Saturday August 10, 2013 is the day the world changed at our house. We have always been a health family, kids never sick, all ways active. Looking back at the weeks leading up to that day, there were sign that things wore not right with our 12 year old daughter. But all were very small, and only look back you can connect the dotes. She had lost lots of weigh in 2 weeks and we though she had been skipping meals. She was at a day soccer camp the whole week before and it was hot outside. She was drinking lots and that was good. Running hard for 4-5hours in +25C and drinking lots is good. Friday night we head to the cabin as always. Our friend with there cabin next to us, commented on how thin Alex has was. That night she went to bed early after complaining all night that nothing tasted right. The next day we had trouble getting her out of bed. Just before 11am we had her at the table, but getting her there was not easy. she didn't want to drink or eat anything. It was like she was a zombie. Around then her friend from next door came over. Our daughter was still a zombie not talking and disconnected. I know something was very wrong. 40min Drive to the hospital, she was having trouble breathing. When we arrived at the hospital we never even sat down nurse look at her right away. Blood pressure 160/80 way up! Then they took her blood glucose 37! I new what it was, no one had to tell me Type1 Diabetes. 4 Day in hospital and life has changed.
Months 6 and 23 Day later I find that T1D has taken over our house, our life, my thoughts. Its a 24hour job. Its what I think about when I wake up, and just before I fall asleep. Alex is an amazing girl, and is handling this whole change of life with great resilience. She has had around 900 injection so far, and 1300 finger picks. Wish people would know the constant state of anxiety and stress that she is under. It will never get easier, we just get better! The balancing of food, insulin, exercise, hormones, etc... I now find myself consumed with researching all information that can make me to better dealing with Type1 Diabetes and understand the autoimmune disease.
But day to day people make it hard because of the dumb stuff that say to me and in front of my daughter! Here are some of the thing we have heard; and what would say back.
Q:Can you eat that?
Yes she can!
Q:doesn't that hurt?
Yes they are needles!
Q:Wow, diabetes? But she's so young!
Yes but its not the diabetes that your grandma has!
Q:Its better that she got it when she is young, I got it when I was 40 think that's harder(T2D). Just got this one 2 days ago from someone!
My child is on permanent life support every day for the rest of her life unless a cure is found.
Q:Is it the bad kind?
I didn't know there was a good kind.
Q:At least it's not cancer.
this one really pisses me off! I'll just walk away, before I do something.
Q:She will grow out of it.
That's news to me. Must tell the consultant.
Q:When they get older it will get easier for you.
No, I will always worry, even more so when she leaves home and I can't keep tabs on her.
Q:My uncle had that and he went blind.
Thanks for the inspiring story you should keep to yourself and not tell in front of my 12 year old.
There are lost more of these dumb things people say mostly because a lack of knowledge, and tack. But my all time one that I hate the most is when people with type2 try to compare them self to my child! Type1, Type2 are very different conditions, very different causes, with every different treatments. Never mind that your an adult, and my daughter is 12!
Day to day I try to make jokes about people comments,and just try to inform them of what T1D really is about. That's about all you can do.
We will keep rolling on, getting smarter, and hopefully keep calm and be patient when people and there comment.
But day to day people make it hard because of the dumb stuff that say to me and in front of my daughter! Here are some of the thing we have heard; and what would say back.
Q:Can you eat that?
Yes she can!
Q:doesn't that hurt?
Yes they are needles!
Q:Wow, diabetes? But she's so young!
Yes but its not the diabetes that your grandma has!
Q:Its better that she got it when she is young, I got it when I was 40 think that's harder(T2D). Just got this one 2 days ago from someone!
My child is on permanent life support every day for the rest of her life unless a cure is found.
Q:Is it the bad kind?
I didn't know there was a good kind.
Q:At least it's not cancer.
this one really pisses me off! I'll just walk away, before I do something.
Q:She will grow out of it.
That's news to me. Must tell the consultant.
Q:When they get older it will get easier for you.
No, I will always worry, even more so when she leaves home and I can't keep tabs on her.
Q:My uncle had that and he went blind.
Thanks for the inspiring story you should keep to yourself and not tell in front of my 12 year old.
There are lost more of these dumb things people say mostly because a lack of knowledge, and tack. But my all time one that I hate the most is when people with type2 try to compare them self to my child! Type1, Type2 are very different conditions, very different causes, with every different treatments. Never mind that your an adult, and my daughter is 12!
Day to day I try to make jokes about people comments,and just try to inform them of what T1D really is about. That's about all you can do.
We will keep rolling on, getting smarter, and hopefully keep calm and be patient when people and there comment.
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