Are you SURE it's Diabetes? Part 2
By Write on, 3rd Jan 2012 | Follow this author
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My niece was diagnosed with diabetes on the 26th. Her fourth birthday was on the 31st. Our new reality had been thrust into our lives, whether we were ready or not, diabetes was real. And here to stay.
Are you SURE it's Diabetes? Part 2
I made arrangements to look after my nephew Jax while my sister, Aleese and her husband Robert slept, lived, ate and learned at the hospital.
Lily was to recieve 5-8 injections per day. Her pancreas was not producing insulin and so we would have to administer insulin manually.
Long Lasting insulin would be needed twice- once in the morning and again at bedtime. This was a green coloured needle cartridge. The nurses put a label on it. 'Basal- long lasting'. This injection would be somewhat consistent, as time went on there would be slight adjusments required to match Lily's body, size and age.
The rapid acting insulin would be required everytime Lily ate food. This was an oragne coloured needle cartridge with the label 'Rapid- bolus'. The rapid acting insulin needed to be measured. We needed to measure how many carbohydrates Lily was going to eat and inject enough insulin to balance.
Foods gets turned into sugar in our bodies. Our pancreas produces insulin which is needed to turn that sugar into energy. Without insulin, the sugars just bounce around uselessly in our bodies. And we have no energy. Like Lily looking like a drugged puppy.... not able to hold her head up. She literally had no energy. That was the basic lesson. I'm sure we were taught this in science somewhere along the way but what it actually meant to someone with an inactive pancreas escaped me. Until now.
If Lily got too much insulin she would suffer a diabetic 'high'.
If Lily didn't get enough insulin she would suffer a diabetic 'low.'
Both extremes could lead to a hospitalization, a coma or even death.
The stress of know ing this made Aleese and Robert incredibly diligent students. Still, a year later, I rely on Aleese to assist me with diabetic numbers and doses when Lily is in my care.
Lily herself quickly became our champion. The diabetic team was very supportive and said the good thing about Lily's age is that she would quickly adapt to this new system. As well, she'd never had the task of feeding herself yet. Even for snacks, she would ask her mom. 9 or 10 year olds who get Type 1 Diabetes find it harder because they remember what it was like before injections. They remember times when they could raid the fridge and just eat what they wanted without getting insulin. The other difficulty is the calculations required. How much insulin? Measuring foods out. Reading labels. It's too much for a 9 year to take on alone so they have to rely on adults.
So, at 4 Lily was set up for success there.
As well, Lily as well has an outstanding personality. Positive, outgoing, warm and wonderful. For instance, while waiting in the patient lounge one day, an older gentlman with an IV tower walked in. Lily marched over to him and stood toe to toe in front of him. She surveyed his situation and then comforted him, 'Don't worry. I had one of those. They will take it off one day.' Big smile and a self assured nod. The man's eyes twinkled with delight at the calming words of a 4 year old 'hospital expert.'
After 3 days in the hospital, Lily had won the hearts of many. She took me on a tour of the hospital, including an elevator ride down 4 floors to the cafeteria. She loved her moving hospital bed and the personal TV that could be moved right in front of her.
On the 4th day she asked, 'Mama, is this my new home?' Heartbreaking to hear; for we longed to have her home. But she was not troubled by it. She was just asking and adjusting to her new reality. (I suspect she also like 'Treehouse' at her beck and call!)
She took the needles without much complaint. She understood that the insulin in the needles was helping her. She started saying 'I'm hungry. I need my insulin.'
It was incredible to see how well Lily adapted. Well, we all had to adapt. The amazing part was Lily's acceptance.
That is something I am still working on.
Trying to let go of the 'Why her? Why us? Why diabetes?'
As a family, though, we are believers in Lily's abililty to do anything. We believe that diabetes is just part of our new normal.
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