Tug-Of-War

I've tightened my control of all things diabetes.  No more unnecessary snacks.  Super strict carb counting.  Even more blood sugar tests.  Madeline's A1C test is in 3 weeks (this is where I run around in circles waving my hands in the air all crazy like).  Even with all my extra hard work, I'm still playing tug-of-war with diabetes.  Diabetes plays really rough.  

We have been playing this game for 3 months since her last A1C test.

Some days I really get my feet good and stuck in the ground and give that rope a good hard pull.  Other days, I can feel the burn of the rope as it's being pulled out of my slipping hands.  I absolutely refuse to let go.  I want the win baby.  I want a great A1C number.

After one serious hard core tug-of-war game, I decided to hit the shower.  Madeline in the meantime, went to the fridge, grabbed herself a nice chocolaty 16 carb pudding cup, and proceeded to eat the whole thing.  She threw the empty pudding cup in the garbage, placed her spoon in the sink and even wiped her hands and mouth.  Such good manners.  She proudly skipped up to the shower door and let me know, that for the first time ever, she took care of snack time by herself.

Not only did I lose all control of my rope, I was pulled face down in the dirt for about a mile, listening to diabetes evil laugh.  And I was naked.

With some serious explaining to Madeline that I love that she is such a big girl, but please, please, puh-leeeease, do not handle snack time alone, I have regained my grip on the rope.

And if for some reason, Madeline my love, you decide to do a chocolaty carb over-load again, make sure mommy has clothes on.

Appreciate it.

















                        

Happiest Place on Earth

After Madeline's stressful diabetes debut last year, we decided it was time for a fun family vacation this summer. Not just a 2 or 3 day getaway as we had for the last umpteen years, but an actual, what other people do, one week vacation.  Destination, Florida.  Considering I did not want to be more stressed on vacation than I am at home, we decided a few days at Disney, and a few days at Cocoa Beach.  My sister and her family would be joining  us.  Sweeeet.  We left for the happiest place on earth August 21.

Prior to our Florida journey, I had researched what other families had experienced with their diabetic children in Disney.   I was warned  to not be surprised to see high blood sugar numbers due to excitement, food and time changes.  So imagine our surprise when Rick did a quick blood sugar check on Madeline about 45 minutes into our flight and saw 40.  What the what?  That was not in my imaginary diabetic travel manual.  After some food and beverage, she was back on track. 
What a Goofy start to our trip.

From the first finger prick on the plane, to every "I'm just gonna test to be sure", we dealt with low blood sugar numbers the entire Disney experience.  Madeline never showed us any signs (so scary), but there was that low number.  Madeline was in junk food heaven every time we had to treat a low.  The good news?  Her average blood sugar numbers were almost the same as a person without diabetes.  Yep, happiest place on earth.


Note to self:  next Disney trip, pack lots of extra snacks to treat lows.  $4.00 bottle of some crazy exotic juice, or the small $5.00 Goldfish in the shape of Mickey Mouse will not happen again. 

By the time we headed to Cocoa Beach, I was hoping Madeline's numbers would fall back into their familiar pattern.  No such luck.  Apparently for my little 3 year old, the ocean, and sand as far as the eye can see, create low blood sugars as well.  At least this time there was a Walgreen's (one on every corner, except in Disney) to gather our much needed low blood sugar snacks.

After 8 days of our fun family vacation, it was time to leave.  The kids were very sad to say goodbye to the ocean and sand.  I was very sad to say goodbye to the " almost not diabetic" blood sugar numbers.  Not quite two days after getting home,  Madeline's blood sugar numbers shot up into the 300's.  Welcome home diabetes.

After 2 weeks of crazy, bouncing numbers,  Madeline's blood sugars are back in her safe range. 

Madeline, on the other hand, has now decided she prefers to live on the edge.

Why am I not surprised?

Better hang on tight for the ride diabetes.  Madeline won't be slowing down for you.

Dude.