Welcome

I'm the mom of a beautiful Type 1 daughter and married to a wonderful husband who also has Type 1! This blog serves as a place for my thoughts and feelings, in the hopes that it will help other families struggling with the many challenges diabetes presents. I can't always promise it is uplifting...but, it is honest.

And, of course, it is by no means meant to offer medical advice.

Monday, June 6, 2011

You gotta be kidding me!

International Food Festival at school! Hurray....not! And, my day went something like this....

Jess wakes with a great blood sugar....121...yeah, we are off to a good start!
Feed Jess an early, low carb breakfast to try to make sure we start the food festival in range.

Arrive at school at 9 am and check Jess's blood sugar in preparation to bolus for the numerous chocolate cakes, cookies, pies, and all the other desserts claiming to be representing different countries. Jess, ironically, had Thailand and on her own decided to bring a Thai Beef Waterfall Salad. I warned her it was unlikely to be popular, but she loves salad and was insistent. I receive many odd looks from the other parents as I carry in my salad, amongst their gooey, high carb, mounds of sugar.

Jess's sugar...351....WHAT???????? How the h*ll did that happen????? You gotta be kidding me!!!! I measured every carb of her breakfast on the scale. Once again, a reminder of how little control we have. Best guess...spiking as she was so excited about the Food Festival and it being the last week of school. But, who the heck knows. I have an I hate diabetes moment.

Panicked look from Jess. "Do I not get to participate?" There is no way I am going to make my kid sit there and watch all the other kids stuff their faces with candy and cookies in front of her. "Yes, of course you get to participate." Me...dreading how this is going to work out.

There is no way to count the carbs. They are sweets I have never even heard of from countries around the world. Jess piles her plate high and I take a huge WAG (Wild A*s guess for those not in the know) and bolus her for 100 grams. In retrospect, maybe not the best decision.

Jess gets stuffed. Her blood sugar is 260 and she still has over 2 units on board and her ISF is 1:200 (I know crazy ISF for 1 1/2 years s/p diagnosis, but it is what it is.) Crap, I think. Jess calmly replies "mom, it's high fat, it just hasn't absorbed yet. Don't panic." Is she really 8??? Could she be right??? I hold off giving her juice and skittles, and decide to hang out at school and recheck in a bit.

I spend the morning as a third grader. It is a heck of a lot more fun than my job! I went to library, recess, and learned about where pizza came from. But, the biggest thing I learned, is that somewhere in this past year and a half, my daughter has learned a heck of a lot. We rechecked several times. She never got low. She was clearly right and the high fat had delayed the absorption of carbs. Before lunch I check one finally time...148. Wow. Will you be able to eat your whole lunch I ask? Jessica replies, I'll save the ham and cheese for last, and if I'm full I'll leave those....they're free you know, mom. You can go mom, thanks for taking care of me.

I didn't. You took care of yourself. Amazing child. My hero.