There's been plenty of sickness at our house lately. Kaitlyn was first with a stomach virus on Friday a week and a half ago. It was so mild we weren't really sure it was a virus. Will was home last Tuesday. We thought it might be what he ate. When Ryan came down with it, it was officially dubbed a virus. Then Will started coughing. Ben followed and he ran a fever yesterday and was so very cranky!!! Gene hasn't felt well either. All of this was fine, until tonight.
Now, after going to AWANA & exposing everyone, Andrew has a fever. His throat is red & he doesn't want to swallow. His BG was over 300 when he got home just after 7, so we corrected. I rechecked him after taking his temp around 8:30 & he was 62. After juice & 15 minutes, his BG dropped to 58. I'm waiting for another recheck -BG 123, so that's okay for now.
I still get so nervous when Andrew is sick! I just remember how quickly his diabetes went crazy with strep last Spring. Oh, and did I mention that we're supposed to get snowed in tonight? Please pray for my little guy! Thanks!
P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Rough Nights For All (but Ryan)
Diabetes affects everyone in the family. Lately, it has been affecting everyone's sleep! Last week, Will's teachers sent home a note that Will was falling apart over seemingly trivial things. Will didn't have any real concerns other than, "The water just won't stop coming to my eyes!" We think the heart of the issue is exhaustion - not because he doesn't go to bed early enough. Because he gets woken several times a night (lots of lows lately) when we turn on the lights and check on Andrew. Will used to be a very easy going child. This side of him didn't show up until he started school. That was also after Andrew was diagnosed. I too get weepy when overtired, so I understand. We decided to move Will into Ben's room instead. Will doesn't think it's working. He says he can't sleep because, "Ben stares at me all night long!" I think in the long run it will be best.
Andrew had five lows on Monday alone - most of them in the 40's & 50's. Monday night, he was low at 11, & although his BG was okay at 1 am, I could sense it wouldn't last despite the reduced basal. I set the alarm for 3 am & sure enough he was 52 again. Tuesday, it took longer to recover from the lows because his natural resources were so depleted. We finally returned him to the basal insulin rates he used prior to the flu shot. It took six weeks to the day. The Cell Food hasn't offered any change in insulin, but he hasn't complained of a stomachache since starting it. He won't admit to feeling better, but I think he does.
Last night, Andrew's 1:30 check was fine, but I was woken at 2:30 by Kaitlyn. She didn't feel well. She ate a few crackers, but still felt nauseous. She asked, "Should I take my blood sugar?" I felt so bad for her!!! Can you imagine living that way? I may have caused it, because I won't let a vomiting child have soda unless they've checked BG. I didn't expect anything off, but figured we should test to relieve her fears. BG 118. I assured her that was normal, but suddenly I was thinking, "That is so much higher than her normal fasting BG. Oh, please don't be starting! Well, she's sick. That raises blood sugar. And scared. Stress raises it too." Then I finally realized this wasn't a fasting BG! She had just finished eating! Nothing ever came of the stomachache. She's had lots of them lately. I admit I've thought, "Does it hurt when the islet cells die off?" Maybe she just needs Cell Food too!
Andrew had five lows on Monday alone - most of them in the 40's & 50's. Monday night, he was low at 11, & although his BG was okay at 1 am, I could sense it wouldn't last despite the reduced basal. I set the alarm for 3 am & sure enough he was 52 again. Tuesday, it took longer to recover from the lows because his natural resources were so depleted. We finally returned him to the basal insulin rates he used prior to the flu shot. It took six weeks to the day. The Cell Food hasn't offered any change in insulin, but he hasn't complained of a stomachache since starting it. He won't admit to feeling better, but I think he does.
Last night, Andrew's 1:30 check was fine, but I was woken at 2:30 by Kaitlyn. She didn't feel well. She ate a few crackers, but still felt nauseous. She asked, "Should I take my blood sugar?" I felt so bad for her!!! Can you imagine living that way? I may have caused it, because I won't let a vomiting child have soda unless they've checked BG. I didn't expect anything off, but figured we should test to relieve her fears. BG 118. I assured her that was normal, but suddenly I was thinking, "That is so much higher than her normal fasting BG. Oh, please don't be starting! Well, she's sick. That raises blood sugar. And scared. Stress raises it too." Then I finally realized this wasn't a fasting BG! She had just finished eating! Nothing ever came of the stomachache. She's had lots of them lately. I admit I've thought, "Does it hurt when the islet cells die off?" Maybe she just needs Cell Food too!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Fun Day & Rumors of a Possible Cure!
Today we went the "Hot Shots" (diabetic support group) ice skating party. It was well attended, and lots of fun! Even Will, who usually resists any kind of skating, had a good time.
While there, I talked with a mom who is enrolled in a study considering whether some type 1 diabetes can be cured with the TB vaccine. I looked it up online when I got home. A doctor has found a way to target the T cells that destroy the insulin & has reversed the disease even after full onset in mice, horses, and another animal (I forgot. Was it dogs?). It was only successful for a third of the patients. Right now the trial for people just involved them donating blood. When it comes time to try the vaccine, they expect a severe case of pancreatitis while the pancreas swells & fights the T cells that destroy insulin. She said that they would probably end up hospitalized for a couple weeks. Once the T cells are destroyed, type 1 diabetes is gone. How cool would that be???
It's interesting that yesterday Andrew was discussing what he would consider a cure. Fancy pumps coupled with even more sensors that he has to wear all the time is not a cure. Improvement over current management, but so not a cure. Neither are surgeries & immuniosuppressant drugs that only last a little over a year. He wanted a shot cure. I admit I thought it naive, but I would love to be wrong!!!
http://www2.massgeneral.org/diabetes/laboratory_type1.htm
While there, I talked with a mom who is enrolled in a study considering whether some type 1 diabetes can be cured with the TB vaccine. I looked it up online when I got home. A doctor has found a way to target the T cells that destroy the insulin & has reversed the disease even after full onset in mice, horses, and another animal (I forgot. Was it dogs?). It was only successful for a third of the patients. Right now the trial for people just involved them donating blood. When it comes time to try the vaccine, they expect a severe case of pancreatitis while the pancreas swells & fights the T cells that destroy insulin. She said that they would probably end up hospitalized for a couple weeks. Once the T cells are destroyed, type 1 diabetes is gone. How cool would that be???
It's interesting that yesterday Andrew was discussing what he would consider a cure. Fancy pumps coupled with even more sensors that he has to wear all the time is not a cure. Improvement over current management, but so not a cure. Neither are surgeries & immuniosuppressant drugs that only last a little over a year. He wanted a shot cure. I admit I thought it naive, but I would love to be wrong!!!
http://www2.massgeneral.org/diabetes/laboratory_type1.htm
Friday, January 15, 2010
Sleepover- Take 2
Well, Andrew is trying the sleepover again tonight. Gene was reluctant, but it's kind of like getting back up on a horse. Andrew called a few minutes ago. He is headed to bed (at 9:30) with BG 203. This time, we didn't correct & will let him sleep through the night. Good luck, Andrew!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Press Release on Artifical Pancreas
JDRF in Groundbreaking Partnership with Animas to Develop First-Generation Artificial Pancreas System
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jdrf-forms-partnership-with-animas-to-develop-first-generation-automated-system-for-managing-type-1-diabetes-81323767.html
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jdrf-forms-partnership-with-animas-to-develop-first-generation-automated-system-for-managing-type-1-diabetes-81323767.html
Friday, January 8, 2010
Sleepover Scare
Andrew has been wanting to sleepover at the neighbors house. The plan was this:
1. Check BG after the Alabama championship game around 11 pm & call home. (This step went well - BG 124.)
2. Take my cell phone with the alarm set for 2 am. Wake up, check blood sugar, & call home.
3. Set my alarm for 2:30. Call Andrew if I had not heard from him.
The neighbor said it was fine to call her if he didn't wake up. I really want to find a way that Andrew can wake & handle it on his own. There are other friends that have indicated they would like him to sleepover. If only the tired parents didn't have to also wake up at 2 a.m.
Well, Andrew slept through the alarm. I apparently never asked Gene to set ours. A little after 5 a.m., the phone rings. Slow speech greets me, "Mom, the alarm didn't go off. Silence. Do you want me to check my blood sugar?" "Go ahead." In a slow, unaffected voice he answers, "57." Forgetting that he took his diabetic bag full of supplies, including a 15g juice box, I asked, "Is there any juice or regular soda in the house?"
"Uh, I don't know. I could ask. Is there, uh"
"Andrew, is there an adult awake?"
"Uh, I think Mr. (neighbor) might be."
"Andrew, just meet me at the front door. I'm bringing you juice." He sounded out of it. "Andrew, don't hang up. I'm coming right now." I grabbed a robe & some juice & ran through the snow in my socks next door. Andrew wasn't there, & my cordless phone was out of range as soon as I hit the front porch. No one answered the knock.
I ran back to my porch & called my cell phone again. Andrew answered. "Did you get some juice?" "Yes. I went to the door & you weren't there."
He was fine. I crawled back into bed, but my adrenaline was still pumping. I ended up calling back in a few minutes to check on him. He was back up to 70 & reminded him to eat a complex carb snack. There were pb crackers in his bag. He probably ate all of them, because his BG was 360 at 8 am, but had crashed again to 42 before lunch (remember normal is 80-120). His poor body! On the other hand, he had a great time.
1. Check BG after the Alabama championship game around 11 pm & call home. (This step went well - BG 124.)
2. Take my cell phone with the alarm set for 2 am. Wake up, check blood sugar, & call home.
3. Set my alarm for 2:30. Call Andrew if I had not heard from him.
The neighbor said it was fine to call her if he didn't wake up. I really want to find a way that Andrew can wake & handle it on his own. There are other friends that have indicated they would like him to sleepover. If only the tired parents didn't have to also wake up at 2 a.m.
Well, Andrew slept through the alarm. I apparently never asked Gene to set ours. A little after 5 a.m., the phone rings. Slow speech greets me, "Mom, the alarm didn't go off. Silence. Do you want me to check my blood sugar?" "Go ahead." In a slow, unaffected voice he answers, "57." Forgetting that he took his diabetic bag full of supplies, including a 15g juice box, I asked, "Is there any juice or regular soda in the house?"
"Uh, I don't know. I could ask. Is there, uh"
"Andrew, is there an adult awake?"
"Uh, I think Mr. (neighbor) might be."
"Andrew, just meet me at the front door. I'm bringing you juice." He sounded out of it. "Andrew, don't hang up. I'm coming right now." I grabbed a robe & some juice & ran through the snow in my socks next door. Andrew wasn't there, & my cordless phone was out of range as soon as I hit the front porch. No one answered the knock.
I ran back to my porch & called my cell phone again. Andrew answered. "Did you get some juice?" "Yes. I went to the door & you weren't there."
He was fine. I crawled back into bed, but my adrenaline was still pumping. I ended up calling back in a few minutes to check on him. He was back up to 70 & reminded him to eat a complex carb snack. There were pb crackers in his bag. He probably ate all of them, because his BG was 360 at 8 am, but had crashed again to 42 before lunch (remember normal is 80-120). His poor body! On the other hand, he had a great time.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
We wish you a very happy, healthy 2010! Andrew reflected this past week that 2008 wasn't a good year for him, but 2009 was. I agree with him. He was diagnosed in January of 2008, so everything that year was his first ....baseball season, swim party, birthday, holiday, etc. as a diabetic. He got his pump in January of 2009. It was much easier, but we still had firsts to figure out using a pump. As only a nine-year-old, there will still be many firsts in his life & there is certainly plenty of room for tweaking of what we're doing. However, it feels good to have much of the learning curve behind us. I am optimistic about 2010!
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