Type 1 diabetes adds another dimension to regular occurences such as hunger, sleepiness, excitability and anger.
Picture this scenario that has happened hundreds of times. Young mother. Crying toddler. Mother quietly whispering to the very sad toddler trying to figure out what is making her baby so sad. Is he tired? Maybe she should rock him in the stroller. Is he hungry? Maybe he could use a bottle or a snack. Mother works through all the possibilities that could be making her baby so sad, she finally settles on that he is hungry and hands him a bottle. He settles down rather quickly. Young mother made the right choice.
Picture this scenario that doesn’t happen too often, but often enough to some of us. Young mother. Crying toddler. Mother quietly whispering to the very sad toddler trying to figure out what is making her baby so sad. Is he tired? Maybe she should rock him in the stroller. Is he hungry? Maybe he could use a bottle or a snack. Is his number high? Maybe the last dose of insulin was not correct. Is his number low? Maybe there is something causing his sugar to drop. Mother works through all the possbilities and drops to her knees. She digs in her bag for the glucose meter, strips and poker. Gently, but firmly, she takes her toddler’s finger and pricks it. She tests his blood to see if his general unhappiness could be caused by an unexplained high or low blood sugar. Number is in range. Great. But she still has an unhappy toddler that she has to figure out what is wrong.
Caregivers of children with Type 1 diabetes and people living with Type 1 diabetes do not have the luxury of leaving diabetes out when dealing with everyday, seemingly normal, occurences.
When our children appear tired we cannot just assume they need a nap. We need to quickly asses whether their sugar is too high or too low. So when other mother’s can just swoop their baby up in their arms and rock them gently to sleep, mother’s of kids with Type 1 diabetes are dropping to their knees and pricking their babies’ fingers to test their sugar. Adults living with Type 1 diabetes cannot just take a nap like some other adults. Their sugar must be checked as well, because they know the dangers of falling asleep when their sugar is too high or too low, it could mean the difference between a good night’s rest, seizure or coma.
Tired is no longer just tired.
Hungry is no longer just hungry.
Angry is no longer just angry.
Excited is no longer just excited.
Before Type 1 diabetes came into my life, I took for granted how life just appeared to flow. Hungry child…feed him. Thirsty child…feed her. Tired child…down for nap.
No longer does life flow. Type 1 diabetes and glucose checks are as much a part of our life as any other everyday occurence…just like breathing.