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
2013 in Pictures
2013 was a good one around here. New diabetes technology, improved A1c, and what seemed like non-stop interviews and talking about my book.
I want my family to know how much I appreciate the support and patience that they showed me as 'Life Is Short' consumed my year, this blog, and my life. I don't think that I've ever felt more blessed than I did on the day I realized that becoming a published author caused my children consider that anything in life is possible. This accomplishment wasn't reached alone.
First, my family let me write without guilt or pressure - I can't thank them enough for being so generous. Speaking of generosity, no publishing company in the world was going to ask me write a book without each and every one of you. Make no mistake, it is the support that you show everyday when you visit Arden's Day, that made my book a reality. Please know that I am completely aware of, and two million percent grateful for your continued readership.
In a few days I'll be posting a list of my favorite blog post from 2013 and then I'll be diving back into my second book (The one that Spry Publishing is very kindly not calling to tell me that I'm behind on). After I finish writing the book, I'll be getting back to blogging regularly here and even expanded my online writing a bit... look for my parenting column on Huffington Post sometime very soon... I'm so excited about being asked to contribute to HuffParents!
I'm looking forward to 2014, may it be the best one yet... for us all!
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!
Follow up. The juice box brought Arden's BG to 102 by 1:00 am. This morning she woke to a finger stick of 137. She's spending the day with Kelly at work while I finish some super secret Christmas stuff.
Helping Children with Diabetes Gain Independence
This is part four of my six part series on helping children with diabetes to gain independence. I wrote this series for the makers of OmniPod, they are running it on their blog called, Suite D. If you missed them you can read the first three parts on Arden's Day here or on Insulet's site.
Part five, 'Taking it one moment at a time', is live today only on Suite D.
Part 4: Diabetes Management Plan
I began part one of this series by talking about technology and how it aids my family every day while we manage our daughter Arden’s type 1 diabetes. In part two, I spoke about the health and educational issues that lead me to want to do things differently. In part three, I jumped to the end of the story by sharing proof of my changes in the form of a much lower A1C and the elimination of missed class time. Today, I’d like to talk about the nuts and bolts of Arden’s diabetes management plan. It’s super simple…yet amazingly effective!
I’ll begin in the early morning because starting the day with a manageable blood glucose number gives you a reasonable chance of getting the rest of the day to follow suit. I like to check Arden’s blood glucose about an hour before her alarm is set to go off so that I can knock a high blood glucose or try to adjust a lower number with a temp basal. We test when Arden rises and pre-bolus for breakfast. The timing of the breakfast bolus is planned so that no more than two hours goes by before our next blood glucose look-in at 9:30 AM.
In between the breakfast bolus and 9:30 AM, Arden will text me if her CGM indicates that her blood glucose has gone below our low limit, above our high limit or shows arrows that indicate a fast rise or fall in her blood glucose. Most days, however, I don’t hear from her until the 9:30 AM pre-snack look-in. Both of our phones are programmed with matching alarms to remind us of CGM checks, pre-bolus needs, blood glucose testing and activities, such as gym class. The alarms are a back-up, as there are times that we both need reminding.
Arden’s text will arrive as simply as this: 140 >.
Depending on the situation I may say something like, “15 carbs,” “test” or “juice.” Arden responds in a few moments with the suggested bolus, a blood glucose reading from a finger stick or a suggestion for a different source of carbs. Our conversations generally last less than two minutes.
The next alarm sounds 15 minutes before lunch and we always test. I like, when the situation allows, to have Arden pre-bolus lunch unless her blood glucose is borderline. When that happens I have her bolus some of the lunch carbs early and then we do the rest when she is seated in the cafeteria. Arden’s 504 plan allows her to leave for lunch five minutes early everyday so that she can settle in and communicate with me prior to the insanity that surrounds the children piling into the cafeteria. We normally speak to each other at this look-in because there is a lot more going on surrounding a meal than during a simple CGM check or test and bolus. Our 504 plan also allows for us to call each other whenever we need, at any time of the day.
Two hours later, we take a look at the CGM. Too much lunch insulin? Not enough? This is a great time to find out and the check gets us ready for the bus ride that’s coming in a couple of hours.
Handling Low Blood Glucose Readings at School
At this point you are wondering how we handle low blood glucose levels, am I correct?
We have a stash of juice boxes, pre counted snacks and water in Arden’s classroom. Additionally, Arden carries herOmniPod PDM, CGM, lancing device, test strips, fast-acting glucose and a juice with her in a small purse. The combination of well-timed look-ins and our reminder alarms stave off most unexpected lows, but they still happen. Last week Arden’s blood glucose was falling fast during gym class. I received the following text…
“61 arrow down”
I replied, “juice then test.”
This is the moment when you have to trust the system because you have to wait for a minute or two to allow time for drinking and re-testing. It can be nerve-wracking…I won’t lie.
Arden: “Juice in.”
Me: “Dizzy?”
Arden: “No, I want to go back to gym.”
Me: “Calling.”
We spoke on the phone and Arden told me that her CGM arrow was already turning back up, she did not feel dizzy and reiterated that she wanted to go back to the activity.
As much as moments like these can scare me, most of the fear that I’m feeling is really Arden gaining independence, and of course, me giving away control. But isn’t that what I want and is there really a better way for her to learn?
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.
My new Diabetes Daily interview
When the multitalented and overwhelmingly delightful Ginger Vieira asks you to sit down with her and talk about diabetes, you clear your calendar.
Check out my interview that just went live on Diabetes Daily. It's centered on raising a child with type 1 diabetes and a few of the changes that I hope to see one day in health care, including a magic helmet that lets my wife and I go to a movie.