Categories
Diabetes

A Fresh New Level of Hell

A Fresh New Level

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.

Categories
Diabetes Family

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.

Categories
Diabetes

The Glory of Watermelon

The Glory of Watermelon

We had watermelon recently.

If you don’t have diabetes, you won’t understand the glory of watermelon.

It is a super high-carb fruit, so we hardly ever eat it.

It’s a rare treat.

I only bought a little slab.

I didn’t buy the whole melon.

Because we would have eaten it all.

And it’s really, really, really not good for us.

But oh, it was delicious.

I will dream about that watermelon all summer.

While I’m not eating watermelon.

Categories
Diabetes Family

Quarantined With a Type One Diabetic

Quarantined with a Type One Diabetic

The nice thing about being quarantined with a type one diabetic is that I can’t stress bake.

T1D has saved me from gaining tons of weight during this quarantine.

I’ve been stress reading instead.

Reading is 100% carb-free.

Who knew that type one diabetes could come in so handy?

Categories
Diabetes

April Fools

April Fools

April Fools!

There’s nothing like a 4:00 am hypo on April Fools’ Day.

I got up with the Grown Son and helped him raise his numbers.

He went back to bed.

I can never sleep after one of those middle-of-the-night scares.

I put up some coffee and began to unpeel his fruit stickers from all over the kitchen.

There’s nothing like a disturbing diabetes episode to put the fruit sticker flinging into perspective.

I guess I’m going to need a new Inciting Incident.

Categories
Diabetes

Type One Diabetes

Type One Diabetes

Both of the Grown Sons have type one diabetes.
They are at high risk for coronavirus.
Of course I am worried.
One of them has come home to endure his social isolation with us.
He’s been working remotely.
Cabin fever has set in because he hasn’t left his apartment in ages.
It looks like he’s going to stay with us for awhile.
He brought some food from his place.
This makes me very happy.
Not that we need the supplies.
But it shows me that he shops.
And keeps fresh food in his apartment.
If only he had brought some toilet paper.

Categories
Diabetes

I Am Worried About Coronavirus

Worried

I am worried about coronavirus.

Both of the Grown Sons have type one diabetes.

With a compromised immune system, they are at high risk.

I discussed precautionary flu measures with them.

They both assured me that they have been methodically licking all public surfaces.

Yep, I’ve raised a couple of smarta$$es.

Oddly, that gives me a great measure of comfort.

They’re going to be OK.

Categories
Diabetes

Time Suck

Time Suck

The thing they never tell you about diabetes is what a time suck it is.

The day is half done, and I haven’t gotten a darn thing accomplished.

You not only have to manage the medical end of it, you also have to manage the business end of it.

And lucky me – I’ve got twice the fun with two diabetic kids.

You can’t opt out.

You can’t end the call.

You can’t take your business elsewhere.

Well you can, but only with prior insurance authorization.

And good luck with that.

It’s going to be one of those days.

I think I’m going to need a burrito to get me through this.

How many carbs is that?

Categories
Diabetes

Peace at Last

Peace at Last

Yeah, it’s true.

The week between Christmas and New Years is an existential void.

What time is it?

What day is it?

When was the last time I changed out of my pajamas?

But you don’t really experience a true existential void unless you have a diabetic in the family.

Or even two diabetics.

Who are both running post-holiday high blood sugars.

And are very cranky.

I solved this problem by telling them that it’s time to clean house.

They both disappeared.

One of them locked himself in one bedroom to watch the Simpsons marathon.

The other one locked himself in another bedroom to watch Bowl games.

Peace at last…

Categories
Diabetes

Insulin Pump Technology

Insulin Pump Technology

The newest insulin pump technology is amazing.

And frustrating.

And a little scary.

And very expensive.

But mostly amazing.