NaBloPoMo Day 9
About 1 in every 400 to 600 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes.
It's dblog day!
This year's topic is...
6 Things I Want You To Know About Diabetes
1) Sugar has Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease, which means her own body attacked the insulin producing cells in her pancreas, and no one knows WHY. It was not caused by poor dietary choices, eating too much sugar, or lack of physical exercise. We did not "do" anything to cause it, and there is not a significant history of diabetes on either side of Sugar's family. It just happened.
2) When you tell me that "things could be so much worse" it doesn't help. Managing this disease takes a considerable amount of time, energy, focus, and financial resources. Comparing levels of hardship demonstrates lack of empathy. You should know that *I* can think of a zillion things that could be worse, but none of them are of any comfort to me when I'm watching my child struggle, suffer, and succumb to the effects of this chronic, life-threatening disease for which there is no cure.
3) Just because Sugar "looks ok", doesn't mean she is. When a child with a seizure disorder has a seizure or a child with asthma has an asthma attack, you know they need help, because there is an outward display of symptoms. When a child with diabetes has a low or high blood sugar, you may not be able to tell just by looking at them. For this reason, it is necessary to check blood sugars every 2 - 3 hours around the clock, every day. If left untreated, both low and high blood sugars can lead to seizures, coma, and death.
4) This can happen to your child too. No child is immune to the possibility that they could also develop Type 1 Diabetes. It can happen to any child -- and adults (usually under age 40) as well. Please call your doctor to request an immediate diabetes screening if you notice: excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite, weight loss (or lack of weight gain, despite an increased appetite), sweet smelling breath, or blurred vision.
5) My life will stop for blood sugars. It doesn't matter if I'm sitting in my state Senator's office (done it), in church (done it), cooking dinner (done it), in the middle of a store (done it), or in mid-sentence (done it)....if Sugar is having a blood sugar problem, I *will* stop whatever I'm doing to address it. Please don't take it personally. I'll need a minute or two to problem solve while factoring in all of the variables surrounding that particular number, so just bear with me. I'll get back into the game of life as soon as I can.
6) Life is good. You should know that living with Type 1 Diabetes doesn't mean our family can't be happy, feel good about life, or celebrate milestones with (gluten free!) cupcakes. Yes, it's hard. Yes, it's exhausting. Yes, it's complicated. Yes, it's all consuming at times. Despite all of those things, however, we are incredibly blessed to have Sugar in our lives. We believe that every smile, every laugh, every victory, every joy, in fact EVERY GOOD THING comes from God! We are incredibly grateful for the way He has carried us thus far, as we make our way through this journey of life with Type 1 Diabetes.
To read more TOP 6 dblog Day posts, click HERE.
2) When you tell me that "things could be so much worse" it doesn't help. Managing this disease takes a considerable amount of time, energy, focus, and financial resources. Comparing levels of hardship demonstrates lack of empathy. You should know that *I* can think of a zillion things that could be worse, but none of them are of any comfort to me when I'm watching my child struggle, suffer, and succumb to the effects of this chronic, life-threatening disease for which there is no cure.
3) Just because Sugar "looks ok", doesn't mean she is. When a child with a seizure disorder has a seizure or a child with asthma has an asthma attack, you know they need help, because there is an outward display of symptoms. When a child with diabetes has a low or high blood sugar, you may not be able to tell just by looking at them. For this reason, it is necessary to check blood sugars every 2 - 3 hours around the clock, every day. If left untreated, both low and high blood sugars can lead to seizures, coma, and death.
4) This can happen to your child too. No child is immune to the possibility that they could also develop Type 1 Diabetes. It can happen to any child -- and adults (usually under age 40) as well. Please call your doctor to request an immediate diabetes screening if you notice: excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite, weight loss (or lack of weight gain, despite an increased appetite), sweet smelling breath, or blurred vision.
5) My life will stop for blood sugars. It doesn't matter if I'm sitting in my state Senator's office (done it), in church (done it), cooking dinner (done it), in the middle of a store (done it), or in mid-sentence (done it)....if Sugar is having a blood sugar problem, I *will* stop whatever I'm doing to address it. Please don't take it personally. I'll need a minute or two to problem solve while factoring in all of the variables surrounding that particular number, so just bear with me. I'll get back into the game of life as soon as I can.
6) Life is good. You should know that living with Type 1 Diabetes doesn't mean our family can't be happy, feel good about life, or celebrate milestones with (gluten free!) cupcakes. Yes, it's hard. Yes, it's exhausting. Yes, it's complicated. Yes, it's all consuming at times. Despite all of those things, however, we are incredibly blessed to have Sugar in our lives. We believe that every smile, every laugh, every victory, every joy, in fact EVERY GOOD THING comes from God! We are incredibly grateful for the way He has carried us thus far, as we make our way through this journey of life with Type 1 Diabetes.
To read more TOP 6 dblog Day posts, click HERE.
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wonderful post :)
ReplyDeletegreat post wendy! I love #5..that is so true for me as well.
ReplyDeleteYou had me at #5. very creative!
ReplyDeleteYEP I am a #5 FAN too sistah! I have stopped mid-everything in the last 4 years to do a check. Great SIX. GREAT POST...EVEN GREATER YOU.
ReplyDeleteLove to you on D-Blogger Day Mrs. Candy Hearts!!!
I too love #5! EVERYTHING stops for BG issues!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
I'm liking number 6...especially about God!
ReplyDeleteGreat points! I am enjoying reading everyone's list and am surprised by the differences but not the similarities. Everyone has given me something to think about.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Sista, especially #5!
ReplyDeleteI love your list, especially number 6. I need to remember that one more often. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are an amazing mother. Just hearing about your middle of the night blood checks makes me want to give you a hug every time I see you. Sugar is worth every ounce of yourself you have put into this disease. Thanks for your example
ReplyDeleteFantastic post and list!!
ReplyDeleteHUGS
kelly k
My DBlog post is a compilation of OTHER D-moms' '6 things' list. I hope you don't mind, but I fell in love with your #3 and referenced you and Sugar in my post. I linked to you, so credit was given!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for being you!!!!!!
AWESOME POST!!!
ReplyDeleteyou nailed it on the head with #5. I'm not being dramatic when I drop everything to answer the school nurse's phone call - it's just the way it has to be!
ReplyDeleteThanks for #6. Amen to that!
ReplyDeleteYou said it! I think your list is one of the clearest to the point one's yet! Love it!!! (totally feelin' it on the stop everything for the BG check and reaction...people have to understand that it's a very NOW condition!)
ReplyDeleteLoves and hugs...and thanks for all the support!!!
It could be worse never lifts me up either. Great list Wendy!
ReplyDelete"every good thing", indeed! love the list. love the blog. keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteLOVE #2! I don't know why people are such idiots! Well done! :)
ReplyDelete#2 is such a pet peeve of mine!
ReplyDeleteLife IS good!
And yes, as you could tell from the story I told you last weekend (about which I will eventually blog), my life will stop for blood sugars!
Great list! I totally hear ya on the --- it could be worse! UGH! Really people - that's all ya got?
ReplyDeleteMWAH! Hugs and Kisses to a great DMama, D Friend and D Blogger!!