We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since
diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5
weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding
diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you've
made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No
accomplishment is too big or too small - think about self-acceptance,
something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a
tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to
use or not use a technology / etc.).
I find it hard to do anything great or good with my diabetes, I struggle a lot, I live in a lot of fear of lows and highs and complications. I don't ever feel like I actually accomplish anything diabetes-wise in my life. This topic made me sit back and think what was important and what have I done for myself lately.
I couldn't think of one thing, every time I begin to write my blood sugars down consistently, I eventually give up. I have a hard time being consistent with my diabetes and wish more than anything I was motivated to do so.
I did however think of one big step for me that I took a little less than nine years ago. I gave myself my first shot. Probably in my arm as that was my favorite spot before I started a pump. I had only had diabetes a few days but new it was necessary. The nurse were so impressed that they gave me a pack of Uno cards which me and my parents thoroughly enjoyed during my short three day stay. I forget the drama that I could have died if my mom hadn't thought of taking me to the doctor, or how much drama it was to adjust to out knew life style but we did and today I can't believe how far I have come from that tiny little girl to me, now.
People always told me I was tough for taking those needles and now that I look back I can see how they thought it. I know this disease can't hold me back and I think that mind set is a pretty BIG accomplishment for any diabetic.
Showing posts with label Diabetes Blog Week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diabetes Blog Week. Show all posts
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Diabetes Blog Week - Memories
Today we’re going to share our most memorable diabetes day. You can take this anywhere.... your or your loved one's diagnosis, a bad low, a bad high, a big success, any day that you’d like to share.
I have shared with you guys my story of breakage on my "about" page and that is a really bad experience, I live in constant fear of that happening again. I have a lot of diabetes memories, I remember getting my first pump in the mail, I remember the injector for my pump sites that would break the needle under my skin, I remember my diagnosis, my first Endo appointment I remember giving myself my first shot, I remember my seizure, I remember DKA both times. I remember lows that my meter couldn't read, and high enough to make me vomit. I remember starting this blog and I will always remember the joy it brings me and getting to participate in the DOC.
I was not crying but that is not what my sister says and I'm guessing that since she was the one with full brain function she is right.
Amanda! Amanda! I did this every time I was low in the middle of the night and needed some juice or tablets. She would roll out of bed and grouchy as possible go and get me some juice which I happily guzzled and then we both went back to sleep and all was good. But she says I didn't call out her name, that I was crying.
She came over to my bed and I told her I was low and then it happened, " Sarah quit it yours scaring me."
" I'm low I need juice."
" Sarah I am serious I will go and get mom if you don't quit it."
"What are you talking about."
In case you haven't figured it out I was talking gibberish and there was no understandable words coming out of my mouth. Amanda ran upstairs to get my mom who I heard rushing down stairs.
" Sarah whats wrong?" said my mom really concerned
" Santa, Homework, ice cream." Even though in the five minute I had been up My dialect changed from non word to actual words but I still couldn't form words I had in my head and spoke like this. My mom told me she was going to check my blood sugar, a pretty 90 read on my meter, but we decided to go to the emergency room anyways. My mom dressed me and then herself and while my mom was in the bathroom I saw my pink ballet/ yoga pants laying on the table and tried to put them on, over my shoes and jeans. My mom came in and started to cry.
Me my mom and sister road to the hospital nearest to our home in hopes to get an ambulance from there to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. When we got there they rushed us back and the ER doctor started asking question. Sarah can you tell me what day it is? July 19 1967 Sarah can you tell me her name as he pointed to Amanda. I opened my mouth but literally could not say my sisters name. When is your moms birthday, I knew it was April 11 but I could not say April, all I knew to say was that it was before mine. How many days till Christmas? I just shook my head I didn't know that Christmas was in a few days. They did and MRI scan and the nurses that I remember being really nice and talkative helped me walk from the wheel chair to the table and I promptly threw up.
As they loaded me into the ambulance I remember it being cold and the door was open. the poor guy was trying to put in an IV in my arm and it HURT! Oh and the tape the put on it like that thing was going to be trying to push itself out of my arm. And then I fell asleep wake up occasionally to see bits and pieces but I don't really remember a whole lot till we got to the hospital.
I got a new IV and was given plenty of medication and a recommendation to a neurologist. By the time we got to the hospital my speach was all the way back and the IV only brought me great pain.
We still don't know for sure if it was a low induced seizure or a granny seizure as they called it. But I do know it was scary and those moment where I was completely helpless and I remember thinking one way and apparently I did the complete opposite. I have never had one again and hope to not to.
Our memories are the things we always carry with us and shape our lives. When it is a memory with our diabetes we take something from that to help better our care. They are always an advantage even though they might scare the crap out of you at the time.
I have shared with you guys my story of breakage on my "about" page and that is a really bad experience, I live in constant fear of that happening again. I have a lot of diabetes memories, I remember getting my first pump in the mail, I remember the injector for my pump sites that would break the needle under my skin, I remember my diagnosis, my first Endo appointment I remember giving myself my first shot, I remember my seizure, I remember DKA both times. I remember lows that my meter couldn't read, and high enough to make me vomit. I remember starting this blog and I will always remember the joy it brings me and getting to participate in the DOC.
I was not crying but that is not what my sister says and I'm guessing that since she was the one with full brain function she is right.
Amanda! Amanda! I did this every time I was low in the middle of the night and needed some juice or tablets. She would roll out of bed and grouchy as possible go and get me some juice which I happily guzzled and then we both went back to sleep and all was good. But she says I didn't call out her name, that I was crying.
She came over to my bed and I told her I was low and then it happened, " Sarah quit it yours scaring me."
" I'm low I need juice."
" Sarah I am serious I will go and get mom if you don't quit it."
"What are you talking about."
In case you haven't figured it out I was talking gibberish and there was no understandable words coming out of my mouth. Amanda ran upstairs to get my mom who I heard rushing down stairs.
" Sarah whats wrong?" said my mom really concerned
" Santa, Homework, ice cream." Even though in the five minute I had been up My dialect changed from non word to actual words but I still couldn't form words I had in my head and spoke like this. My mom told me she was going to check my blood sugar, a pretty 90 read on my meter, but we decided to go to the emergency room anyways. My mom dressed me and then herself and while my mom was in the bathroom I saw my pink ballet/ yoga pants laying on the table and tried to put them on, over my shoes and jeans. My mom came in and started to cry.
Me my mom and sister road to the hospital nearest to our home in hopes to get an ambulance from there to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. When we got there they rushed us back and the ER doctor started asking question. Sarah can you tell me what day it is? July 19 1967 Sarah can you tell me her name as he pointed to Amanda. I opened my mouth but literally could not say my sisters name. When is your moms birthday, I knew it was April 11 but I could not say April, all I knew to say was that it was before mine. How many days till Christmas? I just shook my head I didn't know that Christmas was in a few days. They did and MRI scan and the nurses that I remember being really nice and talkative helped me walk from the wheel chair to the table and I promptly threw up.
As they loaded me into the ambulance I remember it being cold and the door was open. the poor guy was trying to put in an IV in my arm and it HURT! Oh and the tape the put on it like that thing was going to be trying to push itself out of my arm. And then I fell asleep wake up occasionally to see bits and pieces but I don't really remember a whole lot till we got to the hospital.
I got a new IV and was given plenty of medication and a recommendation to a neurologist. By the time we got to the hospital my speach was all the way back and the IV only brought me great pain.
We still don't know for sure if it was a low induced seizure or a granny seizure as they called it. But I do know it was scary and those moment where I was completely helpless and I remember thinking one way and apparently I did the complete opposite. I have never had one again and hope to not to.
Our memories are the things we always carry with us and shape our lives. When it is a memory with our diabetes we take something from that to help better our care. They are always an advantage even though they might scare the crap out of you at the time.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Daibetes Blog Week- Share and Don't Share Day 1
Guess what??? I am participating in Diabetes Blog week this year and I am super excited to let you peek into my blog and help me raise awareness. Here is the link to the whole list here.
Topic: Often our health care team only sees us for about 15 minutes several times a year, and they might not have a sense of what our lives are really like. Today, let’s pretend our medical team is reading our blogs. What do you wish they could see about your and/or your loved one's daily life with diabetes? On the other hand, what do you hope they don't see?
Topic: Often our health care team only sees us for about 15 minutes several times a year, and they might not have a sense of what our lives are really like. Today, let’s pretend our medical team is reading our blogs. What do you wish they could see about your and/or your loved one's daily life with diabetes? On the other hand, what do you hope they don't see?
6 am First check of the day. 41. Shaky, dizzy, light headed,
raspberry glucose tablets.
7am Shower, don’t forget to hook up pump, then breakfast,
check blood sugar, 201. Bolus, correct.
8am Check again 101 its safe to drive
9am Check again two hours after breakfast blood sugar 399
hmmmm
11am Lunch: check blood sugar 169 WHAT! I really aim for a
120 before blood sugar
12 pm do insulin bolus for lunch, ouch that burns
2 am Did I do insulin?
3 pm am I hungry or am I low? Check 57 yep over corrected
for that slight high
4 pm Check again before you drive 124 we’re okay
5pm snack: deli meat today no carbs for me
7pm Dinner check 306 I think meat now has carbs avoid
scolding from mother dad and dog.
9pm Night time shot and insulin 588 HOLY CRAP I forgot about
dinner insulin now I’m sick and I have ketones, guzzle a bottle of water go to
bed
12 am wake up I need to pee
2am wake up I need to pee and I am soooo thirsty
3 am wake up go pee now is time to check blood sugar 290 wow
I should have checked my ketones I need new insulin
4 am change out insulin in pump lay down and try to sleep a
little more.
6 am Check blood sugar 37. Why do I always fail?
To those who see the outside this is just a glimpse into
living with my diabetes. It is a very consuming thing I try really hard at and even
though my efforts sometimes fail I have to do it again the next day. I will get
no breaks and I have fully accepted all the responsibility that comes with it
it just sometimes it wears you out .
Living with diabetes is a battle but one I will win. Insulin
is not a cure and it will never go away. I did not get it from eating to much
sugar or KFC I can eat what ever I want just with moderation and with the
insulin to balance it out. No special diet or pill can cure me and I can have
children. This is Type 1 diabetes.
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