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I accompanied my daughter to a playdate with a kindy friend. Sweet. The 'friends' mother ran into one of her friends. We were introduced and she was invited to stay. This lady asked me questions and said things about diabetes that challenged me. Challenged me not to yell at her. In a previous blog I mentioned how talking about it, telling people, educating people is where Im at. I dont cry anymore..but I may out of frustration.
What on earth did you feed him?
I had started to answer, he was a baby. He predominantly breastfed, but had some finger foods and puree fruits and veges.
Then, the penny.dropped.com.
Suddenly I saw where it was a going - a wicked winding path leading me all the way to self guilt and blame. [Which btw I never bought and never will]. Was she trying in all her splendid maternal superiority to be sure she wasnt such a bad mother and caused her child to 'catch' type 1 diabetes through too much sugar.
Duh. The public needs more education, dude.
Yup I pinned him down and jammed copious sugar into him at 8 months. Yup thats it, you got it. Clearly she didnt know that type 1 diabetes isnt a lifestyle disease like type 2. I tried to say simply that food has nothing to do with it until the diagnosis and managing the disease.
As for the amputated legs/Dad died at the driving wheel while hypoglycaemic/cousin went blind I zoned out. For her safety.
Long story short, its just a thrilling part of the rollercoaster that is diabetes in our toddler.
I was just chit chatting with my husband about a comment someone said to me today. It's hard to bite my tongue sometimes, but the alternative is not always so nice. Your right, it is for their safety.
ReplyDeleteSorry you had to put up with this person!! Some people are sooo clueless. I hope Reuben's lows go away soon..It was good to hear from you :)
ReplyDeleteOh, the numerous twists and turns of diabetes an a toddler...we are so with you over here too...it is tiring and scary for sure! Know that you are not alone and are being thought of this night as you try and navigate those lows.
ReplyDeleteOy...
ReplyDeleteI just heard that too about Levimir JUST NOW being approved for kids 2-5 years of age...my son was diagnosed at 3 and has been on Levimir since the day of diagnosis...what the heck! Its been working great for him, so I don't really care about the new "approval" so much, but its so odd! Good luck with those night time lows :(
ReplyDeletefirst off, LOVE the dots!
ReplyDeletesecondly...I totally would have helped you beat the crap outta that mom!! UGH! Hate it when people are THAT insensitive.
Bean went through a time when her night basal was almost nonexistent. Just another one of those D things that you just have to roll with. FUN!! *not*
Hiya Jules,
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog cos I hate diabetes today, and I needed to find someone who was dealing. And despite your rollercoaster, sounds like you are. Tough, not tears. Nice work. I am SO tired of those 'did you put her to bed with a bottle of Coke?' people. Yes. I did. See? Look - no teeth in their poor little heads.
My little one is 4, so a little easier, but she's only 5 months in from diagnosis so I'm ready to throw a mega tantrum. I want to say it's on her behalf, but selfishly, right now, I am SICK of diabetes, and tired, and fed up with weighing food, and terrified that I feel like this after only 5 months.
We started pumping last month, and she has mega lows too - unexpected and terrifying.
Anyway - thanks for the dots that brightened my day (and for giving me a place to dump - SORRY!)
May you have a sleep-filled night tonight! :)
What were you feeding him? At eight months? Seriously? I would explain if I felt like it, but I don't think most people would think you had anything to do with a child so young getting Type 1. Parents of children diagnosed when older are very familiar with this type of query, though. It used to infuriate me when my 8 year old was literally the thinnest child in the class by far since preschool and a very picky eater and a similar comment would be made by parents whose children were twice the size of mine. Educate or give a sarcastic crack, your preference. Our DD tucks the pump into the waistband of her pants so that it is invisible and goes about her day. She gets tired of educating and getting challenged so only her close friends know she has diabetes. You don't owe anybody an explanation.
ReplyDeleteAhhh Jules, I sometimes wish we lived in the cartoons where you could just "POW" somebody in the noggin' and move on. You did so well just zoning out, sometimes it is way too much to educate all the masses for one person ;) As for the hypos, we have some times where it seems like the insulin is more concentrated, and nothing at all keeps his BG above 50 - then bam, things go back to normal needs for insulin. I think this is one of the more difficult parts of diabetes. Glad that you guys are doing so well though, I think of you and your beautiful boy often and hope you know that you're never alone in any of it:)
ReplyDeleteUgghh....I don't understand why people feel the need to share such scary stories! You are doing a great job Mom! My daughter is on lantus and drops a lot at night too. We give it to her twice a day...morning and dinner. We correct much less at bedtime and overnight than we do during the day. Seems all the activity sometimes catches up with her in the night too.
ReplyDelete