Done It Right.

Yesterday was Field Day for both my school-aged girls.  This meant that I chased one around the school grounds with my preschooler in tow...and then chased the other one around the same school grounds -- with a very tired preschooler in tow.

Good times.

And, of course, it also meant that Field Day was going to interrupt the normal flow of Sugar's diabetes routine.  Which was fine.  We got this.

After clapping and cheering for the Kindergartners, I sent Tiara back inside with her class and turned around to find Sugar walking out another door.

First up.  Blood sugar check = 350-ish (!?????!????!).

Ah, yes.  Good times, indeed.

My mind went to "that place".  The place where you scroll through every possible variable and consider every possible scenario, before making the decision about what to do next:  Does she need a spontaneous site change?  Did I miscount her breakfast carbs?  Are there ketones with this BG?  She can't exercise if there are ketones.

You know the deal.

The Field Day festivities were getting started, and I needed to act fast.  So I sniffed her breath.  Yes, I did.  I'm not saying it's the best way to assess for ketones, but a mama does what she has to do when she has a kid who wants to run off with her pals, a whiny preschooler attached to her leg, and plans to check again in 1 hour.

No fruity smell, one correction, and instructions to chug some water...she was off and running while I lugged Tired Preschooler, my water, and all the diabetes supplies behind.

And so the morning went.

Parachute games, softball throw, relay races, scooter races, basketball toss, 50 yard dash(es)....somewhere in there I retested....and tested again....and one more time for good measure.  That 350 came down nicely, and I sent her inside to finish her school day with a high five.

And that's when it happened.

A nice woman crossed the field waving and yelling something at me.  At first I wasn't sure if she was really talking to me, but I stayed put to see what she needed anyway.

"I saw you testing your daughter's finger.  Does that mean she has childhood diabeeeeeetus?"

"Yes, Ma'am.  She has Type 1 Diabetes.  It used to be commonly known as Juvenile Diabetes."

"Well, my friend's baby is getting tested for that.  But she done everything right.  She breastfed for 2 months, and everything.  And she doesn't feed her kids those Happy Meals either.  Why would the doctors be testing her baby for that stuff if she done it all the way she was supposed to?"

I know she wasn't implying that *I* must have done something "wrong".  But...that's how it felt.  I realize she was just looking for information, and was worried about her friend.  My first reaction was to scream at her that I hadn't done anything "wrong" either, but I didn't.  Over the years, I've learned to swallow my initial reaction before proceeding.

"Well, your friend's baby must have some concerning symptoms that the doctors want to investigate further.  I hope everything goes okay."

"Yah, but I don't understand it.  She done it all right."

"Type 1 Diabetes can be a very confusing diagnosis to understand.  It's unclear why some people's bodies stop producing insulin."

"Well, her baby ain't done nothing wrong.  And she's a good mom too."

"Ma'am, my daughter breastfed until she was almost 2 years old.  In fact, she weaned only a few weeks before her diagnosis 3 weeks after her second birthday.  And I made all her baby food using organic produce.  I only offered her whole grains on occasion, and she had never touched white bread or white pasta.  She never drank a soda or chocolate milk, and she didn't ever drink juice either.  She drank water almost exclusively with the exception of organic whole milk.  She was enrolled in the local kid's tumbling program, and we went to various parks several times a week.  She was getting plenty of age appropriate exercise."

"Oh.  Well I guess shit just happens sometimes then."

Yeah.  Guess so.