Written by Madison
From June 30th to July 5th I was at a family reunion in a cabin with my family. It was hard sometimes but I got over it. For example we were at a parade and my aunt was in charge of afternoon snack and bought donut holes and of course I coudn't have them. BUMMER!!!
I learned that having diabetes at a reunion with lots of meals and food isn't the easiest thing in the world. First of all, counting the carbs. We were lucky we knew about how much was in everything (I forgot Calorie King). Second, waiting. I have to wait 15 minutes before eating. It's not that easy when a whole family needs to eat when the food is ready. Finally, keeping my blood sugar within the right range. Again, it's not that easy especially without Calorie King because we don't know exactly how many carbs. Not knowing exactly how many carbs and not being able to wait first before eating and having some extra treats made it hard to keep it in the right range.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Guilt
Written by Mom
Madison had her 2nd 3 month appointment with the endocrinologist. Her A1C wasn't great but wasn't too bad. At one point I was talking with the nutritionist explaining that I try to find a balance of having it be a big deal but not so big of a deal that it becomes her entire life. I started crying. I'm not even sure why and although I shouldn't have been I was embarrassed. I didn't go in feeling overburdened or stressed or emotional and yet there it came.
As a family we have always had a one treat a day rule. Since she was about 3 Madison has followed that rule. Now I read blogs of other parents and it seems that everyone is on the same page as far as kids being able to eat whatever they want, however, they always seem to say that it should only be occasionally that they have a treat. I struggle with wondering if my one treat a day (which if most people tried, they would realize is actually quite limiting) is now too much sugar. As much as I don't want her to think that diabetes is her entire life, I also want her to keep her blood sugars at normal levels. It's a hard balance. I'm finding that having someone with Diabetes adds a lot of guilt onto an already guilt ridden parent.
As for the gluten thing, I feel like we have a pretty good handle on that. When she was first diagnosed I thought it would be a nightmare but overall it really isn't too hard. It is a pain when you're out and about but as far as being at home goes, it's not bad. A lot of foods are naturally gluten free and oddly enough Madison never was a bread lover. She didn't like pizza, preferred grilled chicken to breaded chicken, liked "sandwiches" without the bread (meat and cheese in a bag), and wasn't keen on usual kid's favorites like corn dogs, goldfish, crackers in general, cheese crisps, mac and cheese, etc. Although these things didn't make her sick I think her body knew. Either that or it was just a tender mercy that she didn't prefer these things. I have adopted gluten free eating myself and find that I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything even though I am a bread lover. There are enough other things that I can still eat that I don't miss it.
I often wonder how long she had had celiac before being diagnosed. She didn't show any signs of it. I also wonder often if we had known about the celiac and stopped eating gluten if we could have avoided the diabetes. It doesn't help to wonder but I still do.
Eventually, hopefully, we'll get a better handle on the Diabetes but for now we'll try to let it not consume her life. It just doesn't make sense to have a 10 year old worry constantly that she's not keeping tight control of her sugars especially when we are trying very hard to but her body is still highly unpredictable. Is it like this for all newly diagnosed Type 1 Diabetics? They call this the "honeymoon" but nothing about it has felt like a honeymoon.
Madison had her 2nd 3 month appointment with the endocrinologist. Her A1C wasn't great but wasn't too bad. At one point I was talking with the nutritionist explaining that I try to find a balance of having it be a big deal but not so big of a deal that it becomes her entire life. I started crying. I'm not even sure why and although I shouldn't have been I was embarrassed. I didn't go in feeling overburdened or stressed or emotional and yet there it came.
As a family we have always had a one treat a day rule. Since she was about 3 Madison has followed that rule. Now I read blogs of other parents and it seems that everyone is on the same page as far as kids being able to eat whatever they want, however, they always seem to say that it should only be occasionally that they have a treat. I struggle with wondering if my one treat a day (which if most people tried, they would realize is actually quite limiting) is now too much sugar. As much as I don't want her to think that diabetes is her entire life, I also want her to keep her blood sugars at normal levels. It's a hard balance. I'm finding that having someone with Diabetes adds a lot of guilt onto an already guilt ridden parent.
As for the gluten thing, I feel like we have a pretty good handle on that. When she was first diagnosed I thought it would be a nightmare but overall it really isn't too hard. It is a pain when you're out and about but as far as being at home goes, it's not bad. A lot of foods are naturally gluten free and oddly enough Madison never was a bread lover. She didn't like pizza, preferred grilled chicken to breaded chicken, liked "sandwiches" without the bread (meat and cheese in a bag), and wasn't keen on usual kid's favorites like corn dogs, goldfish, crackers in general, cheese crisps, mac and cheese, etc. Although these things didn't make her sick I think her body knew. Either that or it was just a tender mercy that she didn't prefer these things. I have adopted gluten free eating myself and find that I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything even though I am a bread lover. There are enough other things that I can still eat that I don't miss it.
I often wonder how long she had had celiac before being diagnosed. She didn't show any signs of it. I also wonder often if we had known about the celiac and stopped eating gluten if we could have avoided the diabetes. It doesn't help to wonder but I still do.
Eventually, hopefully, we'll get a better handle on the Diabetes but for now we'll try to let it not consume her life. It just doesn't make sense to have a 10 year old worry constantly that she's not keeping tight control of her sugars especially when we are trying very hard to but her body is still highly unpredictable. Is it like this for all newly diagnosed Type 1 Diabetics? They call this the "honeymoon" but nothing about it has felt like a honeymoon.
One wish
Written by Mom
Conversation in our house the other day. "B" being our 8 year old daughter.
B - Madison if you could have one wish, what would it be?
Madison - Not to have Diabetes and Celiac
B - I knew you would say that! Mom - what would you wish for?
Me - For Madison to not have Diabetes and Celiac
Madison - Why is it hard for you guys for me to have them?
Me - I'm not wishing that so my life would be easier, I'm wishing it because I want your life to be easier. In fact if I was given one wish and they said the only way for that to come true would be if someone else took the diabetes and celiac, I would take them.
Madison - Really?
Me - Really. Any mom would do that.
I think that for the most part, having a kid with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac is harder then having it yourself. Of course I don't have them so I can't say for sure, but without a doubt I would take them if it meant she (or any of my other kids) wouldn't have to have them. I think anyone who is a mom would readily agree.
Of course in a lot of ways kids are even more adaptable. Having only had Diabetes for 6 mths and Celiac for 5 mths, Madison said the other day that she already couldn't remember what life was like before having them. She'll be fine in the end and everyone has a story, but some days are definitely harder then others.
Sometimes when I'm down I feel like my daughter has been handed a life sentence of extra stress and worry and so have I. And although I know many have it worse, I don't know that that offers much consolation in the end.
Conversation in our house the other day. "B" being our 8 year old daughter.
B - Madison if you could have one wish, what would it be?
Madison - Not to have Diabetes and Celiac
B - I knew you would say that! Mom - what would you wish for?
Me - For Madison to not have Diabetes and Celiac
Madison - Why is it hard for you guys for me to have them?
Me - I'm not wishing that so my life would be easier, I'm wishing it because I want your life to be easier. In fact if I was given one wish and they said the only way for that to come true would be if someone else took the diabetes and celiac, I would take them.
Madison - Really?
Me - Really. Any mom would do that.
I think that for the most part, having a kid with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac is harder then having it yourself. Of course I don't have them so I can't say for sure, but without a doubt I would take them if it meant she (or any of my other kids) wouldn't have to have them. I think anyone who is a mom would readily agree.
Of course in a lot of ways kids are even more adaptable. Having only had Diabetes for 6 mths and Celiac for 5 mths, Madison said the other day that she already couldn't remember what life was like before having them. She'll be fine in the end and everyone has a story, but some days are definitely harder then others.
Sometimes when I'm down I feel like my daughter has been handed a life sentence of extra stress and worry and so have I. And although I know many have it worse, I don't know that that offers much consolation in the end.
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