The Days Came And Went Because We Are OK

December 11th, 2006.

December 15th, 2009.

The calendar never lies and we never forget.  However, this year was different.  Maybe it was the multitude of events scrawled onto the tiny white space in our family appointment book.  Maybe it was the impending holiday vacation or perhaps it was the moment that our two daughters were caught by the neighbor while having a wacky lyric sing-off.  Or just maybe it was our beloved Uncle Monkey popping in for an unannounced surprise visit from California.

Whatever it was, those moments demanded our attention and none of us seemed to mind.

Still, there was a hint of memory here and there.  As youngest daughter bolused for a pre-dinner snack shared with her uncle, my eyes locked on his.  The whir, the click and the buzz sounded in the background.  It had been almost a year since seeing him last.  I knew that he had twinge of heartache in viewing his niece squeeze out a blood droplet.  It's easy to forget about T1d when you live 3,000 miles away.  As I watched his face flicker with sadness, my mind rewound to that fateful day.

Her 2006 diagnosis story includes me placing a cell phone call to the Naturally Sweet Dad in my calmest of voice asking if he had anything pressing going on because we would be right down the road from his office?  Perhaps he could join us as we 'ran a few more tests to be sure'.  Happily, the Naturally Sweet Dad had absolutely no idea what was actually happening as I thought it best to wait until we were together before saying more.  However, my calmness belied the deep pit of agony bubbling up and my second cell phone call was directed to my brother, now lovingly referred to by his girls as 'Uncle Monkey'.  The words 'Juvenile Diabetes', as our first and very sub par pediatrician referred to it, couldn't find a way out and as I sobbed into the phone, all I could muster was a broken explanation that I was driving with our youngest to take her to the hospital.  When Uncle Monkey realized the danger of my mental state, our phone call was promptly ended.  Thankfully too, as I was in no position to manage anything more than steering.  I knew only that our sweet youngest daughter's life depended on me getting her to that ER safely and that I was about to break the heart of the most doting dad in the world.

That night, I caught the Naturally Sweet Dad with a thoughtful expression.  I knew.  He had remembered too.  A long hug later, with no words exchanged, we both felt extra blessed.

The memories fading in and out persisted through the week and into today.  This time it was oldest daughter with a reflection.

"Mom, do you remember?"

Once again, I am driving our car and my eyes are focused on the traffic surrounding me.  Her question resonates and I shift my focus to her face.  She is looking straight ahead.  There is no smile but there is also no frown.  I'm not sure what my response should be so I reply, "M'hmm."

"Well, today is my day.  This is the day that I realized that I am going to be a doctor.  I knew it when (youngest daughter) was diagnosed.  Actually, I knew that I was going to help her.  I just knew that I needed to do that."

Surprised, I quickly start to explain that her sister is NOT her responsibility.  Oldest daughter brushes my words aside and says, "No, no.  I mean, I knew that I needed to be there.  For (youngest daughter), for other kids, for anyone that has this (T1D)."

"I need to be there because I CAN be there.  I'm OK, Mom. I'm fine.  Actually, I am better than fine.  I know that I can do anything.  I have learned that."  She turns her ahead to look at me and a goofy grin appears.

"I'm happy."

With a squeeze of her hand, I nodded back and said, "That is the perfect thing to be."

Parents are T1D Experts - Now You Can Share Your Wisdom!

Not too long ago, a mom asked me what it was like to raise a 3-year old with T1D.  The question caught me off guard - not because it was unusual, but because I had forgotten what it really, really felt like.  

How is that possible?  

Almost a decade has passed since our little baby girl was diagnosed.  While I remember some things, plenty others have been long forgotten.  This is mostly due to the fact that I had to always stay one step ahead in T1D management.  My brain is at max capacity with the stages of  ((GASP)) teenager hood.  To keep my sanity, I don't have extra room to spare!  

Thankfully, our Diabetes Online Community (DOC) will soon have the perfect go-to-NOW resource.  Wahoo!!!!!  

Dr. Tim Wysocki, PhD, Nemours Center for Health Care Delivery Science and Dr. Jessica Pierce, PhD, Nemours Children's Hospital, Orlando, Florida are building something BIG!  

For the first time (arguably in T1D history), parents will be able to design and build a great website FOR parents FROM parents.  

Imagine that?  Parents- both Moms and Dads - are now recognized as EXPERTS in T1D care.  

As long ago as it was for our youngest daughter, I remember that horrible 3:00 a.m. grocery store shopping trip initiated after receiving an afternoon house call from a visiting nurse that never had a T1D patient, let alone a toddler that was injecting .25 mm doses of Novolog.  Her advice was to throw everything out of my pantry and replace with carb and sugar free foods.  Embarrassingly enough, with tears, I took her advice to heart and hundreds of dollars later, I came home with bags of groceries that ultimately should have been relabeled as laxatives.  A phone call from a JDRF parent mentor a few days later helped me to understand that I had made a very expensive mistake and gently straightened my path to wellness back out.  

Back in 2006, even though parents were indeed the experts, acquiring access to their knowledge was difficult.  Had I been able to get online to a reputable website during that 3:00 a.m. crisis moment, I would have avoided feeding the trashcan all together.

Thankfully, you can avoid my mistakes!  

Here is the information to be a part of parent history.  Feel free to click HERE to read the informed consent.  If you have any questions, you may contact me too.  I spent quite a bit of time talking with the creators and am so excited to know that they are encouraging all of the Moms and Dads that they can find to help join in.  

Even better, there is a nice compensation benefit too.  

I am sure that everyone could use an extra Starbucks (or three) to help with those long, blood sugar checking nights.  Or like I needed, to re-stock the pantry!

Buyer Be Aware! Plexus and Other 'Magic Remedies' for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)

This is NOT a cure for Type 1 Diabetes!

On my Facebook feed this morning was (what I hope) was well-intended post from a local friend regarding her new business of selling Plexus. I believe her post was meant to help others in finding health in their own lives (and maybe to increase her sales).  Unfortunately, her post perpetuates the myth that T1D could be better treated with ANYTHING than by using medically prescribed insulin.  More specifically, through the use of an additive called Plexus. 

As we head into the holidays, please be aware of ANY type of 'cure' or instant fix for T1D (besides the use of monitoring blood sugar and insulin).  Using supplements in the hope of reducing blood sugar via taking less insulin can result in dangerously high blood sugar levels, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or even loss of life.  

In addition, please be aware that representatives for Plexus are not doctors, nor do they necessarily have backgrounds in health or even first-hand knowledge of living with many of the diseases that the drink claims to help.  Plexus representatives are receiving paychecks for each product that you purchase and so it is in their best interest to help make the product look as positive as possible.

All we want at Naturally Sweet Sisters is for our loving Type 1 Diabetes Community to stay healthy, happy and able to enjoy a wonderful holiday season with their friends and family.

To me, that is the best kind of friendship.

What an amazing testimonial! Sure, Plexus can help you get control of your cravings, sleep better, and even help some people with weight loss, but these are my favorite stories.

Tanya shares:
"I am type 1 diabetic and along with my diabetes comes diabetic neuropathy pain.... At my appointment last year when my doctor pulled the A1C test I knew it was going to be mind blowing but however I did not realize it was going to read 14, so my husband was also there with me as the doctor began to share about so many of my other tests this was like telling me I had 8 months to live now mind you my UAB doctor had me on insulin and a pill. After I experienced several things with my body I felt like something was not right. Got a second opinion to find out my insulin was not working. On this day my blood sugar was 800 my regular doctor told my husband something had to be done and most of all he said I have no idea how I was not in a coma... Folks it was GOD himself keeping me alive to share this. Fast forward to a week ago when I was at my weakest with pain I could not do daily activities, walk, stand, sit or even enjoy spending family time without this aweful pain. I am a person who hates meds, that is when I received a message on Facebook asking if I wanted to try Plexus I'm like if it's safe for me YES I will. The day before my first sample my blood sugar was 596 on day 3 it was 191 and today it still remains in the 190s a huge step I have not only seen a difference in blood sugar but my pain level has come down I haven't been using Plexus for a week yet!!:)" - This was in July:)
UPDATE: Blood sugar is now 150-160

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This is grossly misleading. Type 1 Diabetes is an auto-immune disease wherein the pancreas stops producing insulin. As a result, blood sugar is only lowered through vigilant, multiple blood sugar checks and multiple daily injections using a synthetic hormone of fast acting insulin/long acting insulin. Food including supplements such as Plexus will not 'regulate' blood sugar. This type of posting suggests that there is a 'cure' or a better way of management than using insulin properly. Please be aware that any advice stating 'hating meds' suggests that insulin is not necessary and could cause families to think that insulin is simply a choice, when it is actually life support. 

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