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Bad night, daughter in hospital in Chicago

One of the problems is that a week ago she could "feel" the difference when her sugar levels were low, but for the past few days she has not been able to detect any differences. So just a week ago she was 'testing' about 5 times a day, but now we are testing her blood sugar more frequently. I was hoping that she would not go through a "honeymoon" period, but it looks like she is doing just that. With any luck it will be a very short honeymoon and she'll get regulated again.
 
It has to be pretty difficult. Seems like youre being a great dad though. Im sure you being there and helping her every step of the way means the world to her. :)
 
I'm trying to be a good dad, hopefully succeeding??? Guess we'll know that later in life. But yes, it is hard. I was on the phone with the hospital twice today. Really pissed my daughter off by making her call me at noon with her blood test results (rule #1, don't bother your kid at school should be tattooed on ever parent's forearm). Traded a dozen(?) emails with my wife. So it was a fun day. But we have some direction on what to do and now have a better understanding on the road ahead. Doesn't look like a smooth road, but most of the stress seems to be carried by my wife & I and my daughter just rolls along with it. Kids are probably more resilient than their parents!
 
Yes kids are tough!!!!! She'll get the hang of it one day and things will go smoother but you will still worry. ITS WHAT GOOD PARENTS DO! Hang in there. rugerman
 
Well things are not going well with Melen. She feels fine. So that part is good. But this "honeymoon" phase she is in is totally screwing her blood sugar levels up.

Her insulin is divided into two types of treatments. Each night she takes a slow acting insulin that supposedly lasts 24+ hours. Then during the day with each meal she takes a fast acting insulin that offsets the carbohydates she eats during the meal.

The idea is that roughly 50% of her insulin should be the slow acting insulin.
And then 50% of her insulin should be the fast acting insulin.

Not quite working out like that now.

In fact she is barely taking any of the fast acting insulin at all. Only 1 to 3 "cc"s of it on any given day, but her slow acting insulin is at 20units and that is coming down. So she is roughly at a 1-to-10 ration instead of a 1-to-1 ratio.

To make matters worse, we are actually giving her ICE CREAM and other sugar snacks to keep her blood sugar levels above the "critical" levels. Even with the snacks, she is having no less than 1 "low" blood surgar level reading each day. Without the snacks she would probably be in the hospital because she'd be in the "critical" levels.

I've been on the phone with the hospital pretty much every day, pestering the hell out of Melen to call me from school every day with her blood sugar scores. Then reporting back to the hospital to get instructions. So its just a circle that we keep repeating. Yesterday I had to leave the office early to get her from school because, despite her snacks, she dropped down to a "67" and the school nurse was already gone. Today I dropped her off at school and reminded her AGAIN to call me at lunch.

She is taking all this in stride. Its amazing how she just rolls along with it. But my wife and I are pretty much beside ourselves and if it was possible, we'd probably have her take her blood test every hour on the hour . . . then again that would translate to lots of needle sticks on her finger and she'd be REALLY MAD AT US . . . so its probably good that she gets to go to school to get away from us.

Oh, and the best news is that the specialists told me that:
1) - This could go on for a couple of years!
2) - When she hits puberty (something we expect any day) it will further complicate things
3) - While she was a "candidate" for an insulin pump a few weeks ago, they told us that now that is NOT an option for her, at least until this period ends.

Mentally I know that this disease is not something that should be as hard as it is. But as a parent, it really is a life-altering/perspective altering disease. I also never realized that Type 1 diabetes is as rare as it is. Only about 2 million people in the US have this type. There are many million more that have Type 2, but while they both share the common name "diabetes" the diseases are radically different. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease that can only be treated, Type 2 is an environmentally induced disease and theoretically curable. I keep learning.
 
B_Skurka said:
I also never realized that Type 1 diabetes is as rare as it is. Only about 2 million people in the US have this type. There are many million more that have Type 2, but while they both share the common name "diabetes" the diseases are radically different. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease that can only be treated, Type 2 is an environmentally induced disease and theoretically curable. I keep learning.
Click to expand...

Bob, I would have to claim to be totally ignorant of that fact as well. I had no idea that it was even remotely "rare". Not to make any excuses for my ignorance, but I'd have to think that most people don't know many of the facts you've learned about the disease. I should be more educated on the disease because it is what basically killed my father in law. He passed away when he was 56 and had diabetes since he was 12. Obviously medicine has progressed quite a bit since then (it has been over 15 years since he passed away).

However, since my wife's father did indeed have, what I assume, type 1 diabetes, I am concerned about my children developing the disease. So far, the worst thing has been that my oldest son picked up my wife's poor eyesight. I still don't wear glasses (or contacts), but my wife lives in her contacts. If she doesn't have glasses or contacts, she really can't see. My son has a brutal prescription; something like - 9.75 in one eye and -11.25 in the other. Without his contacts or glasses, he's basically blind. Sorry to drift off the subject, I sincerely wish your daughter all the best. With any luck, she will stabilize soon. (?) Since I am concerned because of my wife's father, is there any history of diabetes in your family? Sorry if you've stated this before.
 
Absolutely NO history of any diabetes (type 1 or type 2) in my family.

However, I did find out that Type 1, being an auto-immune disease, does tend to show up in families that have other auto-immune diseases. My father had, and I now have, Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is also an auto-immune disease. I specifically asked the doctors at La Rabida if there is a connective link between the two diseases, and they said that there is a high probability of a link. It is not a direct causal effect link. However they do know that if a child gets Type 1 Diabetes, there is a very high probability that others in her family also suffer from any of a number of different auto-immune diseases.

So in your case, if your FIL had Type 1 (which is uncertain) then there is a possibility anyone down his bloodline could also have a similar, but not necessarily identical auto-immune disease. Further, as you have indicated here on the Forums, you have mild RA, which is an auto-immune disease. So now both sides of your children's blood lines have some auto-immune disease history. I honestly don't know what the 'odds' are for your kids, grandkids, etc getting any of the auto-immune diseases are, but I'd guess they are 'higher' than if you didn't have that type of history in your family.

You may want to try to dig a bit to see if you can confirm if your FIL had Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes.
 
Bob,
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. I can only imagine what you are going through. Melen sounds like a typical pre-teen who takes everything in stride and will come out of this just fine. Even if she gets mad at you for calling her at school now when she gets older she will thank you for being such a loving father. There are so many kids out there that don't have the support of 2 good parents. God bless and Keep your chin up.
 
lilnixon said:
Melen sounds like a typical pre-teen who takes everything in stride and will come out of this just fine.
Click to expand...
Yup she is. And thanks for the prayers.

TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY. :coolshade

Her blood glucose levels were running between 120 and 150 all day (high/normal but that is where they want her during this period). I believe the adjustment made to her long acting insulin (Lantis) did the trick, at least for today and hopefully for tomorrow too :) We did not have to pump her full of carbohydrates to keep her blood sugar at those levels. She ate normal foods in normal quantities and she took her fast peaking insulin (Humilog) at nearly normal levels. Let's hope this continues :thumb:
 
Im happy to hear that her glucose level was the same the whole day! I pray that will be a normal daily occurance. :) I also hope its not costing you folks a lot.
 
DAMN DAMN DAMN

Problems again. More of the same. We cannot get her regulated so she keeps slipping down to low blood sugar levels and while we have had a few good days, the worst days seem to be the days she goes to school. Her long lasting insulin has been reduced by almost 50%, her short acting insulin has been reduced by 80%. She still needs it because she climbs too high without it, but her bigger problems are going low, and while that was not a problem for a couple days, its back again, with a vengence.

Gym class is a particular problem. Every day she has gym we cut her insulin to a dose of 25% of what the doctors recommend, we give her extra carbohydrates and we send her to school with blood glucose in the "High-Normal" range. Immediately after gym class she drinks some juice to bring her some quick sugar. Then she tests and its a 99% chance that she is still below normal and a 50% chance she will be at a critical low.

Time of day seems to be an issue to. Mornings she seems to drop, evenings she seems to climb.

Her pancreas is doing weird things and I'm on the phone with the doctors virtually every day. One thing I know is that I have completely reevaluated my life because of this and am not happy with where I am and what I am doing. Things will change, not sure what, but family comes first, of that I am sure.
 
Bob,
You and Mrs Skurka hang in there . Kids are tough . I sat in a hospital all one night and begged the good lord to let me take my sons place when he was seriously ill . Your a God fearing man and the Lord has this mapped out already . It will be ok . My heart breaks for you and the Mrs. for the pain and worry you are going through . Through your past post we have gotten to know you ,your wife , and your precious daughter . Mary Ellen is tough and will get through this . Your Daughters strength comes through you and Mrs Skurka . God Bless your family and please know that your extended family here at FF pray and wish only the best for you all .


Amen
 
Bob,

I know adults are different from kids but when my dad got diabetes he really had trouble adjusting with the different days. His fishing days would be messed up from the days where he just kind of sat around. He use to joke about it and would say he just has to fish everyday. I wished he would or could but his age is catching up with him and can't. After about 6 months things just kind of came around for him with the different days. Your daughter needs you and your wife to be strong and I know you will. You know I am a guy that gets on his knees now and then and prays. Our family will pray for your daughter, your wife and you. Hang in there.


murph
 
Bob,

Children, I am told, are usually harder than nails. She'll do just fine. I'll say a few prayers for her tonight. God Bless
 
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