Worried your child is too lean for an insulin pump or CGM
I saw this picture on four time Olympian Kris Freeman's twitter feed this weekend and smiled. It instantly caused me to remember the days that I spent worrying that Arden was too lean to wear an OmniPod insulin pump and Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
Apparently, that was time that I could have spent on other concerns...
Photo by Kris Freeman. Used with permission. Also pictured, Kikkan Randall.
I met Kris last year at the Lilly Diabetes blogger summit so I sent him an email to ask if I could use his picture on Arden's Day. I told him that I wanted to illustrate to all of the concerned parents that their children aren't too lean to wear these devices. I've admittedly had that concern in the past, and it is one of the most often asked question when I hear from parents like you.
In my opinion Kris's body is an extreme example and thus why I wanted to show you his picture. Being lean doesn't mean that a person can't use an insulin pump or CGM, even if that person has almost no body fat. Kris told me that he can hit a muscle because of how lean he is, but that it is, "worth it" to be able to use the devices. It is my finding that Arden has plenty of body fat even at just over fifty pounds and in five years we've never hit a muscle.
My child is so active, I'm worried that a pump will get in the way.
The other concern that I hear most from parents who are considering an insulin pump or CGM, that their child plays a competitive sport and they worry that the devices will be an impediment. If you've ever had that concern, please take a look at this next picture from Kris's Twitter feed... Be sure to read the caption to put that concern out of your mind.
"Went for a 21 mile trail run..."
Kris is competing in Sochi with an insulin pump and a CGM, I watched his first event yesterday and it's safe to say that he is an inspiration to any person who lives with type I diabetes. Watching Kris ski makes me even more certain that Arden will be able to reach for whatever dream she can imagine. Knowing that he endures such physical rigors while managing his BGs is a great comfort to me, and I hope to all of you.
I'll be speaking with Kris again soon and reporting back. In the meantime here's a list of his remaining events in Sochi.
Good luck Kris, we are all cheering for you... I'm off to do a sit up.
FDA approves pediatric use of Dexcom’s G4 Platinum continuous glucose monitoring system
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the expanded use of the Dexcom G4 Platinum Continuous Monitoring System for patients with diabetes ages 2 to 17 years.”
“We are thrilled with the FDA’s approval of our Dexcom G4 PLATINUM System in the pediatric population. Daily management is relentless, and parents can now have greater peace of mind that a child’s diabetes is under control, whether the child is at home, away at school, or participating in activities or sports.”
Update: via email from DexCom: 2-4-14
The G4 PLATINUM (Pediatric) receiver works with the existing G4 PLATINUM sensor and transmitter. No need to order different sensors or transmitters. The components of the receiver are the same. It has the same settings, alerts and it calculates and displays your sensor glucose readings the same way as the receiver you have now. The Dexcom G4 PLATINUM (Pediatric) Receiver has two additional screens at the ‘Start Sensor’ and ‘Low Alert’ Menu options. These screens are reminders that you should use your blood glucose meter for any treatment decisions and not rely on CGM only to detect hypoglycemia.
Links
Helping Children With Diabetes Gain Independence
Part 5: Taking It One Moment at a Time
The word independence literally means, “Freedom from outside control or support.” But when we use it to describe a child who lives with type 1 diabetes, the word takes on a much deeper meaning.
I wanted to say, “Children struggle,” but in all honesty, all people struggle to be themselves every day. We are influenced by so many outside pressures that I often wonder if any of us are really being who we are. On any given day I can feel too short, too fat, too old or just not smart enough. I worry that my affections won’t be reciprocated, that I am not being a good parent, husband and son. In the past, my concern about loved ones’ reactions have stopped me from telling them how I truly feel. Yet if you asked me to describe myself and the level of independence that I felt during that time in my life, I would have told you that I was not bothered by what other people thought of me, that I didn’t feel the pressure – but of course I did.
As I sit here and write to you, I realize that I felt all of those things when I was younger and I wasn’t wearing an insulin pump or a continuous glucose monitor. I didn’t have to stop and check my blood glucose all day, people never felt obliged to tell me what to eat and I never once thought that I may pass out from not paying attention to my moment-to-moment health. Young Scott was living a pretty easy life, and yet he still felt the proverbial weight of the world.
So how the heck are we going to teach our children with diabetes to feel independent? I think the answer to that question is, one moment at a time.
I could have written a series of blog posts about helping children with diabetes gain independence through any number of experiences. I believe that people, young and old, have potential and that all they need is patient loving people to surround them with quiet strength and support. Sure, sometimes it feels good to be told that someone has your back, but often it feels better to just know. Then when life happens, alone or together, we have the inner strength to shoulder what’s coming our way. In time, with maturity and practice, we begin to believe in ourselves the way that our loved ones believe in us.
So does technology help to build independence for children with type 1 diabetes? Absolutely it does! Does it do it overnight or over the course of a single year? No. Independence is a form of maturity and the process towards becoming a fully realized person is a long one. That kind of firm base is built one experience at a time and not every step taken is a step in the correct direction. Each blood glucose check in public will build confidence. Every low blood glucose conquered is a step in the right direction. There will be moments that don’t go as planned, but don’t think of them as failures, think of them as perspective for the successes. You can’t appreciate success without knowing failure, at least not to the degree that it requires to build maturity, and none of this can happen if we are being sheltered. I know as well as you do that having a child with type 1 diabetes is different and at times scary. That’s why I added technology to our daily routine; so I could give Arden the personal space that she needs to grow while protecting, as best as the situation allows, her health and safety.
This post is part of a six part series that I originally wrote for the Suite D Blog, which is operated by Insulet. Insulet is the company responsible for Arden's insulin pump, the Omnipod. Please know that I was compensated for my writing in an amount that would be considered standard for freelance blogging. My family pays for Arden's Omnipods with insurance and out of pocket cash. My writing for Insulet has no impact on my opinions or the information that I share here or anywhere online.
Dblog: Best of Arden's Day 2013
These are just some of my favorite blog pieces from 2013. Please let me know if I missed yours, and I'll add it to this list along with any words about the post that you have to share. I want to wish you all a safe and Happy New Year...
New blog posts will begin to arrive in early January. Be well! Scott
The Diabetic Problem - A poem by Arden
I'll Have Two Eggs Poached, Toast and a Scoop of Maturity - Arden decides that she wants a lower A1c
Hoping vs Living - Talking honestly about a cure
What Lies Beyond My Understanding - The fight to figure out insulin
Sesame Chicken you Motherless $%&^@ - The best laid schemes of mice and men
Softball Aristotle - Arden gets thoughtful
Holy @#%&*$% A1C - Celebrate
Number Thirty Seven - A scary low at the worst time
Arden's Hands are Growing - Something good has to come from all of this
The day I made Katie Couric laugh - Exciting day in an exciting year
When things go wrong, they go wrong - The title tells the tale
Helping Children with Diabetes Gain Independence Part 1 - Proud of this series
Dear Teacher: The DX - It needs to be said
Little People, Big Problems - Kids feel just like we do
What do you want to tell diabetes? - The one where you all cursed
Small World - Feel good
Fifteen-Year-Old type I told, "We are not a hospital or charity" - This is why we educate
49er
It's Monday night, I'm up late working on the website and watching Monday Night Football. Not long after the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons, I heard Arden's CGM wailing away. Four beeps, not good.
This is what I found... Coincidence?
I'm interested to see how the juice box that she drank will effect this number. Her lows have been stubborn lately. Hoping to get to bed around 1:30 am. Happy Christmas Eve!
