What I wish you knew about T1D…Diabetes Blog Week 2012

I have already blogged about this topic http://s782639264.onlinehome.us/?p=298 on my own, but seeing as there is so much that I wish you would know about living with Type 1 diabetes, that I am going to write another one today.

1. Diabetes is always on my mind, yet is it never on my mind.

Huh?

Let me explain.

When you and I are having a conversation about the new salad restaurant that opened in our town, I am listening. I am following along, thinking about what kind of salad I would get if we decided to go to lunch one day…and then I hear an ambulance…As I live only 2 blocks to school my thoughts immediately jump to figuring out where the siren is going (towards the school?) and if my son could have dropped so low that they were forced to give glucagon and call 911. So, yeah, I was in the salad restaurant conversation, but in a heart beat I am out of it.

2. Diabetes is the absolute last thing when I think about my son, yet it’s the first.

Huh?

Let me explain.

When I see my son, I see a gorgeous, intelligent, funny, lanky, bike riding 8 year old. I see a kid that makes me smile and cringe at least 100 times a day. I see a great big brother and an annoying big brother. I see a kid that loves his waffles with chocolate chips for breakfast.

Then I see diabetes. When I see a bike riding 8 year old riding a bit too slow, I wonder if he is going low. When I see an annoying big brother just getting a bit too much, I wonder if he is going high. When I see a kid that loves waffles turn his nose up at them, I wonder if he has ketones that are making his belly hurt.

3. Diabetes is the first thing that pops in my mind, but the last thing I would ever say.

Huh?

Let me explain.

My son is a dreamer. He is brilliant. He has all these plans for when he gets older that he is going to fly out into Space as well as explore the deepest depths of the oceans. He talks about climbing mountains and backpacking across Europe. He wants to travel across the US in an RV for one summer (ok, that’s my idea too).

When he talks about these things with immense excitement I think about his diabetes care, where he will get insulin while backpacking. I wonder how he will keep his insulin cold while travelling to Space. I am concerned what will he do if he goes low while scuba diving in Belize.

When he talks about these things I say it will be awesome, honey. I say that sounds exciting, I can’t wait for you to do it. I say you are going to have an awesome time.

Diabetes is here and it’s here to stay. I do my best to keep it out of my thoughts, my mind and my spoken word. We know it’s here, we know we have to deal with it, but we don’t have to give it center stage.