Okay, this is a shout out to my siblings and my cousins!
Over the past couple of years I have worried about the heart disease and the diabetes (type 2) in my family and how that might affect me as I get older. It has recently hit me that I am getting older now! I know I'm not "old" but I am getting older. It is a fact that at age 53 my mother had a doube bi-pass surgery to save her life. I'm 37 now; 53 is right around the corner. Another fact is that I've gained 40 pounds over the last 10-years. Problem! When I look in the mirror I'm not so unhappy with what I see, not unhappy enough to get up off my butt and exercise and not unhappy enough to pass on the Cheetos anyway. Another fact, I have a child that is going to inherit my medical history and she already has type 1 diabetes-she's starting out with one strike against her already.
It is my job as a parent to be a good role model and to teach my daughter how to live a healthy life. I never want my daughter to be obsessed with her weight or her appearance, she is perfect the way she is and besides that little diabetes thing she is perfectly healthy. I want to teach her to embrace herself and to love herself completely. What I have realized is that embracing and loving myself does not mean being content with being unhealthy.
My mother has seven siblings and I do believe that each of them have already received some kind of medical treatment for heart disease or diabetes, our generation is already seeing it too. I know at least one cousin has had a scare with her heart and my brother has medical issues as well. I may not have been raised with my cousins or even all of my siblings, that doesn't mean I love you all any less and I want all of us to realize WE have to teach our kids how to be healthy. We have knowledge our parents didn't have and now is the time for us to take control of our lives.
I don't know about you all, but I plan on being around for my grandkids, and being able to ENJOY them.
That being said, I have been working really hard on eating better and exercising more and I have seen results. I'm not on a "diet", simply watching what I eat and walking or doing my workout video several times a week and I feel so much better. I hope you all will think about yourselves and your family and decide to make your health a priority.
Love you all.
Rose
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
It's only diabetes
Okay. The pity party is over and we're moving full speed ahead. DJ is 100% herself again, including that awesome tween attitude I love so much. We have so much to be thankful for-beginning with DJ's health. Yes, I said her health.
Diabetes aside, DJ is a happy, healthy, smart, funny girl. She can play basketball and volleyball and she enjoys swimming and riding her bike. She can roll around on the floor with her dog and she can play with her friends like any other kid her age can do. DJ can laugh when she's happy and express to me when she's not-she does both quite often. The day DJ was diagnosed, as devastated as I was, I just kept thinking "thank God it's not cancer".
http://http//player.streamtheworld.com/_players/entercom/player/?id=KRSK
On my way in to work this morning I turned on the radio to 105.1 "The Buzz" and their annual "Valentine's Day for the CCA" radio telethon. If you are feeling down on your luck today, or if you think you have nothing to be grateful for, I suggest you take a listen. While diabetes sucks, it's inconvenient, sometimes painful and from time to time scares the hell out of us I fully realize that I am blessed that it's only diabetes.
I don't want to minimize the seriousness of DJ's disease, but if we continue to work hard to keep her healthy there is no reason she can't live a long, healthy life.
***Please forgive the formatting. I'm learning.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
My Worst Nightmare
Those who know me know me well. For those who don't I will share a few key facts that are important to the story: I have a 12 year old daughter (DJ), who is pretty much MY LIFE! She has had type 1 diabetes for about 5.5 years. We sleep together every night because my fear is that something will happen to her in the middle of the night and because her bedroom is upstairs and mine is down I wouldn't know. I've gotten a few side eyes, like "this chick is paranoid", but the fear of what might happen wins over the obvious-the child (and her mother) needs to learn to sleep alone.
I finally bought DJ a bed and Saturday night as we were settling in I gave her the "this is the last night I'm sleeping with you, we're both big girls and need to act like it" speech. At about 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning DJ was moving around in her sleep. I thought she was having a nightmare so I tried to poke her awake. That didn't work so I shook her shoulder a little. I was concerned that maybe she was in a deep sleep and having an unusually bad dream, it happens sometimes, so turned on the light and went over to wake her-so she'd see me when she woke and not be too scared. With the light on and standing over DJ I realized with the quickness that something was WRONG! Not only was she not waking up but her arms were twisted behind her body in an odd way and her legs were moving continuously, seemingly on their own. Her eyes were closed and her face showed no emotion.
I shook DJ a couple more times and she wouldn't open her eyes. Holy Shit. My baby is unconscious and I can't wake her. I tested her blood sugar and she was 57. Low, but she's been much, much lower and not even known it. Normally for low blood sugar DJ would drink juice. That wasn't happening. There is a shot called Glucagon that is to be given in this situation. I had the shot out and ready to go but DJ is a big girl and quite strong. It would have taken two of me, one to hold her down and one to administer the shot, for this to happen. Especially while I'm crying and trying to answer questions.
By the time the paramedics get there DJ's eyes are open but she's unable to talk and she's looking around wild eyed and helpless. Her arms and legs are still moving but now she's on her back. There are five men in her room and her mommy in her face trying to comfort her. I'm trying to hold one of DJ's arms down while paramedic #1 tries to get an IV in her arm and paramedic #2 is taking her vitals. #2 gets it in the face a couple of times by DJ's arms that are still moving on their own. I'm straddling her body trying to comfort her and #1 is trying his darndest to hold her arm still so he can get that IV in there. I think he only poked her twice, not bad. DJ wasn't out of control, her arms and legs were moving in almost slow motion but it was constant. And bizarre.
After a very large dose of sugar being shot into her veins, DJ regained control of her body, the ability to talk and began to giggle uncontrollably. She can walk downstairs with a little help and laughing all the way climbed onto the gurney for our little trip to the hospital. On the way to the hospital DJ's number was 244-way high but easily fixed. The sugar high wore off about the time we reached the ER and about an hour later she had a migraine and did a little vomiting.. DJ's number dropped to 164 with no insulin. 164 is a good number but getting there with no insulin is not good. Eventually her number started rising again, we put on the pump, fed her some breakfast and left the hospital about 11:30.
I called the BFF when we got to the hospital (about 6 a.m.) and she met us promptly, with Starbucks in hand, and sat with us the whole morning. After the ordeal she gave us a ride home and joined us for a fabulous lunch of Little Ceasars pizza. I cannot even tell you how much I appreciate her being there and helping me trying to help DJ.
The rest of the day was spent with DJ eating, sleeping or crying because her head hurt so bad. She finally fell asleep around 8 p.m. for the night. I was scared to fall asleep but finally passed out around midnight, setting my alarm to test her blood sugar every two hours. She had some headaches going on yesterday, but so far so good today.
The point of the story. DJ may never sleep alone.
I finally bought DJ a bed and Saturday night as we were settling in I gave her the "this is the last night I'm sleeping with you, we're both big girls and need to act like it" speech. At about 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning DJ was moving around in her sleep. I thought she was having a nightmare so I tried to poke her awake. That didn't work so I shook her shoulder a little. I was concerned that maybe she was in a deep sleep and having an unusually bad dream, it happens sometimes, so turned on the light and went over to wake her-so she'd see me when she woke and not be too scared. With the light on and standing over DJ I realized with the quickness that something was WRONG! Not only was she not waking up but her arms were twisted behind her body in an odd way and her legs were moving continuously, seemingly on their own. Her eyes were closed and her face showed no emotion.
I shook DJ a couple more times and she wouldn't open her eyes. Holy Shit. My baby is unconscious and I can't wake her. I tested her blood sugar and she was 57. Low, but she's been much, much lower and not even known it. Normally for low blood sugar DJ would drink juice. That wasn't happening. There is a shot called Glucagon that is to be given in this situation. I had the shot out and ready to go but DJ is a big girl and quite strong. It would have taken two of me, one to hold her down and one to administer the shot, for this to happen. Especially while I'm crying and trying to answer questions.
By the time the paramedics get there DJ's eyes are open but she's unable to talk and she's looking around wild eyed and helpless. Her arms and legs are still moving but now she's on her back. There are five men in her room and her mommy in her face trying to comfort her. I'm trying to hold one of DJ's arms down while paramedic #1 tries to get an IV in her arm and paramedic #2 is taking her vitals. #2 gets it in the face a couple of times by DJ's arms that are still moving on their own. I'm straddling her body trying to comfort her and #1 is trying his darndest to hold her arm still so he can get that IV in there. I think he only poked her twice, not bad. DJ wasn't out of control, her arms and legs were moving in almost slow motion but it was constant. And bizarre.
After a very large dose of sugar being shot into her veins, DJ regained control of her body, the ability to talk and began to giggle uncontrollably. She can walk downstairs with a little help and laughing all the way climbed onto the gurney for our little trip to the hospital. On the way to the hospital DJ's number was 244-way high but easily fixed. The sugar high wore off about the time we reached the ER and about an hour later she had a migraine and did a little vomiting.. DJ's number dropped to 164 with no insulin. 164 is a good number but getting there with no insulin is not good. Eventually her number started rising again, we put on the pump, fed her some breakfast and left the hospital about 11:30.
I called the BFF when we got to the hospital (about 6 a.m.) and she met us promptly, with Starbucks in hand, and sat with us the whole morning. After the ordeal she gave us a ride home and joined us for a fabulous lunch of Little Ceasars pizza. I cannot even tell you how much I appreciate her being there and helping me trying to help DJ.
The rest of the day was spent with DJ eating, sleeping or crying because her head hurt so bad. She finally fell asleep around 8 p.m. for the night. I was scared to fall asleep but finally passed out around midnight, setting my alarm to test her blood sugar every two hours. She had some headaches going on yesterday, but so far so good today.
The point of the story. DJ may never sleep alone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)