Category: Diabetes

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Diabetes

You Catch More Flies With Honey, But Honey Has Its Limits

You catch more flies with honey

Mostly True Memoirs

You catch more flies with honey

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You Catch More Flies With Honey

You might think that the hardest part of T1 diabetes would be the injections.

Or maybe the middle-of-the-night lows.

Or maybe all of the finger sticks.

And yeah, it’s all tough.

But it’s not the worst thing.

The worst part of T1 diabetes is the phone calls.

Seriously.

They’ll drive you right over the edge.

The Grown Son saw the doctor and had blood work in December.

Since that time, he’s made many phone calls to the doctor’s office to ask them to call his prescriptions in to the pharmacy.

They say they’ll do it.

But it hasn’t been done.

Today the Grown Son asked me to make some calls to see if I could make any headway on his behalf.

The doctor’s office told me that they couldn’t call in the prescriptions because he hadn’t been seen in a year.

I took a deep breath.

I reminded myself that you catch more flies with honey.

And I carried on.

“He was seen in December,” I told the lady on the phone, “Which was technically last year but in reality was six weeks ago. Please call in his prescriptions.”

“But he hasn’t had blood work done in a year,” she continued.

“Again, ‘last year’ was six weeks ago,” I kept my cool, “He’s right on schedule with his blood work. Please call in his prescriptions.”

“He needs to be seen every quarter with blood work, otherwise we can’t continue his prescriptions.”

“Yes Ma’am,” I replied, dripping with honey, “He was seen, with blood work, in September and again in December, and he has an upcoming appointment in March. He’s right on schedule. Please call in his prescriptions.”

It took an eternity for this lady to realize that “last year” was just six weeks ago.

She finally agreed to call in his prescriptions.

I thanked her for her time.

Because you catch more flies with honey.

As soon as I hung up, though, I called her every foul name in the book.

Honey has its limits.

I’VE GOT LOTS MORE DIABETES STORIES!

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Categories
Diabetes

I Won – Find Out How I Accomplished This Amazing Feat!

I won

Mostly True Memoirs

I Won!

I Won!

I won this round.

A diabetes mom is always prepared.

Type One Diabetes sucks.

It’s a 24/7/365 burden, both physically and mentally.

If you’re sick with another illness, the diabetes just gets more complicated.

The T1D Grown Son has recently had a shoulder surgery.

His blood sugars are all over the place.

He’s in pain from his surgery, and he’s exhausted from the diabetes.

So yeah, he’s cranky.

Really, really, really, cranky.

If it were anyone else, I might have told him off by now.

But I can’t because what if it’s a low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar is not an excuse to be a jerk.

Unless, of course, it’s a really, really, really low blood sugar.

There’s only one thing to do in a situation like this.

I gave him the Angry Mom Stinkeye.

He cowered in fear and apologized meekly.

Mom 1, Diabetes 0.

I won.

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Diabetes Family

A Special Birthday Dinner!

Mostly True Memoirs

A special birthday dinner

A Special Birthday Dinner! Why Can’t The Birthday Boy Choose the Menu?

A special birthday dinner! Why can’t the birthday boy choose the menu? He’s finally old enough to make some great dinner choices.

The Grown Son had another birthday.

He requested tri-tip for dinner.

With corn bread and potatoes.

I objected.

That’s way too many carbs in one meal.

He begged.

Shouldn’t he get to choose the menu?

Yeah, he’s diabetic, but doesn’t he still deserve a special feast?

I relented.

We’ll have cornbread and potatoes but only if he also agrees to a vegetable.

He argued.

I held my ground.

He conceded.

“OK,” he agreed, “You can make green beans.”

I noted that he said that I can make them.

He did not say that he would eat them.

Yeah, I’m wise to his ways.

However, he did eat a serving of green beans with his dinner.

I guess enough trips around the sun has had a maturing effect on him.

Happy birthday, Kiddo!

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Diabetes Family

A Type One Diabetes Mom

Mostly True Memoirs

The fun never stops for a type one diabetes mom

Seriously? The fun never stops for a Type One Diabetes Mom.

Seriously? The fun never stops for a type one diabetes mom. Someone needs to think ahead, and it looks like it’s got to be me.

I thought I knew it all about being a Type One Diabetes Mom.

Apparently, I still have some lessons to learn.

Last night I learned that I need to hide some glucose tablets.

I know, I know, it seems counterintuitive to hide this lifesaving measure from the very people who need it the most.

But hear me out.

I have told both Grown Sons, over and over and over, to stay ahead of their diabetes supplies.

If they are prepared, they will never run out.

“Mom I need a glucose tablet,” one of them bellowed late last night.

“I just bought you some.”

“Well, I’m out.”

Seriously? Does he eat them like candy? How can he be out already?

I asked the other Grown Son for a glucose tablet.

He was also out.

This one seems to eat them like candy too.

Neither of them gave any thought to replenishing their supplies.

I had some marshmallows in the pantry, so the problem was solved.

Today I bought a new supply of glucose tablets.

I gave a stack to each Grown Son.

I kept some for myself and hid them.

Someone needs to think ahead.

And it’s probably not going to be either one of them.

Seriously. The fun never stops for a Type One Diabetes Mom.

Categories
Diabetes

National Diabetes Awareness Month

Mostly True Memoirs

National Diabetes Awareness Month

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN?

IT’S NATIONAL DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH!

National Diabetes Awareness Month occurs every November.

People think that the injections are the worst part of Type One Diabetes.

It’s actually a very, very, very small thing.

But on that first day, the injection really was the worst part.

The kid was terrified.

A couple of hours later, the second time was terrifying too.

But he felt such relief with the insulin that it eased the fear of the shot.

When you give yourself so many injections every day, it quickly becomes the new normal.

Dark humor and sick jokes soon reigned in our house.

When the second son was diagnosed, the nurse tried to demonstrate the injection.

“I’ve got this,” he said boldly, having watched his brother for years.

He didn’t flinch when he gave himself that first shot.

Neither did I.

By that time, we were pros.

Type One Diabetes is a chronic illness, and there is no cure.

Diabetes is a 24/7 condition. There are no vacation days or sick days or time off.

It is a constant worry and struggle.

And it is very, very, very expensive.

Having said that, there are many Type One Diabetics who have achieved great things. Adam Duvall, centerfielder for the Braves, just won a World Series ring. Actress Mary Tyler Moore was T1D, as is Brandon Morrow (MLB pitcher), Nick Jonas (entertainer), and Anne Rice (novelist).

It’s understandable to feel angry and resentful and sorry for yourself.

It’s understandable, but it isn’t productive.

Be like Adam Duvall. Be a T1D champion.

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Diabetes

Diabetics Doing Things

Mostly True Memoirs

Diabetics doing things

ISN’T IT ALWAYS SO INSPIRATIONAL TO SEE DIABETICS DOING THINGS?

It’s World Series time.

My teams have all been eliminated.

Who will I root for?

I do love Jose Altuve.

But could I really support the Astros?

I don’t think so.

On the other hand, Atlanta has Adam Duvall in center field.

Duvall has Type One Diabetes.

He was diagnosed when he was in the minors.

He made the adjustments, and he has kept on playing.

What a badass diabetic!

I’m a Type One Mom, and I love to see diabetics doing things.

He’s a great role model for diabetic children everywhere.

I’m rooting for the Braves.

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Diabetes Family

I Love Them More Than Cookies

Mostly True Memoirs

I love them more than cookies

I LOVE THEM MORE THAN COOKIES

I made some cookies with Easter M&Ms.

It’s a tradition.

However, both Grown Sons are T1 diabetic.

We don’t need that much temptation.

I packed up half of the cookies into the freezer.

The Grown Sons were not amused.

They thought it was a practical joke.

It’s no joke.

I swear.

I love them more than cookies.

Which is saying a lot.

Because I really do love cookies.

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Diabetes Family

It Used To Be Our Guilty Pleasure

Mostly True Memoirs

It used to be our guilty pleasure

It used to be our guilty pleasure.

The Grown Sons and I used to love those soft, frosted sugar cookies from the grocery store.

I haven’t bought them in years, though.

Because diabetes.

Today I found some in a snack pack of two cookies.

A two-pack!!

Of course I bought it.

I was thrilled.

When I excitedly showed the boys my glorious two-cookie purchase, I was met with stark indifference.

“Whatever,” they grunted and shrugged.

I guess I will be indulging in our guilty pleasure all by myself.

Whatever, indeed.

Categories
Diabetes

A Fresh New Level of Hell

Mostly True Memoirs

A fresh new level of hell

A FRESH NEW LEVEL OF HELL

They don’t tell you, when your child is first diagnosed with type one diabetes, that the worst is yet to come.

When the boys were minors, I had the situation under control.

I was in charge.

I monitored the insulin, the blood sugar, the diet, the pharmacy, the insurance, the doctor appointments.

Now I need to hand over the reins.

“Don’t you have an endo appointment this week?” I asked the Grown Son.

“Don’t worry about it,” was the blow-off I received.

“But – ”

“I’ve got it covered. Stop treating me like a child.”

Well OK then.

A few days later he sheepishly confessed that he had missed his appointment.

He forgot all about it.

I told him that he would be responsible for the no-show fee.

I made him call the doctor’s office himself to apologize and to reschedule the visit.

“When is your new appointment?” I asked him.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got it covered,” he blustered.

And around we go.

I am completely unprepared for this fresh new level of diabetes-mom hell.

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Diabetes Family

I’ve Been Had

Mostly True Memoirs

I've been had

I’VE BEEN HAD

The Grown Son had an order ready at the pharmacy.

He begged me to go and pick it up.

He needs his diabetes supplies right away.

So I went.

However, I hit traffic.

There was a 20-minute stop for road work.

I was tempted to turn around and go home.

But he can’t wait for his insulin.

Eventually I made it to the pharmacy.

I hit the same 20-minute stop at the same intersection on the way home.

And then I got caught in train traffic.

For two trains.

When I told this to the Grown Son, he burst out laughing.

Apparently he knew about the road work.

That’s why he asked me to go on the pharmacy run.

I’ve been had.