We have been doing great. It's hard to believe that Anna was diagnosed a month ago! In the past month I have discovered that Anna is a lot tougher than I ever gave her credit for. She doesn't cry for the shots anymore (3 a day). Every time we get ready to give her a shot, she will say, "Ok, Can you do it softly, gently and fast?" Every single time. I think it's all about the routine. I have only had one night that I had to wake her up to eat something. She was 59 at 5 am one morning. I think it was due to the fact that she went swimming on Thanksgiving. Yes, I know, who in their right mind would want to swim in 60 degree weather. All it took was for Anna to bat her eyes at Grandpa and say please and he heated the pool for her.
Yesterday Mom and I went down to Texas Children's Hospital for a class on how to use a sliding scale for her insulin dosages. Now we can eat what we want and give insulin to cover it. Before we were on a set amount of insulin and had to make sure to eat the set amount of carbs to cover the insulin. I am hoping it will be easier, but we shall see! I have always loved math equations, but never thought I would have to work math problems to figure out how much insulin to give my daughter before every meal! The next step is to get on the pump. Anna will wear the pump at all times and it will administer the insulin. More on that later! We should get one after the first of the year.
As for everyone else in the family...
Joel is heading to round 4 of the Playoffs this weekend in Waco. They have made it to the quarter finals! Go Klein!
Abby is my princess with a crooked tiara. She loves her sister and runs and hides every time Anna has to get a shot. A couple of times she has tried to hold Anna's hand during the shot, but as soon as I get close to Anna with the syringe, Abby runs behind the couch. And every time, she comes back and says, "Nana shot, Abby - No shot" She was tested for a growth hormone deficency about 2 weeks ago. The results came back okay, but they were concerned that her carbon dioxide levels were too low. It could just be because she was screaming her head off when they took her blood, but now they want to do a urine sample just to be sure. Seriously?!?
And for me, I have a whole new list of reasons I am thankful, and a new pet peeve list. I am reading this book, "Think like a Pancreas." It is so good. It gives all kinds of good information including the history of Diabetes. Only 100 years ago, the life expectancy of some one diagnosed with type one was 1 to 4 years. I almost started crying when I read that. I am so thankful that we live in a time of modern medicine. Diabetes has gone from a slow painful death sentence, to something that is totally manageable. THANK YOU, LORD! As for the pet peeves, it basically all boils done to the this - There is a difference between the 2 types of diabetes. Type 1, also known as Juvenile Diabetes, is caused by a virus that attacks your beta cells that make insulin (in your pancreas). This virus kills those cells and the body will never again make insulin. There is no cure. No diet, or exercise will make her body make insulin again. This is why she will have to have a pump or shots forever. So, what is the pet peeve you ask?? I have had read an article in the paper and seen a clip on a talk show about diabetes that referenced diet and exercise can control your diabetes. While it is true that everyone needs to follow a healthy living style, they need to clarify that they are talking about Type 2 diabetes that can be controlled with diet and exercise. I guess it's a pet peeve because it eludes to the fact that maybe I don't exercise my child enough, or give her the proper nutrition she needs.
Well, I think that is an ear full for now! I will try to write more often, even if it isn't a whole novel at once! Thank you everyone for your sweet words and prayers. I still need them and couldn't do this without them!
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