Only 97

I did it. I let my thoughts go there. I assumed the worst because, hey, what reason do I have not to let my thoughts go in that direction?

I tested my (almost) 2 year old daughter's blood sugar, due to a quickly filled diaper.

Being diabetic has ruined my thoughts. Where most parents would say, "Hey. She has had a lot to drink today because of dehydrating meds and stubbornness of eating the solid foods placed in front of her, leading to a quicker emptying bladder.", I think "Omg. Omg. She's chugging liquid. A sign she has diabetes too! Her diaper has filled too too quickly. Frequent urination? Another sign! Omg. My baby has diabetes." Why must stupid diabetes force my mind into immediate assumptions?

So I did all I know to do (other than worry). I got out my blood sugar tester and pricked her tiny, unblemished fingertip. I squeezed out a drop of blood and put it on the strip, as she said "Ouch, mommy! Sugar, mommy? Ouch!" I waited that long agonizing 5 seconds for a result to pop up on the screen.

And I prayed.

I prayed that she wouldn't have diabetes this young. I prayed that she wouldn't ever have to understand first hand what I have to understand... to live. I prayed that the number that popped up on that screen would at least be between 90-120. I prayed. Oh, God. I prayed.

97. Her blood sugar (an after dinner one, at that) was only 97. Perfect. Not the extreme, telling high number I was fearing. Her drinking? Just because she was thirsty. Huh. Imagine that. Drinking to quench a normal thirst only and not to quench a high blood sugar induced thirst (yes. They are different.). And a wet diaper because she just had a lot to drink because of that previously mentioned normal thirst.

Not diabetes. Not my baby. Not this time.

Though this was the first time I've felt the need to act on these thoughts, I'm sure it won't be the last.

Damn you, diabetes.  We need a cure.

Be Happy Challenge: Something I'm Proud Of

Already wrapped around our fingers before she even left the hospital

Despite the odds, despite my history, I have a beautiful HEALTHY baby girl. That's something to be pretty damn proud about.

Be Happy Challenge: Goal I'm Working Towards

I'm currently working on keeping a lower a1c so i can have a healthy pregnancy (preferably sooner than later).

30 Days of Thankfulness- Day 21

I am thankful for a wonderful, understanding endocrinologist. Thanks for not scolding me about any minor thing and leading me in the direction I need to be going, Dr. W.

30 Days of Thankfulness- Day 5

I am thankful for the research of Banting and Best and the Insulin they discovered.

National Diabetes Month

Most people don't know (or don't care) that November is National Diabetes Month, November 14 is World Diabetes Day (and my anniversary!) and November 1st is Type 1 Diabetes Day (my type of diabetes). This month, JDRF is hosting Be T1D for a Day*.

Personally, I think everyone should sign up for it. Even I plan on signing up and I already live with type 1 every day. You will receive (up to) 24 texts within 24 hours to simulate what it's like to live with type 1 diabetes. The texts will include (simulated) blood sugar testing, giving insulin and diet related choices.

This will give you a glimpse into what I have to deal with EVERY DAY. If the texts annoy you, just think about everyone with type 1 who can't 'silence' their diabetes without major complications (which may include death). Type 2 and gestational diabetes do not compare to type 1. Give it a try and see how you feel and, when you do, multiply your feelings by 1440 (minutes in a day).  When you get that overwhelming feeling, multiply it by 365 (days in the year). Then realize that it is like that every single day for us until there is a cure.

And Insulin isn't a cure.


*Free. Texting fees may apply if that's how your cell plan works.

Diabetes didn't keep me from being a mother, but it's keeping me from being the mother I want to be. I know I'm not alone, but I still feel so isolated with it.

I hate diabetes.

Oh Selah baby

From the famous Six Until Me's blog:

 I want her to know that she was wanted so much, well before she arrived, and that her parents went to great lengths to make sure her arrival was as safe as they could manage.

I want her to know that those moments when she has to wait while I test or while I bolus or the times when I have to set her in her crib and gulp down grape juice while she stands there, her big eyes staring at me while her mouth tugs into an impatient smile, that I love her and I just need to deal with diabetes for a few seconds so I can be the best mommy I can.

I want her to know that if my eyes don't get better, it's not her fault.  It's not my fault, either.  The fault lies with diabetes.

I want her to know that the reason I'll sometimes frown at a soggy diaper or a voracious pull from the bottle isn't because she's being "bad" or doing something wrong, but because I'm worrying.

I want her to know that just because I have it, and because some of her best buddies have it, doesn't mean that she will have it.  But I also want her to know that if a diagnosis of any kind ever touches her life, we'll manage just fine and take the best care of one another that we can.

I want her to know that when she smiles at me, it's like a thousand online communities inspiring me all at once.  That the hope of her was once the biggest incentive to improve my health, only to be superseded by her arrival in my arms.

I want her to know that regardless of what she may hear about this "diabetes," her mama is going to be just fine. 

This might not all apply (yet), but it's still true. Selah was (and is) so worth it.

The surgery will be needed and within the next month or I'll go blind.

I need to see my children grow up so surgery it is.

I always said I'd give my right eye to be a mother...

... And I may have.



The night before my scheduled C Section, a blood vessel in my right eye burst. The stress of pregnancy on my type 1 diabetic body was almost too much. It quickly (and by quickly, I mean quickly. It wasn't even there at an eye appointment in September) progressed diabetic retinopathy in my eyes. The retinopathy caused a blood vessel to burst. Retinopathy that shouldn't have happened since I spent my pregnancy with my A1Cs between %.8 and 6.5. I've spent my daughter's entire life without the ability to see her clearly (or even close to it) out of my right eye.

On  March 22nd, I had a procedure involving lasers done to my eye to hopefully fix a good bit of the problem. Thousands of shots from the laser to my eye later, I have lost peripheral in my right eye. I can see light and color, but I can hardly make out specific shapes (One of the reasons I haven't been blogging much recently). Some days are better than others and things are clearer, but it may possibly be permanent. It may get worse. I may go blind sooner than later.


It may make it where I am unable to have more children, due to possible worsening of the condition of my eyes. Children that I want to fill my house with. Sibling(s) for Selah. Children that are in my heart and I'm desperate to someday have in my arms. I pray to God regularly to heal my eyes. I pray to God that I can someday have another child. I even pray to Him using the names we've already picked for #2. I know that He has His plans, but I desperately hope that those plans include baby ES or JD. I was meant to be a mother and I have oh so much more room in my heart for the children yet to be.

But, you know what? If Selah is the only child for me, I would be eternally grateful for that. I'd give my right eye for her over and over if it meant she would be in my life.

How long?

I saw this on a fellow diafriend's blog and I knew I wanted my readers to see it too.

From Diabetesaliciousness:

Welcomed indeed!

It was 90 years ago today that the "Miracle on Bloor Street" happened, and the world as we know it changed forever.

To be even more specific in terms of the time/space continuum, it was 32,865 days ago, which broken down into hours = 788,760. Break that number of hours down into minutes and it = 47,325,600 minutes. Take the number of minutes and break them down into seconds and = 2,830,536,000 seconds ago that a human being first received a shot of insulin. The insulin was brown and brackish in color and came from the pancreas of a piggy, and was administered to a 14 year old boy named Leonard Thompson.

The first shot caused Thompson to have an allergic reaction, but after fine tuning of the extracted insulin by the good doctors, a second shot was administered 2 weeks later.

Millions of lives were saved and family trees were able to develop new branches.

A Nobel Prize was won and many a diabetes business was launched.

My own Family Tree was able to flourish despite diabetes. My father and his two sisters were all diagnosed as type 1 (they were from a family of seven children,) and had 10 children between them, including my two sisters and I - Also type 1s. Not to mention my nephew and cousin also have type 1. And when you really think about it, the Diabetes On-Line Community is able to exist because of the discovery of insulin.

I'm so very grateful to insulin and my heart holds a special place for Doctors Banting & Best - I love them very much!

But I can't help wondering how many days, hours, minutes and seconds it will take to find a cure for diabetes.

Because isn't 32,865 days an awfully long time to wait between diabetes miracles? 

Agreed, Kelly. Agreed.

WDD Blue Fridays

I am wearing blue today and I will wear blue every Friday this month. Will you?

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

I am a Type 1 Diabetic. I have been for almost 16 years now. When I was diagnosed, they said I had Juvenile Diabetes. I guess I've grown out of being a juvenile, but I didn't grow out of Diabetes.

Help find a cure so kids like Ian and Samuel don't have to face a lifetime of fear and uncertainty.



www.jdrf.org

Worries... I've had a few

So many of my friends have (and are) struggled to get pregnant. While it may look like we had it easy (and we did on so many accounts), I haven't been without my worries and stress about the road to motherhood. I felt like writing some of it out, so it could possibly give some insight into this and also as a way for me to vent my worries. It is long and I will go ahead and apologize about that right now.

I spent my teen years (and early twenties) worrying that, if I ever got pregnant, it would kill me (myth), thanks to Steel Magnolias. I spent my early twenties to mid twenties worrying about finding that special someone to be my husband. You know, special because all of the things Type 3 diabetics have to learn and worry about, especially when you add pregnancy in the mix. I found him in the most wonderful guy in the world, the Timmy. After marrying T, I worried about getting my diabetes under control so we could have a baby. A healthy baby. After about 9-ish months of  a1c's under 7, we got a go ahead from my doctor to try. After several months of trying and not getting pregnant, I started worrying that something might be wrong with my body, either diabetes related or something else.

But then we got pregnant. The worries quickly changed to joy. Mental plans for the future swam through our heads. Christmas here, birthdays there. This way of teaching, these activities. All of the things newly pregnant people discuss, think about and plan. But it didn't last long. After the miscarriage, I worried that maybe there really WAS something wrong with me. Perhaps I could never carry a child. Perhaps I shouldn't reproduce. An ex-boyfriend's mother once told me that she didn't want me for the mother of her grandchildren (even though she liked me very much) because of the entire diabetes issue. Comments like that stick with you and, when the miscarriage happened, it kept rearing it's ugly head.

Even with all of those worries, we kept on trying as soon as we got the doctor's ok. I kept on worrying. T kept to himself whatever was on his mind. Once again months passed without any luck. At one point during that time, I spent way too much money on pregnancy tests, due to an unexplained 90 day cycle. I thought I was pregnant. I had to be! But the tests said no. Again, I worried that there was something wrong with me. I started to consider going to some kind of specialist, but I knew T would say that if it was meant to happen, then it'd happen. Finally that horrendous 90 day cycle ended right before my birthday this year. It was a wonderful birthday present.

Then I got busy with life. Vacation Bible School at church, followed by a trip to Oklahoma, with various birthdays and minor holidays thrown in there. Even so, I kept on wondering when my time would be. When would I be a mom? Would I ever? Should I? Those worries and that busyness kept on. July approached.

I knew July would be a difficult month. That is when our lost baby would've been due. Those thoughts kept going through my head. I remember the 4th of July being especially difficult because that was the "fun" date I had in my head for a potential c section delivery date. A delivery date for a baby that did not make it. That day just made me feel nauseated. Perhaps it was due to memories and stress. Or perhaps it was due to what happened soon (super soon) after.

I was late. I worried that it was another super long cycle like the one from the cycle before. T was working nights, leaving me alone with my worries. Finally, I decided to take a pregnancy test. Positive! I didn't believe it. This was a test that was taken at night. Those tests aren't always accurate, my silly brain tried to tell me. Since they recommend home pregnancy tests be taken in the morning with first morning urine, I waited and retook the test. Still positive. :) Even with the happiness, I was still scared. What if I lose it? What if it happens AGAIN? What if?? Of course, T was still on night shifts and these terrors were racing through my head. That's how my best friend Megin became the first one to know about San Francisco. She talked me down off the figurative cliff. She told me it was going to be alright. Her conversation gave me the permission to try to be excited. I bought a bib and decorated it to tell T the good news.

He was excited, of course. I was excited. But how long would that excited last until it happened again? I worried about that until our first ultrasound. I was terrified that there wouldn't be a heartbeat (or even a baby), like the ultrasound I had in the ER during the miscarriage. I couldn't even look at the screen at the doctor's office until they told me everything looked good. I was afraid of silence, so I covered my ears to prevent not hearing the lack of a heartbeat. There was a strong, fast heartbeat.

I still have trouble giving myself permission to get excited about this baby. Perhaps that's why we didn't make a big deal about telling everyone. Every appointment I fear going in and there not being a heartbeat. Luckily, the doctor has found it quickly every time with the exception of that one time. I constantly worry that my diabetes (and years of poor control) will and are hurting this baby. During my ultrasound from last week, I was reassured that everything looked good that could've

Then I was told about the cord. Something new to worry about! It's not a big deal, but it is a big deal. A friend told me that her mom lost a baby at 7 months because of this same thing. Granted, that was, like, 30 years ago, but still. I've feared that I would lose this baby this entire time for one reason or another and , now, I'm given another reason to fear this.

Learning that this baby is not an it, but, in fact, a she has made this so real. Seeing her face(!) has made this so much more real. Knowing her name has made this so much more real. And, now, feeling her move has made this extremely more real. Emotions that I could push back before come pouring out so easily. Sad videos or songs or even songs of joy bring tears. Memories of my pop who I miss terribly bring tears to my eyes. SF, my little San Francisco (not her real name, fyi), is so real. And so mine. I don't know how I could stand if something happened to her. These worries are going to drive me crazy if I don't just have a little faith. I gotta believe everything (and everyone) will be alright.

I also know I need to understand that these worries I have now aren't going to change. I'm going to be a mother and a mother worries about her little loves.

Last night

Last night, we had friends over.

Last night, we had a lovely high carb dinner of pizza and brownies.

Last night, I passed out due to low blood sugar.

I tested my blood sugar around 11:30-12 last night and saw a scary 29 looking back at me. I ate 5 glucose tablets and went to the kitchen for a juice box. I got to the juice box in the kitchen, drank it and returned to the bedroom. I didn't make it. That's the last I remember.

Apparently, I fell and it made loud enough of a thud that it woke my husband up and caused the dogs to start barking. Apparently, I was talking to my husband, telling him I was low. Apparently, I ate several (more) of the glucose tablets he gave me and some of the juice he gave me. Apparently, he tried to test my blood sugar to find out how low I was. Apparently, I started fighting it. Apparently, I spit out the sugar he put between my lips and gums. Apparently because I don't remember any of this.

He called 911. He told them that his pregnant, type 1 diabetic wife had fallen and was unresponsive, due to low blood sugar. They told him they would send someone right away. He was afraid I wasn't going to make it.

They sent a fire truck and ambulance. I was told there were a total of 18 people at our house at one point, but I only saw the two that were there when I finally came to. Paramedics tried raising my blood sugar (from the 52 they recorded from when they got there) however they could, finally having to settle on an iv. According to my hands and my husband, they had a really hard time, but they did finally get one in and shot me full of dextrose (I think. That's what I was told anyways.). At some point, I started throwing up (including something blue, which, seriously? How? If you know me IRL, you know I don't eat blue foods.).

I remember thinking I was dreaming when I finally started coming around TWO HOURS LATER. These big guys I didn't know were standing in my laundry room, asking me questions (like did I know where I was, what was my birthday and if I knew the man standing next to them [I did. It was T.]). I was covered in vomit. My hands were covered in blood and one had an iv. They tested again and I was 140 something. They asked if I hurt. I said no. I stood for a while in my bathroom, shivering and disgustingly filthy, while they finished paperwork. A hot shower was such lovely thing to look forward to enjoying. They asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. I started to say no, but then wondered if I should for the baby. They thought I could just call the dr today and see what he thought. So I didn't go to the hospital.

I am fine now, just sore. Last night certainly scared me and I know it scared my husband. If it weren't for him, I'd be a blue candle (any time a life is lost to diabetes, parents of children with diabetes - and diabetics themselves, change their profile pic to an image of a blue candle). He saved my life. He saved the life we created together. Without him..... I don't even want to think about it.

30 Things: Invisible Illness Week 2011

Invisible Illness week was actually last week, but I've decided to come fashionably late to the party. Enjoy this meme that may help you understand me and my diabetes better. And, remember, if you have questions, please feel free to ask. I  love questions.


1. The illness I live with is: type 1 diabetes
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:  1996
3. But I had symptoms since: 1995
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: forcing myself to eat when I'm low, even when I desperately don't feel like it.
5. Most people assume: that I ate too many sweets as a child. That being type 1 is anything like being type two or gestational diabetic. That life with diabetes is as easy as I let you think.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: eating breakfast. I hate eating breakfast
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Well, it used to be Grey's Anatomy, but that show is starting to bore me.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My insulin pump.
9. The hardest part about nights are: worrying if I'm going to drop too low during the night and not wake up.
10. Each day I take 0 pills & two vitamins.   2 Flintstones vitamins= my Prenatal vitamin. Plus insulin 24/7
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: believe, until there is an actual cure, insulin is my only choice. No water or juice or diet will keep me alive like good ol' insulin.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose:  invisible. I am more than my diabetes.
13. Regarding working and career:  Some bosses just don't quite understand the importance of certain things when it comes to diabetes.
14. People would be surprised to know: that I have been type 1 for almost 16 years, I am pregnant and my doctor approves and helped me plan it.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: This isn't a new reality, but it does worry me more than it should that stupid diabetes is going to hurt my unborn child.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: getting pregnant (and [crossing fingers] having a healthy child) without a doctor yelling at me because I did.
17. The commercials about my illness: are for the type two Wilford Brimleys and for the tiny cute child diabetics (who will grow up to be an adult like me. We need a cure.)
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Eating what I want, when I want, because I want, without guilt.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: my dream careers (because I needed something that would offer health insurance).
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: a lot of things. I was only 11 when I was diagnosed.
21. If I could have one day of feeling/being normal again I would: eat a bunch candy and drink a bunch of fruity flavored drink (NON-diet)
22. My illness has taught me: empathy
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: "my great-aunt's brother's daughter's hairdresser's sister's cousin is diabetic and lost a leg/is blind/has kidney problems" and "I'm diabetic too. Type 2. I'm going to go eat another doughnut and drink my regular soda. But, yeah. I know exactly how you feel because I'm diabetic too."
24. But I love it when people: know me, love me and help me when I need it without me having to ask.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Psalm 139:13-14
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: they aren't alone.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: that I shouldn't be ashamed of it.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: not automatically blame my diabetes or my diabetes's control.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: my illness IS invisible, but I'm not. And, for you to be able to help me, know me, you need to know my illness.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: like you like me. You really like me! And I love you. :)

Same? Same!

I had a endocrinologist appointment yesterday for le ol' diabeetus. I was slightly worried as time got closer to the appointment. I even asked my sunday school class to pray for no changes at this appointment. My mind was racing with all the "What if?"s.What if my a1c has shot up for some reason? What if the doctor says I've gained too much weight? (I seriously need to work on that.) What if my feet have lost feeling or my kidneys are going kaput? What if my blood pressure is too too too high? (This girl loves her salt.) What if???

But I had to go, as I do every 3-ish months. So I went.

The doctor said everything was the same! No changes! A1c is still 6.3. My weight is exactly the same as it was in January. Not that I don't want to lose some, but still no gain! Feet are still uber ticklish and kidneys still pumping (or filtering or whatever they do). Blood pressure is still on the low side of normal.

Can we get a hallelujah? Hallelujah! In case you were wondering, God does answer prayers. :)

No cure

I recently read a blog that describes how insulin is not a cure so well that I think everyone should read it.

Reyna from Beta Buddies writes:

As my "network" of "D" friends expands, I am increasingly aware of type 1 deaths, diagnoses, and hospital admissions from low induced seizures and loss of consciousness. With each incident, I mutter sadly, quietly, and angrily, and pissed-offly in my head "yet one more reason why Insulin is not a CURE."

I practically spit it, the statement.

I do.

Type 1 Diabetes is difficult, at best, to manage. It does not lend itself to being "controlled". It can kill. The medication used to treat type 1 Diabetes is insulin.

Insulin is a hormone.

Insulin can be deadly if too large of a dose is given. Insulin can cause seizures, coma, and even death. Insulin is the only treatment for type 1 diabetes. Without insulin, persons with type 1 diabetes die.

Diabetes affects EVERY organ system in a persons body. These people look totally "normal" from the outside, while this disease wreaks havoc on their vasculature and organs. Insulin is needed, not only as life support, but to temper the effects of high blood sugars on tissues, vessels, and organs.

Insulin is not a cure. It never will be.

It cannot be taken orally.

The acidity of the stomach destroys the proteins that "make-up" insulin and, consequently, render it useless. Insulin must be injected with a needle. It is give subcutaneously several times daily. It is give with food. It is given with high blood sugars. It is given as "basal", a maintenance dose so-to-speak. This, my friends, is no CURE.

Insulin must be administered to keep persons with type 1 diabetes alive. Without it, they would die. Prior to 1921, the year exogenous insulin was produced/discovered, a person with type 1 diabetes would die a death of "starvation," as their cells would be unable to utilize glucose as an energy source. The death was described as painful and agonizing and miserable between the unquenched thirst, the continual flow of urine, and the insatiable hunger ... to no end... well, there would be an end ... The End. "Life Support", it is. Again, A CURE, it is not.

Dosing is not simple. It is complicated.

It is not a medication where you can just "dose it" and "forget it". You administer it, you check on the effectiveness of that dose a couple of hours later by checking a blood sugar level. Needle after needle after needle is the life of a type 1 diabetic... around the clock ... hour to hour. Insulin is not a CURE.

The balance required in dosing insulin is tenuous.

If you give too much it can induce a low blood sugar reaction called "hypoglycemia" or an "insulin reaction". A low blood sugar is an immediate emergency and must be dealt with promptly. It can occur at any time. A low blood sugar can lead to seizures, coma, and/or death.

AND...

If you don't receive enough insulin over the course of several hours you can end up in Diabetic Ketoacidosis; this is a life threatening condition that requires medical attention immediately.

AND...

Finally there are the reasons we all do that we do. The reasons, and the list is long, as to why we attempt to keep "tight" control of blood sugars... the long term effects of diabetes... the "complications". High blood sugar levels affect blood vessels, organs, and nerves throughout the body. Retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, and all the fucking "opathies" along with cardiac disease, peripheral vascular disease, and dislipidemias...and on and on ... are but a few of the consequences of diabetes. A CURE? Definitely not. Period.

Too much Insulin.... you fall victim to a low. Too little ... you are stuck chasing down a high. Not a CURE.

Activity, monthly cycles, stress levels, environmental temperatures, illnesses, and growth spurts must all be accounted for when administering insulin. Blood sugars are affected by all of these factors and by oh, oh ... so much more. Insulin is far from a CURE.

Insulin is not a CURE.

A CURE it is not.

A day-in-the-life of gratitude for Insulin .... yet hoping for a less laborious treatment regimen for type 1 diabetes. A CURE, this is not.

Diabetes needs a cure and not enough people are rallying for one. Sure, we see things occasionally saying walk for JDRF or ADA, but those are usually overshadowed with pleas for money to cure AIDS and cure cancer. If you know me, you know I'm not against any type of cure. I especially would like one for childhood cancers. BUT(!) as many as 3 million people in the US have Type 1 Diabetes (like I have) and about 80 people (mostly children) a day are being diagnosed. Type 1 is NOT caused by eating "too much sugar". It is not caused by "being too inactive". We are constantly living with the fear of death and, if not death, major complications. We will not "get over it" if we eat certain diets or drink certain waters or do certain exercises. Insulin helps keep all of us alive, but it can also kill us.

So, please, help encourage a cure for diabetes (especially Type 1 aka Juvenile diabetes). When you are considering charities to support, please don't forget about JDRF or ADA. You would be improving and saving lives.

/end PSA

Life for a Child

Ummm... How cute are these??? Plus they support an excellent cause!

It is estimated that there are 100,000 children with diabetes around the world who are in need of assistance to access insulin.

Without insulin, these children will die within 1 week. ONE WEEK!

Life for a Child helps children with type 1 diabetes around the world access insulin and other necessary things used to help control and live with diabetes.


I am joining Wendy at Candy Hearts to help get the word of this very important need out there. Will you help us? Just click the picture below to find out how. It's that easy.

What getting high means to me

I am reposting this from Wendy at Candy Hearts. It is a real, serious problem for all Type 1 diabetics. Luckily, I have insulin to help keep this from happening, but so many people out there do not. Children and adults DIE every day because they do not have access to life saving insulin. We can help.

In The Nick of Time.

Fatigue
Dry mouth.
Frequent urination.
Thirsty.
Itchy spots.
Abdominal pain.
Vomiting.
Headache.
Blurred vision.
Increased respiration rate.
Weakness.
Worsening abdominal pain.
More urination.
More vomiting.
More pain.
Terribly thirsty.
Tired.
Worsening weakness.
More vomiting.
Unable to move.
Faster respiratory rate.
Excruciating abdominal pain.
Can't focus.
Abdominal distention.
Gasping for air.
Worse headache.
Hurts to breath.
Worsening thirst.
Generalized swelling.
More swelling.
Eye swell closed.
Can't see.
Shallow, labored respiration. <~~~This is where I was diagnosed.
Still thirsty.
Urinary incontinence.
Pain.
Can't think.
Pain.
Thirst.
Air.
Weak.
Pain.
Head too heavy to lift.
Awake.
Confused.
Asleep.
Awake.
Asleep. <~~~ This is where I was only TWO HOURS later when they finally got an IV in me to give me insulin. My veins were almost non-existent, due to extreme dehydration that comes with DKA.
Coma.
Seizure.
Death.

Diabetic Ketone Acidosis (DKA). Inevitably this is what will happen if your body doesn't produce insulin and you are unable to access medical intervention in time. It can happen very slowly or things can go downhill very quickly. Suffering is always part of process, and the end result is NEVER survival.

....
Somewhere today a child will succumb to Type 1 Diabetes because their family cannot access the insulin he or she needs to survive.

Please pray for this child's comfort....the broken hearted family....the turmoil that will be left behind. Pray for the situation. Pray that someone, somewhere, somehow can get insulin to these innocent children in time. Pray that they'll be able to continue accessing it in order to keep their child alive.

Say BIG PRAYERS. It's a BIG PROBLEM.

And then, please pray for Candy Hearts and the journey that begins unfolding on

2/14/11.