The Journey Of Diabetes Through A Mom's Eyes: The story of insulin

This was shown on Dlife.

Julia's diagnosis story

Julia was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (an autoimmune disease) on January 22nd 2006. The previous day Julia's brother Joey had celebrated his 9th birthday. We took the kids to Carl's JR for his party. My husband Shane, and I noticed Julia had not eaten much, but was drinking soda like there would be none left tomarrow. She was also using the restroom about every 15 minutes - yes we timed it. Since Shane had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 6 we knew the signs. Julia deffinately had them. When we left the resteraunt we went strait home, and tested Julia with Shanes back up meter that he uses to test how much sugar is in his blood. The meter just read HI ( the meter will read up to 600, a normal person runs from 60-100). We washed her hands again, and tried again. It still read high. We decided to pack a bag for Julia, and since we were new to the area we did some quick research on the local hospitals before deciding which to take her to. We rechecked her blood sugar, and it was still HI. So off we went. Shane stayed home with our 3 boys, and I took Julia to the hospital we decided on. I remember calling my mother in law on the way there. She being a mom to a diabetic (my husband, Shane) I felt a connection to her imedeately, and knew she of all people would understand my fear, and she did. We talked all the way to the hospital while Julia slept in her booster seat. I promised to call back as soon as I knew anything. We went in, and checked in, and were able to get back quickly, however it was about an hour before we were able to see anyone, and it was even longer before they came to do tests. By the time they ran the tests, about 2 hours later Julia's blood sugar had basically stablized because she still had some working beta cells ( beta cells are the cells that produce the hormone insulin). After reveiwing the data that was taken the E.R. doctor came in and told me that my meter was off, or I had bad test strips. I knew he was wrong. He told me that Julia had a urinary tract infection. I then asked about Julia's blood work. The A1C ( a test to measure % of blood sugar over about 3 months) and c peptide ( measures insulin in blood) had not been run, just blood sugar, and ketones. Ketones were moderate, and urine was cloudy, which is what led to the bladder infection dx. At my request we were admitted while the other tests were being ran, and Julia would be monitered. Since Julia hadn't eaten since breakfast (just because she didn't feel like it) she was hungery, and they fed her. They tested her at 3am, and she was in the 300's. Better then before, but still way to high for it not to be diabetes. When I was told her current blood sugar level I almost lost it. I remember laying in the chair that I had folded out into a bed, and trying my hardest to hold back the tears. I cried myself back to sleep, and woke the next morning to Julia refusing to have her finger poked. They started Julia on insulin right after. I was told that since Julia wasn't dehydrated, and wasn't displaying any other problems that we could go home. Since dad has diabetes I think they gave us to much credit, but I still knew more then our very sweet pediatric nurse about diabetes. We were to leave after lunch since we had to wait for our doc to do rounds. Julia had lunch, had her blood sugar checked again, and after meds being messed up, and then lost she finially got another injection of insulin. 2 hours later we were home, with very basic instructions, and doses of the insulin we were to give. That was a Sunday. We went to a diabetes educator the next day, and spent hours learning more. We had to go back many times to learn what we needed to in order to take the best care we could of our daughter. Now, 10 months later we are doing well. Julia is thriving.

The Journey Of Diabetes Through A Mom's Eyes

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

The story of insulin

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