Parents

Outside the Bubble.

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“Diabetes! Diabetes! This way!”

The lady behind the counter was shouting and gesturing wildly as I entered the rec centre for an evening on exercise and nutrition put together by my fellow Young Adult Diabetes Committee members.

The YADC came to life a year ago and has since grown into a vibrant community of young adults living with diabetes, who are predominantly type 1s. As I found myself explaining to someone in attendance that night, this group really came about to fulfil a need that was currently missing in the Perth community.

As I took a seat and the evening’s proceedings kicked off, I found myself mentally nodding as I heard concepts being explained by our guest speakers that I was all too familiar with.

I looked around the room, glancing at some of the other people with diabetes and their loved ones in attendance. I observed many of them listening attentively, taking in all of the information they were hearing or jotting it down in note form. My own two parents were sitting behind me, and I wondered how easy this information was for them to take in.

They know the concepts behind managing type 1 diabetes quite well. At home, I find myself talking a lot about some of the exciting developments I read about in the DOC, my advocacy activities and diabetes related travel.

However, I’ve always been very independent in the physical management of my condition. I don’t bother them with all the nitty gritty stuff, like trying to figure out the best time to bolus for a high fat high protein pub dinner when my blood sugar is x mmol.

The evening broke off into group sessions, where I found myself chatting with some of my fellow type 1s in the room. It was nice (but also saddening) to hear other experiences in public hospital diabetes care that mirrored mine, while there were also some inquisitive questions asked of the pumpers and CGM users.

I departed this event with a far greater insight from all of the different perspectives I had heard and observed in the room during the course of the evening, and all of the different motivations for attending.

During our committtee meetings, good ideas simply seem to pop among this very bright group of YADC members. I spend my spare time trawling social media, squealing with excitement over the latest device or venting my frustration over the latest coverage of diabetes in the media. I get to catch up with people in the industry and other diabetes bloggers when I’ve received opportunities to travel, who are people just like me.

This event, however, had finally brought me outside of the diabetes bubble that I so often find myself sitting in. I just need to figure out how I can spend some more time here.

In Conversation With a Type 1 Mum

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Mum and I had a rather interesting conversation with a type 1 Mum at the insulin pump information evening that we attended last week.

I’m always drawn to stories of type 1 parents and younger children. I was diagnosed at the age of 17, where I was able to manage my diabetes independently most of the time. My parents didn’t have such a “hands on” role as they may have if I was diagnosed at a younger age. I guess, overall, we would both have completely different experiences in diabetes management.

Type 1 Mum was at the insulin pump evening for her 9 year old daughter, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 4. She was also interested in a Continuous Glucose Monitor, as her young daughter would often neglect to test her blood glucose levels at school or fib about the numbers. Obviously at such a young age, her daughter does not fully realise the importance of why she has to test her blood glucose.

At school, her daughter had a close group of friends who all knew about her diabetes. This year, however, has proven more challenging with class groups being swapped around. The children will often share food at lunchtime, without fully understanding the implications of her daughter eating something like a lollipop. The school also has an aid in the classroom to help with blood glucose tests and insulin injections. However since turning 9, she is expected to be able to manage diabetes on her own at school. She is lucky, however, that the aids there for other children will also check on her at lunchtime.

Out of my own curiosity, I asked Type 1 Mum whether she regularly checks her daughter’s blood glucose levels during the night. She told me that she would normally test once during the night, at around 1am. Her daughter would normally sleep through the nightly blood glucose tests. If the result showed up low, they would “sleep-feed” her glucose tabs and juice boxes.

She also asked me about if I test through the night, being an older person. I told her that, obviously, for myself, I am very motivated to check my blood glucose levels. The decision to test during the night would come down to how confident I am that my BGL will remain stable. If I eat junk food in the late afternoon, I know that the fat will send my BGLs up after I go to bed. But there are other days where I have eaten well, and I am confident I will remain stable.

It was great chatting with you, Type 1 Mum. Best of luck with the decision you choose to make.

A cracking walk on a cracking #DOCtober Friday.

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My Dad on the Day of My Diagnosis

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Where would I be without my Dad? He was always my protection growing up. When I was four, he would sit beside my bed every night because I was scared of the dark. When I woke up sick in the middle of the night, I would run across the hallway calling out for him. And when I’m miserable and talking negatively about anything, he’ll be the first to tell me to stop talking rubbish.

Dad was the one who drove me to hospital on the day of my diagnosis five years ago. I was sitting in the car fazed, panting, nauseated and thirsty. My pulse was beating ever so rapidly, and I had no idea what was happening to me. I was sitting there, next to him, with no honest idea whether I would survive the car trip there. But I knew that I could rely on him to get me there, and get me through it.

Dad was there by my side as I was helped onto a bed in the emergency room, and almost certainly diagnosed with diabetes the minute I lay down. My fazed self had heard the word diabetes, and I was devastated. I thought that it was my fault. I was terrified at the thought of needles. And I can even remember asking Dad if they were sure that it was diabetes and not something else. Reassuringly, Dad told me that the doctors had said that I would still be able to live a normal and healthy life.

One thing me and my Dad share in common is that we have both been through life threatening conditions during our lives (admittedly his was bigger than mine). And today, we are both dependent on prescription medication for the rest of our lives because of it (mine being insulin, his being something completely different). We usually go to the Chemist to get our prescriptions filled together. While we are waiting, he usually points to things like jellybeans to remind me if I need any. It’s one of those annoying Dad things that he loves to do, even at home, but I appreciate it anyway.

Being diagnosed at the age of 17, my Dad hasn’t had the diabetes duties that many other d-parents face. But he did perform a big diabetes duty that day in helping to save my life. He got me through that day. And I am still here today, writing this story because of it.

Happy belated Fathers Day, Dad. And Happy Fathers Day to all the other Dads and d-parents in Australia for yesterday.