June 12, 2017 - My son started to vomit. Because he had seemed to be off and on under the weather for a couple of weeks I didn't think much of the throwing up. That is until I noticed that he was breathing super heavy while in a relaxed position.
I called the doctor right away because the heavy breathing scared me. Thankfully they had an opening within 30 minutes. I rushed over to to doctor's office. We did have a bit of a wait in the waiting room but when she finally saw us and with just the few questions she asked, she already had a hunch as to what was going on.
"Is he diabetic?" she asked.
No.
"We need to check his blood sugar."
What?
Comes back a few minutes later.
"He's diabetic." She says. "He needs to go to the hospital now."
My heart sank!
It was then an Ambulance ride to the ER. In the ER after running some tests, they confirm what the other doctor had already told us, he is diabetic and he is in Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). He was admitted to the Pediatric ICU (PICU). His blood sugar had to be checked every hour with a finger prick. They needed to bring his blood sugar levels back to the "normal" range with an IV.
So here we were, Mom, Dad and (my baby) our 10 year old newly diagnosed type 1, two days in the PICU, two more days in the regular pediatrics department and Brother at Nana's house. A whole ton of education and information thrown at you and they were ready to send us home. He couldn't wait to get home, we all couldn't!
So with a crash course in Type 1 diabetes, and a bunch of broken spirits, were we really ready to take this on, on our own? No, but we didn't have a choice and we still don't! We are just trying to find normal in this life changing diagnosis.
Is it normal to do finger sticks several times a day?
Is it normal to give shots for every meal and a bedtime?
Is it normal to have to worry about blood sugar level?
Is it normal to have to keep track of your carb intake?
Is it normal to wake up at 2 am to check your blood sugar?
Is it normal to have to email your doctor everyday with your blood sugar readings?
NO!
It's not normal and it's not fair. I feel heartbroken and defeated. He is so strong and so brave and I am so proud of him! He was a CHAMP in the hospital. He hates needles and now he must face them several times every single day. It breaks my heart. I just want things to feel normal again.
Type 1 diabetes is not caused by poor health choices or by being over weight. You do not do anything to get it and you can not do anything to prevent it. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease. It can not be reversed and you can't grow out of it.
It has come to my attention that some may not want to donate to find a cure for type 1 diabetes because the attitude toward this horrible disease is that they/we have brought it upon ourselves and that it can be reversed. This is just not true. It may be the case for type 2 but it is not for type 1, we need an actual cure. I ask you
please just be aware Type 1s did not bring this upon themselves and we need a cure, please pray! Thank you!
