So rewind to last week. I had noticed that Cadence was drinking water, lots and lots of water. Which, as parents, we think is a great thing, right? Except this was more than thirst quenching, this was almost bathtubs full, like she could never quench her thirst. It was then my motherly instincts kicked in and I started google searching excessive water drinking and article upon article had stated that excessive water drinking is a huge sign of Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes.
My dad and brother-in-law both have Type 2 so they have the blood glucose machines at their home. I couldn't get Cadence in my car fast enough to go and check her. It was hard trying to get her to prick her finger. The thought scares me as an adult, I can't imagine that of a 7 year old child, but she sucked it up, and sure enough the machine read high. My heart fell to the floor right there in my sisters house because I knew, even without an official diagnosis, what we were looking at.
At this point it was 8pm and all doctors offices were closed, so I called the after hours nurse at our pediatricians office and they told me to immediately go to the hospital ER and take a bag. Within 10 minutes of arrival, another finger prick, and a urine sample we had her diagnosis, Type 1 diabetes.
We were escorted up to the children hospital where we stayed for two days. We learned all about Cadence's new diagnosis, what causes it, how to manage it, what to expect, etc. We also learned that it is becoming more and more common here in the US. Over 200,000 people get diagnosed with it each year. When we were admitted, there had been a 17 year old, 10 year old and 18 month old all that day admitted for the same exact reason. Heck, there are three kids in Cadence's school who has it!
As a parent my first question was, life expectancy. Thank the Good Lord Cadence, as long as her diabetes is managed, can go on to live to be 100 years old. She can go on to be whatever she wants to be (except for a fighter pilot in the military - that's the only thing you can't be when you have T1D). I felt an immediate weight lifted off my shoulders. Although my dad has it, he has Type 2, which is where you watch what you eat, take a pill, and try to exercise. Type 1 is different because your body produces absolutely no insulin, so you have to take injections daily. Type 2 diabetes patients bodies can still product insulin, as long as they take care of themselves.
My second question was what other damage will this do to her other organs, and again, same answer. As long as we take care of her, and manage her insulin and diet, no other organs will be damaged. I know a guy who has T1D and is having some issues in other areas of his body because of it. This same man is also known for never checking his blood sugar and rarely taking his insulin injections. Catch my drift?
After our questions were answered, Tarl, Cadence and I went on a huge educational journey all about T1D. We met with doctors, nutritionists and diabetic counselors. We learned all about how to manage the lows (hypoglycemia) and the highs (hyperglycemia). We have to carb count, everything. You ate a carrot? Better carb count it! Just in case you were wondering, one carrot stick is one carb.
Sweet girl has to get her finger pricked before each meal and whenever she isn't feeling right (think tired, nauseas, dizzy, etc.) She also has to have 4 injections every day. Once after breakfast, lunch, dinner and the last before she goes to bed.
She has aced the sticks! She is no longer scared at all of the needle and she can now prick her own finger to check her blood glucose level. Leaps and bounds from how far she came last week when my sister first checked her. When you have no option but to be strong, you realize how strong you can truly be! Cadence has far superseded the strength of a 7 year old in my opinion. She's already back at school, playing and learning with all her friends. She's currently doing homework as I type this.
I know there will be scary days, especially when she gets sick. From everything I hear diabetes is very manageable, but when you get sick your body automatically gets higher levels from being ill, so you have to change your insulin dosage accordingly. We're most definitely dreading that first cold of the upcoming winter months, but I know we'll get past it.
When I first heard T1D all I could think was Steel Magnolias, the movie where Shelby dies in the end after having Jackson, her son, from it, but Bethany, our diabetic counselor, totally reassured me that the movie came out in the 80s and diabetes has come a long ways since then, a long ways! In fact, Bethany was diagnosed herself at age 5, she is now married, runs marathons for fun and is making major bank as a diabetic counselor for the children's hospital.
I also learned about several celebrities who have T1D. One of the Jonas brothers was diagnosed at age 13, a famous ballerina (I can't remember her name), Hallie Berry, Bret Michaels, Jay Cutler, even a USC Gamecock football player. Go Gamecocks!
Tarl and I were scared, hell, we still are, because this is new and something that is going to take months upon months to learn and perfect, but after being in the children's hospital for two days, we realized how blessed we are to come out with a manageable disease, some parents aren't as fortunate.
September has been one heck of a month. Cadence received this diagnosis 11 days after my mom passed away. I know the Lord only gives you what you can handle and apparently He thinks I can handle a lot in September :)
I know this is going to be a journey and we have a lot of learning to do, but I also know that the Lord has a plan for every single thing and this plan He has prepared for Cadence long before she was ever a thought in our head. Long before we were ever even married. Long before we ever even met. I cannot wait to see her succeed with this and I pray she grows to teach others all about it!
My dad and brother-in-law both have Type 2 so they have the blood glucose machines at their home. I couldn't get Cadence in my car fast enough to go and check her. It was hard trying to get her to prick her finger. The thought scares me as an adult, I can't imagine that of a 7 year old child, but she sucked it up, and sure enough the machine read high. My heart fell to the floor right there in my sisters house because I knew, even without an official diagnosis, what we were looking at.
At this point it was 8pm and all doctors offices were closed, so I called the after hours nurse at our pediatricians office and they told me to immediately go to the hospital ER and take a bag. Within 10 minutes of arrival, another finger prick, and a urine sample we had her diagnosis, Type 1 diabetes.
We were escorted up to the children hospital where we stayed for two days. We learned all about Cadence's new diagnosis, what causes it, how to manage it, what to expect, etc. We also learned that it is becoming more and more common here in the US. Over 200,000 people get diagnosed with it each year. When we were admitted, there had been a 17 year old, 10 year old and 18 month old all that day admitted for the same exact reason. Heck, there are three kids in Cadence's school who has it!
As a parent my first question was, life expectancy. Thank the Good Lord Cadence, as long as her diabetes is managed, can go on to live to be 100 years old. She can go on to be whatever she wants to be (except for a fighter pilot in the military - that's the only thing you can't be when you have T1D). I felt an immediate weight lifted off my shoulders. Although my dad has it, he has Type 2, which is where you watch what you eat, take a pill, and try to exercise. Type 1 is different because your body produces absolutely no insulin, so you have to take injections daily. Type 2 diabetes patients bodies can still product insulin, as long as they take care of themselves.
My second question was what other damage will this do to her other organs, and again, same answer. As long as we take care of her, and manage her insulin and diet, no other organs will be damaged. I know a guy who has T1D and is having some issues in other areas of his body because of it. This same man is also known for never checking his blood sugar and rarely taking his insulin injections. Catch my drift?
After our questions were answered, Tarl, Cadence and I went on a huge educational journey all about T1D. We met with doctors, nutritionists and diabetic counselors. We learned all about how to manage the lows (hypoglycemia) and the highs (hyperglycemia). We have to carb count, everything. You ate a carrot? Better carb count it! Just in case you were wondering, one carrot stick is one carb.
Sweet girl has to get her finger pricked before each meal and whenever she isn't feeling right (think tired, nauseas, dizzy, etc.) She also has to have 4 injections every day. Once after breakfast, lunch, dinner and the last before she goes to bed.
She has aced the sticks! She is no longer scared at all of the needle and she can now prick her own finger to check her blood glucose level. Leaps and bounds from how far she came last week when my sister first checked her. When you have no option but to be strong, you realize how strong you can truly be! Cadence has far superseded the strength of a 7 year old in my opinion. She's already back at school, playing and learning with all her friends. She's currently doing homework as I type this.
I know there will be scary days, especially when she gets sick. From everything I hear diabetes is very manageable, but when you get sick your body automatically gets higher levels from being ill, so you have to change your insulin dosage accordingly. We're most definitely dreading that first cold of the upcoming winter months, but I know we'll get past it.
When I first heard T1D all I could think was Steel Magnolias, the movie where Shelby dies in the end after having Jackson, her son, from it, but Bethany, our diabetic counselor, totally reassured me that the movie came out in the 80s and diabetes has come a long ways since then, a long ways! In fact, Bethany was diagnosed herself at age 5, she is now married, runs marathons for fun and is making major bank as a diabetic counselor for the children's hospital.
I also learned about several celebrities who have T1D. One of the Jonas brothers was diagnosed at age 13, a famous ballerina (I can't remember her name), Hallie Berry, Bret Michaels, Jay Cutler, even a USC Gamecock football player. Go Gamecocks!
Tarl and I were scared, hell, we still are, because this is new and something that is going to take months upon months to learn and perfect, but after being in the children's hospital for two days, we realized how blessed we are to come out with a manageable disease, some parents aren't as fortunate.
September has been one heck of a month. Cadence received this diagnosis 11 days after my mom passed away. I know the Lord only gives you what you can handle and apparently He thinks I can handle a lot in September :)
I know this is going to be a journey and we have a lot of learning to do, but I also know that the Lord has a plan for every single thing and this plan He has prepared for Cadence long before she was ever a thought in our head. Long before we were ever even married. Long before we ever even met. I cannot wait to see her succeed with this and I pray she grows to teach others all about it!
Thinking of you! I am amazed at her resilience. She is brave! Good job mama! I know this is hard, but as you said, manageable.
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