a "typical day". As typical as it can be, anyways. It doesn't include failed pump sites, sick days, middle-of-the-nights highs and lows, the "what's-that-on-your-arm?" questions, the "my cat/grammy/uncle/pastor had diabetes" comments, the "have you tried changing her diet?" questions, and so on.....

Try setting your phone alarm for every one to two hours and then pause for a few minutes to think about what you ate, did you count your carbs properly, did you remember to bolus, do you have enough supplies with you, do you feel high or low, is your pump site working, are your batteries dying in your pump/meter, does your pump have enough insulin in it for the rest of the day? Now do that along with all your other responsibilities and make it appear effortless. And imagine doing that at age 8, 12, 16, and forever for the rest of your life.

As many as 1.25 million Americans are living with T1D including about 200,000 youth. 40,000 people are diagnosed each year. Between 2001 and 2009 there was a 21% increase in prevalence of T1D in people under age 20. 5 million people in the U.S. are expected to have T1D by 2050, including nearly 600,000 youth.

WE NEED A CURE.

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 27

Two Years of Pumping

This popped up on my Facebook timeline this morning. Ten-year-old Caitlin looking so brave sporting her Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor on the right of her abdomen and her T-Slim insulin pump site on the left. This was her first day using her pump. It was filled with saline so we could get used to it before going live with insulin. I still remember my hands shaking putting that first pump site in. And the tears. Mine and Caitlin's!

Two years have gone by and a lot has happened. Caitlin developed a severe allergy to the adhesive in Dexcom sites, we struggled with pump sites for the T-Slim. She hated the one we liked, we hated the one she liked. We went with her choice, of course. And then the Omnipod tubeless pump came along in August which we all love.

TWO YEARS + 5,300 FINGER STICKS + 400 PUMP SITE CHANGES + A HANDFUL OF INJECTIONS WHEN NOTHING ELSE WAS GOING RIGHT = WE NEED A CURE!!!

Please consider a tax deductible donation to JDRF and help us turn Type 1 into Type None. Click on the link below to be directed to our walk page. Thank you!

JDRF One Walk

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 26

Diabetes is a Team Sport

Burn out in diabetes is a real thing. For the person with the disease and their caregivers. It's an endless cycle of test, bolus, eat, repeat. It becomes second nature but at times can feel overwhelming. 

Children who are given too much responsibility at too an early an age are especially prone to it. I once read that letting a child manage their own diabetes care is akin to allowing them to manage the household finances and investment responsibilities. Except poor diabetes management has the potential to cause serious physical harm. 

We take a team approach to diabetes care in our home. We share responsibility for checking, counting carbs, changing pump sites, etc.. Dave and I take turns getting up for night checks, staying home with her on sick days, and strategize on how to keep her life as normal as possible. The control-freak in me maintains full responsibility for materials management and scheduling but nobody is fighting me for that title. 

We're the lucky ones. Too many families are divided on this front. Expecting too much from their children, challenging one another on proper care or just taking a complete hands-off approach and placing the entire burden on one parent. 

Having a supportive spouse, family, friends, and school makes it all that much easier to play with this crazy hand we've been dealt. 

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 25

This is What High Looks Like

Do you feel high? Words I mutter to her often. Not something I ever thought I'd be asking my little girl. 

Diabetes is cyclical. It ebbs and flows and just when you fall into a comfortable zone of in-range-numbers and uneventful days it smacks you in the face. After weeks of freakishly good blood sugars we've been struggling to keep her under 300 for days. We go through the process of elimination. Is her pump site good, did the insulin go bad, did our carb counting go horribly wrong? But it's almost never any of those things. It's just diabetes being a pain in the ass. 

It's usually related to an impending illness or growth or puberty hormones. Things completely out of her control. This leads to missed classes, extra time spent in the nurses office, and Caitlin feeling generally horrible. Not just because she's getting sick or her numbers are high. But because she takes the numbers personally and feels guilty when she's out of range. As if she has any control over it. 

Last night's dinner reading threw us both for a loop. We both stared at the screen with eyes wide. HIGH? As in, so-high-that-I'm-not-even-going-to-give-you-a-number, high? We go through the motions. Was your finger clean? Let's check again. Do you have ketones? Let's check. Three finger sticks, one subq injection, a changed pump site, and one little girl whose spirit has once again been broken by diabetes. And what goes up must come down so a day filled with highs is followed by a night full of lows. So we hang out and snack at 10pm checking and waiting until we're happy and safe. And then the rat-a-tat-tat at the door comes at 1am. "I'm 55." And the cycle of eating and checking begins again.

Diabetes is hard. But most days she makes it look easy. I carry her worry and fears for her while she goes about her business of being a carefree twelve-year-old girl. And I will carry that for her as long as she'll let me because she has more important things to focus on. Like fun, and friends, and school, and boy-bands.

 

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 24

Those 3 Little Words

They roll of my tongue, unbidden. When she walks down the stairs rubbing sleep from her eyes, running out the door to catch the school bus, as I tuck her in and kiss her goodnight.

"Did you check?" 

Because my first thought every morning and my last thought every night is if she's in range. How early do I need to correct and bolus for breakfast? Is she safe to go to sleep? Does she need to snack? 

But I'm trying really hard to get back to what those 3 little words used to be.  "I love you." Because I don't want diabetes to define her. I want to focus on her. How her day was, what she wants for breakfast, plans for the weekend, converse about what she's excited about. I want her to be Caitlin, a sassy, strong, sarcastic little lady who loves One Direction, her Bff's, Starbucks Frappucccino's, and, who just happens to have Type 1 Diabetes. 

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 23

The Emotional Toll of an Invisible Disease

I don't know what it's like. How it feels to be high or low, to be burdened with equipment, to deal with things beeping and vibrating in a quiet room full of her peers, to be constantly nagged. Did you check, do you have your stuff, do you feel high/low, and so on, and so on....

I know it can't be easy. And I also know that I overlook her emotions sometimes because I'm too focused on her numbers. It's easy to get caught up in but I'm trying hard to walk the line between managing her disease and maintaining her emotional well being. I need to remember to be mom first and nurse second. 

She forgot to bolus for dinner last night which led to a sky-high blood sugar before bed. I was instantly annoyed and she saw it in my eyes. The tears came and then the apologies. A twelve-year-old girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders sobbing and apologizing for forgetting to take her insulin before her meal. I can't remember where I put my car keys on a regular basis. I've gone to birthday parties on the wrong day. I put things "away" in safe places never to be found again.

And that's when I take her into my arms and tell her how brave she is and how strong she is and that I'm so sorry that she's been dealt this hand. Because she's a little girl first and a diabetic second. 

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 19

1D T1D Style...

The long anticipated One Direction concert is finally here. Getting ready for a day out takes a little extra planning with T1D. Years ago the concert tickets would have been my greatest concern but these day diabetes moves in to that #1 spot. Forgetting a blood sugar meter or pump sites can easily ruin an outing. By always planning for worst-case scenario (lows, highs, failed pump sites) you can enjoy your day without the stress of T1D getting in the way.

 

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 18

Phone calls......

Phone calls and emails and long, long waits on hold. After three years it has not gotten easier. One would think managing the supply end of T1D would be one of the easier tasks. Every year the prescriptions must be rewritten. Not exactly sure why since T1D is forever. Do they think she's going to outgrow her need for insulin and testing and pump sites? And the filling of said 'scrips is painful. Countless emails and phone calls, hours spent on hold.

It's been one week, 7 emails, 2 long phone calls, and at least a dozen gray hairs since I started trying to fill her latest 'scrip with CVS Caremark. The urgency is lost on the representatives.

"When is her insulin shipping?"

"It's in process."

"When is it shipping?"

"Maybe today."

"We need it now."

"It's in process."

"I need a ship date."

"It's in process."

"You need to give me a ship date."

"I can't do that. It's in process."

"It's insulin. It's a life sustaining medication. I need a ship date."

"Can we elevate this? May I speak with your supervisor?"

"Hold please."

And, suddenly, it's shipping today via next day air.

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 17

24 days remain until our walk and we're 24% to our goal. If you've been taking the time to read my updates won't you consider donating to such a worthy cause? Your tax deductible donation can help JDRF turn Type 1 into Type None.

Click here to help us turn type 1 into type none

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 16

My Superhero doesn't wear a cape..

...she wears an insulin pump. I'm reminded of that on a daily basis. When she's battling highs or lows, changing infusion sites, managing her supplies, strategizing how to plan for an outing or bolus for a meal. Making decisions, very adult decision, about her care.

I sometimes forget what a burden this must be. She makes it appear effortless. Until it isn't. When I pick her up from school with an extreme high blood sugar. When I check her at 5am and I have to rouse her from a sound sleep to eat. When we're exhausted and ready for bed and her pump site falls out. There are times when she falls apart and it breaks my heart. Sometimes it's just too much. Too much for all of us. And I have to remain strong and be her rock. But these times are few and far between. She picks herself up, brushes herself off, and moves on. Because sometimes you don't know how strong you are, until being strong is the only option you have.

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 15

"Is she under control yet"

Diabetes is hard. I'm asked often if her numbers are "under control" yet. In one word, no. You can do everything the same every day. Wake at the same time, eat the same foods, take the same amount of insulin, and have different results every single day. And honestly, who lives like that? Throw in fluctuating sleep schedules, activities, food intake, growth/puberty, and hitting that magical perfect blood sugar level become nearly impossible. But once in a while the planets align and you feel like shouting from the rooftop, "I finally nailed it. I know what I'm doing". And then it all goes berserk again. So you continue to check, bolus, eat, repeat forever and ever....

Until there's a cure.

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 14

Day 14 - What's in your bag?

At any given time our T1D kids are responsible for thousands of dollars worth of products. They're saddled down with what equates to month's worth of income for some families. In their little bag of tricks they're likely carrying:

$80      glucometer and test strips

$240    Glucagon

$6000  insulin pump

$30      pump sites

$210    insulin vial

$1200  continuous glucose monitor 

$150    continuous glucose monitor sensor

These are things they're carrying every single day. To school, on vacations, to the mall, and to the beach. And sometimes those things don't come home with them. And insurance companies aren't going to say, "gee, I'm sorry that happened to you, let me cover another". It doesn't happen. The small stuff, meter & test strips, insulin, etc.., is easy enough to replace. Most families stock at least 3 months of supplies on hand. Families who have decent coverage and the means to manage the co-pays. Other families must choose at times between diabetes supplies and buying groceries or paying the bills. 

Durable medical equipment, like an insulin pump, is covered just once every four years. Less often than some people replace their cars. Caitlin took a little trip to the beach on Saturday with friends. That little trip will cost us $650 for a new CGM receiver should we choose to replace it. It's not a critical item but it sure helps a lot. She looked horrified while telling us she couldn't find it. But how could we be mad? She's a child who is burdened with a massive amount of responsibility every single day. I'm impressed that in three years it's the first thing she lost. 

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 13

T1D - What's it all about?

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas can't make insulin because the immune system attacked it and destroyed its insulin producing cells. In autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's healthy tissues as if they were foreign invaders. A severe attack can interfere with the function of that body part. Doctor's still aren't really sure why autoimmune disease occurs, but genetic factors are thought to play an important role.

People with Type 1 Diabetes are at risk for other autoimmune problems, but these disorders are not actually caused by the diabetes. Celiac disease, a disorder which interferes with the intestines ability to tolerate the protein gluten, occurs in about 1 in 20 persons with diabetes. Thyroid disease will affect about 15% to 20% of those with diabetes.  Addison's disease, a type of adrenal insufficiency, is a rare disorder which occurs about 5 times more often in the diabetic population.

So in addition to the constant checking, counting, managing, we screen our children every year for celiac and thyroid disorders. And we keep our fingers crossed while waiting for the results to come back in our favor.  

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 12

Can I.........

Can I go to the school dance? Can I go rollerskating with Riley? Can I join the cross country team? Can Caitlin sleep over? Can we take Caitlin to the beach? 

Innocent requests. Three years ago yes would have easily slipped off my tongue.  Now it takes a little more effort. What does she need to bring with her? Will she be safe? How much information do I give the parents or friends or coaches that she's with? How old is her pump site? Does it have enough insulin in it? 

The first few times were especially difficult.  I dreaded the moment she'd hand me that little unmistakable envelope. An invitation to a party. I asked myself early on, "if she didn't have diabetes, would I say yes?". I've lived by those words ever since. It's not always easy or stress free but I will not let diabetes rob her of the joy of being a child. Every outing comes with a little extra planning, a little extra baggage. But in the end she has diabetes but I will not let diabetes have her.  

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 10

Know The Signs

The T1D community was rocked this year by a little girl named Kycie. Six-year-old Kycie became ill on a Monday with flu-like symptoms, saw her pediatrician on Wednesday and was sent home with antibiotics with a strep throat diagnosis. Having not gotten any better by Friday she returned to her doctor's office and was sent to the ER where she was eventually life flighted to her local Children's Hospital with a blood sugar of 1,148. En route to the hospital Kycie experienced seizures which led to permanent brain damage.

She wasn't expected to survive but she did.  Kycie spent the next 4 months in the hospital and was finally able to go home in May.  At 4:30am on July 12, 2015 Kycie lost her battle. Just one drop of blood could have saved her life.  Had her pediatrician done a simple blood test or checked her urine things could have turned out very differently for this family.

Know the signs and symptoms. Type 1 Diabetes strikes both children and adults  at any age.  It comes on suddenly and causes dependence on injected or pumped insulin for life.  Advocate for yourself and loved ones.  If you suspect diabetes and your physician isn't listening to you insist on a urine or blood test. If that doesn't work go to Walmart and buy urine ketone strips or the cheapest blood sugar meter and test strips they have.  Their store brand meter and strips will cost you less than $25. Don't ignore the symptoms like I did. Had our pediatrician not tested Caitlin's blood and urine we might have had a very different outcome.

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 9

What's that thing on your arm?

Since switching to the tubeless Omnipod pump system she's asked this question often. Her T-Slim sat hooked at the waist of her pants with just a peek of tubing showing. It was discreet, out of the way.  She started the Omnipod the day before leaving for Clara Barton, her diabetes camp. Everyone knows what "that thing" is there. She was over two weeks into wearing it when she went to a regular day camp. She came home a little upset that several children had asked her what that thing was. I know a day will come when she wears her devices with pride and welcomes questions about her gadgets.  But that day is not now. Not for a twelve-year-old girl on the cusp of puberty wanting nothing more than to fit in.

She picked a pretty pod last night, one I'd painted silver with holographic sparkles. "Where do you want to put it", I asked. "Where nobody can see it", said she.  

This little piece of technological marvel keeps my girl alive. I want her to wear it proudly and show the world that she is living well with Type 1 Diabetes. That she's beautiful and smart and active and healthy.  That diabetes isn't what they see on tv. That it comes in all shapes, sizes, and ages and that people, young and old, are thriving with it.  

Until then, we'll hide her pods wherever she wants.

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 8

Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 8 - Where it all began...

She looks like any other preteen girl. Straddling that space between daddy’s-little-girl and “can I borrow the car please”? Silly, sweet, and sassy one minute…mooning over boy-bands the next.

Rocking her Omnipod!!

Look a little closer. You’ll see pods adhered to her skin, one infuses insulin and the other reads the sugar in her interstitial fluid every 5 minutes.  Both are essential to keep her healthy and alive. You’ll see marks on her belly, arms, and back from multiple injections and pump site changes. You’ll see spots on her fingertips from the thousands of times she’s checked her blood sugar over the last three years. Watch her as she plans for every piece of food she puts in her mouth. Every meal and snack requires carb counts, google searches, and a kitchen scale. She never goes anywhere without her gear. A blood sugar meter, fast acting sugar to counteract hypoglycemia, extra pump sites, insulin, and the dreaded Glucagon. Glucagon is a life-saving injectable to be used only in extreme emergency when a diabetic is so low they are seizing or unable to take fast acting sugar by mouth to reverse a severe low. Look at her again and all you see is a sweet little girl. She takes it all in stride and doesn’t let it slow her down or stop her for one second.

Days before diagnosis

Caitlin was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on October 5, 2012 at age 9. It’s hard for me to put my finger on when I think it all started. She’d been a little moody, tired, complaining of headaches and stomach pains here and there. By the end of September she didn’t want to go to dance class anymore and spent most of her time laying on the couch. I remember the night before diagnosis vividly. I was following her up the stairs to bed and she looked like she was struggling to take every step. I was getting exasperated with her slowness and asked her what her problem was. She answered in such a pathetic voice that it broke my heart. “I don’t know.”

When her school nurse called me at work the next day I was not surprised. I was ready for the words when the pediatrician said them but it was still so shocking. She said “You don’t need to go by ambulance but you need to go home and pack enough things for a few days and report to the emergency room. We’ll let them know you’re coming.”

We were whisked into the ER where she was poked and prodded for what seemed like forever. It was nothing short of miraculous to watch her come back to life as the insulin infusion took over for her pancreas. We soon learned that she was in full blown DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) upon admittance, a life threatening condition. Her blood sugar was almost 1,000 and we could have lost her had we waited even one more day.

She was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit where the next three days were spent learning all about how to care for a child with Type 1 Diabetes. Taking her home was scarier than a trip home with your first newborn baby. I didn't know how we could possibly handle caring for her on our own.  But we did it.  We took her home and applauded every milestone  The first time she checked her own blood sugar, her first injection, first trip to diabetes camp, first pump site change. She's come so far, we've all come so far.  

We had no choice because And Then There Was D......