Carbs. No high GI!

This is the fourth installment of Diabetes Blog Week. Some people believe a low carb diet is important in diabetes management, while others believe carbs are fine as long as they are counted and bolused for. Today we are supposed to talk about meals, snacks, special occasions... Whatever we deem food and bolus worthy.

First, I must say that there is a typical "diet" I follow most days. "Most" days being "workout days" during the 5 day work week. If I dont exercise in the mornings I tend to not care so much about what I eat all day. So, for the life of me I try my darnedest to stick to my workout on the week days to help with my food choices during the day. I eat lower carb (under 100) mainly on my workout days and get most of my carbs from fruits. I LOVE fruit and could survive on that alone! My main concern with ANY food is its GI index. Some foods I just wont eat because they are too high glycemic. (sugar candy, pretzels, some sauces, many cereals etc)I don't buy white bread or eat crackers or anything unless it is whole wheat. I LOVE Triscuits! Other than Triscuits I avoid anything "processed" or out of a box. I MUST have my fancy coffee creamer in my morning coffee. No opting out of that! It is my one indulgence that can never be changed, I don't care how high GI or processed it may be!

After my morning workouts I usually make a smoothie with milk, chocolate protein powder and a banana mixed in. Sometimes I mix in PB. Sometimes I go with a Vanilla protein powder and mix with yogurt, milk and frozen fruit. Just depends. If I'm really hungry I will add a slice of PB toast. I guess about 35-40 carbs...the key is a good balance if you ask me! If I'm lazy and don't work out in the mornings I usually eat an apple and almonds at my desk when I get to work. Or, maybe cheese and almonds. Yogurt and almonds. PB sandwich and milk. Soy nuts and some kind of fruit. I have alot of favorite combinations! On the weekends I eat whatever I feel for the day, not paying much mind to "good food" or "bad food" and I always eat a carby breakfast on Sunday since I make a super yummy one each week for the kids!Some mornings I wont eat at all. Some weekends, I may not eat until late afternoon. Depends on how busy I am.

I snack ALOT. PB and celery. Almonds, cheese sticks, apples, oranges, mangoes, pineapple, yogurt....mostly all low carb stuff, except for fruit...but I don't count fruit as a carb because its fruit!

Lunch is usually similar to breakfast since I work all week. I guess I eat the same stuff for lunch as I do for breakfast! Sometimes I will be super hungry and eat a Lean Cuisine (which still leaves me hungry!) or a turkey sandwich, tuna, wheat tortillas, soup, salad....I'm not really big on lunch since I snack every 2 hours. Dinner is my time.

We eat dinner as a family every night that Hannah doesn't have Vball practice. We make big yummy dinners. Chicken, Basmati rice, salads, steak, tacos, fajitas, rice and beans, casseroles, breads, shrimp dishes, spaghetti, potatoes...lots of veggies......All the yummy stuff you see on a menu at your favorite home cooking place. I eat whatever I want for dinner. Sometimes passing on the crescent rolls and such that the rest of the family eats. Sometimes. Once a week we usually have pizza, and I eat as much as I want!

I never say no to ice cream, cookies or other sweet yummies when they are in my house, so I dont buy them cuz I will eat them all! We make the occasional batch of cookies or brownies, but, I secretly throw away the left overs so I dont eat them the next day! I will avoid donuts and sweet breakfast items (especially when they bring them to work!) like they are the plague, because I will FEEL like I have the plague after I eat them. Maybe once every few months I will indulge in those super sweet iced coffees.....I LOVE them....but I dont love how I feel the rest of the day because I fail to gain back control of the high that crashes to a low. Some things just aren't worth it in the end! PMS....OH WATCH OUT! Ladies, you know. A week a month I want to eat EVERYTHING! All the "naughty" foods in HUGE portions! HUGE! I eat all day!! Some things you just let be. If my hormones force me to eat all the crazy things I don't typically eat I don't argue! Don't argue with a woman and PMS dang it! :)

Holidays? Party's? Its game on. No limit to what I eat. But, the same base rules apply. No high GI!

Oh...you were wondering about Maddison's Diabetes and eating? Ummmmm.....that I DID NOT want to discuss. Maddison is a picky eater and LIVES for sweets. She is allowed one sweet treat per day, no high GI!! She wont touch fruit unless it is an apple, and then she wants the peel off. The only veggie she will eat is Broccoli. She eats ALL of her food separate, not touching. That means if we have spaghetti she just has plain noodles. Casseroles? We make her meat separate from her carbs. No food can touch. Its ridiculous, and angers me to no end. Yes, I know she got this way because we "let" her. Yes, I've tried EVERYTHING to stop the insanity! She has issues far beyond what is normal. Trust me, this isnt normal kid pickiness!

The one meal you can predict for Maddison is breakfast. She is not "allowed" to have cereal in the mornings unless it is the weekend and I can manage the spikes and crashes it inflicts. Sugar free syrup only. No pop tarts, sweet cereal, muffins or any of that morning nonsense. Eggs, turkey bacon, waffles or pancakes with PB is the norm. No chocolate milk unless it is made with the 2c chocolate pack. No morning sweetness. No juice, just Orange Crystal Light! That's the rule MOST days. Of course I have days where I just dont have the time or energy to obsess about what she is eating. Maddison eats WAY too much crap from boxes. Goldfish, Gogurt, granola bars, graham crackers. I HATE that she eats out of boxes all day! Maddison gets all the same "treats" at school that all the other kids get when they have parties and such, no matter what her BS is. She needs to be a kid. BUT, I will never let her eat sweet candy or sweetened drinks just because she wants too. I advise her to make a better choice and save that candy when trending low. Lunch for Maddison at school is plain PB (wont try jelly) on whole wheat bread, milk, a 100% simply fruit roll up, and a cracker type carb. Maybe yogurt or gogurt or SF pudding. She drinks 2c Minute Maid "Just 10" drinks. No sweetened drinks allowed and no sweet treat allowed in her lunch because she will eat that and nothing else. I always put in apple slices or Broccoli, but I'm sure she throws it away! Some Fridays I will throw in a sweet treat if she's actually eaten her lunch all week. I always tell Maddison I would be more lax on the sweets if she actually ate a good balanced diet. Some day........

So, to sum it up....I do believe lower GI is the way to go. Lower carb? Not necessarily, but for me it keeps me thinking I'm healthier because I choose to do so. I think the typical "American Diet" today is disgusting and 80% of the food out there is pure crap, and yes, I'm guilty of buying it for my kids. Too many preservatives and empty additives in ALL our food, yet my T1 daughter is victim to all of it and it makes me nervous every damn time she eats! We too are a victim to busy living! I think fried foods should ALWAYS be avoided and we do avoid them for the most part....but, we have our days and occasionally MUST have those french fries! I think fruit and vegetables are THE MOST important thing to include in your diet. Good thing I LOVE them all!

D Bloggers Day 3

This is Day 3 of Diabetes Blog Week. Today, the topic is entitled "Your Biggest Supporter." As Karen pitches it: "Sure, our diabetes care is ultimately up to us and us alone. But it’s important to have someone around to encourage you, cheer you on, and even help you when you need it.

If I’m angry, scared, exhausted, heart broken or thrilled with Diabetes life, THEY are there in an instant, ready to pick me back up or cheer me on. In an instant!! All thanks to the DOC. (Diabetes online Community) My support network doesn’t end there…..FACEBOOK has become a place where all us D blogging moms blow off some steam, talk about some happiness when we kick D's butt, or ask questions if we need some QUICK advice. It just doesn’t get any better than this kind of support!

Back in the day when I was diagnosed with Diabetes I felt completely alone and confused. I WAS alone, with the exception of my Dad who understood what lay ahead for me living with this disease. But, my Dad was on old school NPH therapy and I was on Lantus. My Dad never had an Endo, and was never fortunate enough to learn the ins and outs of managing a disease that was far more complicated than his primary doctor made it out to be. I wanted to know EVERYTHING about Diabetes advances, for then my Dad was already on disability for blindness and kidney failure. The fear of Diabetes actually drove me to educate myself beyond what many seek to know. I knew medical technology had brought about better ways to manage Diabetes, so, I searched. It didn’t take long until I came across the websiteDiabetesforums.com. Everyone at this online support group took me in, listened to my concerns, validated my emotions and let me know that I WOULD be okay. They helped me manage my numbers and taught me EVERYTHING they knew since most already had 20+ years of living with Diabetes under their belts. Ask a question and the PATIENTS themselves had suggestions or answers, not some textbook doctor nonsense. This was the first online community that gave me hope and pulled me out of my dark and lonely place.

Then came Childrenwithdiabetes.com after Maddison was diagnosed. The feelings of having Maddison diagnosed 9 months after me were more overwhelming than any words could ever express. I was a MESS. I cried every day for weeks. I couldn’t sleep or eat. I was so depressed and worried all the time that I was physically ILL. I even had to take time off work to gather myself. It was scary to say the least. The parents at the children with Diabetes forums were AMAZING. AMAZING! I cant count the days and hours I sat glued to the computer while they encouraged me and assured me my crazy emotions would pass, and life would be normal again. I cried with each and every response to my posts, each comment/response from them helping me feel less and less alone. I learned VERY quickly that Diabetes for kids is far more complicated than the honeymoon I was still going through. I learned more on this website from the PARENTS than I EVER could have dreamed of. In time, I felt prepared and ready to battle the daily challenges. Slowly, I moved on to the blogging community as my confidence and knowledge soared. It was time I help other parents know they are not alone in the feelings that come with a constant, chronic disease!

Now 4 years after Diabetes it is my D Mom bloggers that are my GREATEST SUPPORT, the greatest gift EVER in my life. (Besides my two children!) I can sit down at my computer and blog just when I’m ready to EXPLODE with emotions. I blog to let it all out. I really don’t have anyone to talk to after a long day with Diabetes because unfortunately, my husband just smiles and says it will be okay. That’s really not what I need to hear! The comments left by other D Moms on my blog are the highlight of my day. Comments from parents and adults that understand. Comments of encouragement when all I want to do is give up. Comments of cheer when we conquer the demon. So many cherished comments, each one PRICELESS. The D.O.C keeps me sane, motivated and free from ever feeling alone. We cry together. We celebrate together, the DOC is ONE! Love you guys!

Treating Lows

This is Day 2 of D-Blog Week created by the Diabetes Online Community. The second installment: Making Lows Go Away.

Lows are all very different, some creep up on you and hit you like a freight train. Some come on slowly and you only know they are there because your brain is processing things slowly. There are crashing lows and lows that just hang around without dropping. There are lows that are a result of a basal rate thats too high, and lows from over bolusing or counting carbs wrong for food or corrections given. Some lows allow you to continue on your merry way while treating, while others inflict horrid confusion, weakness, headaches, trembling and FEAR.

Another sucky kind of low are the ones that come after a high. You know the ones. The highs you've been correcting that dont budge, so you do what seems logical and over ride the pump suggestions bolusing MORE. Then you crash and end up cursing Diabetes. It really ticks you off. Its the worst of both worlds.

I personally have only had a few heart pounding lows over the past 4 years while sleeping. I'm a daytime low kind of girl. I think we all tend to over treat night time lows sometimes. Night time brings about a desperate need to ease our fears and stop the sweating and confusion during our sweet dreams. Juice is stashed in my dresser drawer along with glucose tablets and Glucagon. You never know.

Maddison tends to have alot of numbers that are lower than is safe for a sleeping child at night. "Drink Drink" is all I have to say to get Maddison sipping on juice straw all hours of the night. My goal of treating night time lows is to never have to wake my sleeping child. Thats why I choose juice at night for Maddie. If I wake Maddison up, she will then feel the low which sucks in itself. I also dont want Maddison to then be kept awake with needless worry of going back to sleep. If its a scary low (under 60) I may choose to grab the glucose tabs out of fear that she's dropping fast. You never know. Glucose tabs are also nice because they are only
4c....sometimes thats all it takes to bump up a low. Tabs also work fastest for us, probably because it is a dextrose sugar vs fructose. If Maddison is just trending low I reduce her basal to 0% for half an hour and recheck at that time. Trending lows also get some milk or PB for staying power. There is a very fine line between too many carbs for lows and not enough. Treatment of Maddies lows are pretty much based on the weekly trend or the activity level of the day.

Daytime lows for both Maddison and I are **typically** caught before they happen, because we ALWAYS try to check 2 hours after eating. The "active" insulin, or insulin still working to lower blood sugar after a meal, is tracked by the pump. THANK GOODNESS. THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT PART OF PUMPING FOR US! If you see me asking for Maddison's pump when she is low it is because the active insulin tells me how low she is likely about to go. There is a BIG difference between a low with no "active" insulin and a low with tons of insulin still working.

If a low is already here and crashing we choose 100% juice (not apple, too slow) tabs or a hidden candy stash. Skittles work well since I can find them in tiny holiday packets, they have 12c which usually does the trick. If we have an impending low that isnt here yet, we have a snack starting with fruit (or something high GI like pretzels) and reduce the insulin given with it to balance out the low.

The lows that tell your brain to cause intense hunger feelings are treated with some very filling food. A good balance of carbs, protein and healthy fats does the trick and assures your body you are replenishing the crashing blood sugars. There is nothing worse than the starvation feeling you sometimes get when you are low. Your body literally signals you to shovel in the food because your brain is being starved of the vital glucose it needs to survive. I never ignore that feeling. If my body says pour in the food, I do. (which is probably why I've gained weight) Then of course you will have to bolus back some insulin after the risk of the low has passed. Its all about balance my friends. Balance.

Endo appointment

All day today I was looking forward to Maddison's Endo appointment. Her FANTABULOUS doctor has recently separated from the local Childrens Hospital and started her very own practice. I couldnt wait to see it! Dr D....you will here many of us AZ bloggers rave about our Endo, she is an amazing MOM of two very young boys on top of being the FANTABULOUS doctor that she is. She wanted it all, a practice caring for her patients that also allows her to be home with her children more often. (not to mention exiting the whole big practice drama) So she did it. Dr D is now in her own cute and comfy practice (closer to our house!) and her D families have followed her!

I was sure Maddison's A1c would be around 6.8% (140) since her daytime numbers have been so consistent and her appointment three months ago showed a 6.9% that I didnt expect. Nope. She's up to 7.0% which is GREAT....but that dang A1c is never one that I agree with. Oh well.

The new office paperwork had a section to list any concerns. Where should I start? I listed the same concerns I've listed for the past 3 years. Lack of growth and stomach pain. Maddison is already considered "Short Stature" but this time my concern is her recent rapid weight gain. A weight check confirmed, Maddison's gained 8lbs since her last visit three months ago. Yep. I knew it. I'm also wondering if she's going to be in need of a training bra very shortly. I'm not sure if thats the weight gain or puberty making an early entrance, but either way it freaks me out. This can't be happening. Maddison is barely 4ft tall and appears to be much younger than the 9yrs and 9 months she is. She'll tell you all the time how she is SO tired of being called the little kid. I've put off my concerns for months now....but Dr D confirmed.

After mentioning Maddison even looks a little "puffy" and is about to fall off her growth curve for height, (1%) Dr D ordered extensive lab work including another Celiac panel and Thyroid work up although Maddisons last labs a few months ago came back negative for antibodies. What was negative a few months ago could be highly positive today.

I'm sure its her Thyroid, I just didnt actually expect Dr D to agree. I've seen SOMETHING coming for a long time, more so recently, but, denial is real. Just like when Diabetes was making its move into our lives.

In the morning I'll be taking Maddison in for her fasting tests, but you know what? I'll take a thyroid disorder over other more complicated diseases and disorders any day. If we can do Diabetes, we can do this.

Being the attentive, concerned and compassionate person that Dr D is, she also took time to give her condolences for the loss of my Dad. Dr D knows some of my Dads medical history, and mentioned she knew he was "too young." "64" I told her as she asked me what happened to my Dad... I kept it short, even though by now I was feeling very overwhelmed and wanted a private counseling session after the whole review of Maddison's new concerns. Dr D was taken back with sorrow as I told her all the problems my Dad had in that hospital, her compassion for others is sincere and runs deep. Her voice now quivering with sadness, she told me of her own heartbreaking hospital situation with her own Father in law. Because thats the kind of person she is. She cares. She understands, and she always takes time to validate your feelings. I think we could have both cried together right then and there. I could never say enough how I cherish this woman being Maddison's Endo. That feeling in itself today could have been enough to bring tears to my eyes. Todays Endo appointment turned out to be an emotional roller coaster ride for me today!

Now this. All the what if's until Maddison's blood work comes back. I'm saddened that we had to discuss these concerns in front of Maddison in the office today, causing her needless worry and questions of what may be lying ahead. Now, we wait.

A days work with Diabetes x's 2

"A Typical Day in The Life With Diabetes" is the first assignment for Diabetes Blog Week. For D-Blog Week, Karen challenged the diabetes blogging community with a week's worth of blog prompts. Today is "A Day on the Life," so, this is how a typical 24 hour day in our house with Diabetes goes.....

A typical Monday

6:30am The alarm clock sounds. Two excited Goldens jump on the bed to make sure I'm up. Diego does his annoying whining thing to let me know its time to play ball. Roxy just wants to cuddle. I stick both needy dogs outside to potty.

6:35am Check Maddison's BS. Maddison is in range 95% of the time by 6:35am!! YAY! I do a silent cheer! If this is an unusual morning and Maddison wakes up high, you will catch me saying some meanie words to Diabetes while fighting the urge to crawl back in bed. So, if Maddison happens to be high I have to ask her to check her urine ketones. If any ketones at all or her site is on at least day 3 we will change it. If not, I just curse Diabetes for being a drag today. By now Maddison knows she's high and she'll start complaining about all kinds of aches and pains. Then I have to decide if she's just trying to get out of school or is does she really feel that icky. I give her a glass of orange crystal light regardless, correct the high by her pump if needed. If Maddies number is REALLY high I prebolus a good portion of her breakfast and pray that she eats it. Thats a high morning. Some mornings Maddison may need to sip some juice if she's too low. If she wakes up in range I'm a happy momma who worries less about what the day will bring. I always check her pump tubing for air bubbles, then turn on the TV and make my first attempt to wake her by enticing her with Animal planet of course! Then I proceed to the kitchen with meowing kitten following, dodging his efforts of chewing on my feet. Pop my yuck-o instant coffee in the microwave. Check my own blood sugar, hopefully not cursing out loud when the number shows up. Bolus for coffee. Time to wake up Hannah. Climb in bed with my grumpy teen who pleads for just a few minutes more. Listen to her freak out about the cat who is now pouncing on her feet. Give her a hug and HOPE I dont have to come back to wake her, which will then lead to grumpiness and my blood sugar will surely spike.

6:45am Let the dogs in, throw the ball a few times and head outside to check out the Aviary birds. Chase the cat to bring him back inside. Throw the ball a few more times.

6:50am Sip my coffee and check email. Start commanding kids out of bed. Straighten up whatever mess is left from the night before. . Plead with Maddison to STOP complaining about how school is so "dumb" and warn her at least twice that she will have a consequence if she doesnt be QUIET and get moving.

7:20am Make breakfast. Bolus the rest of Maddison's carbs. Chit chat and distract Maddison by talking about her favorite things so she isnt whiny. Remind Hannah 100 times where she left her shoes, her hairbrush etc. Throw in some laundry. Feed the fish. Pack lunches with carb counts and a snack if Maddison has PE.

7:45am Stretching. Commanding kids to hurry up making sure they have everything for the day.

7:55am Drop them off at school.

8:05am HOME! Finish stretching. Drink 8c of juice, check my BS and jump on the treadmill. Leaving Maddison in the care of the school nurse all day doesnt mean I dont wonder how she's doing. Nearly every hour I glance at the clock, wondering how she is doing now. Maddison checks her blood sugar two hours after breakfast in the nurses office, then an hour and a half later before lunch. Then again at 2pm. I will be called at first notice of any number under 60 or any number that is unusually high. (over 300)

8:30am Start circuit weights. Check my BS. Drink more juice. Wonder how Maddison's doing at school.

9:15am Check BS. Turn down basals for 8 hours. Take the inside birds outside to the aviary for the day. Throw the ball a few times. Clean up the kitchen. Check the laundry. Jump in the shower.

9:30am All done getting ready for work. Make my fruity protein shake and gather my things for work. Out the door. Fight the urge to call the school nurse.

10am Sitting at my boring desk job chasing insurance companies that suck while keeping an eye on my email hoping the nurse doesnt have crazy numbers to report. All day I glance to see if the nurse emailed me! Its terrible! Check my cell phone to make sure its working. What if the nurse is trying to call me!!??

11:30am Check my BS if I havent had to already for a low. Eat an apple and almonds with a cheese stick or yogurt.

1:30pm Check my BS if I havent had to already for a low. Eat lunch.

2:30pm Leave work to meet Maddison at the bus stop.

3:15pm Watch Maddison skip down the street. School wasnt so bad afterall I guess! Get school updates and new gossip from Hannah. Check Maddison's BS log from the day and decide if she needs a snack or to be checked. Make a plan...take Maddison to volunteer right away or does she watch TV or have computer time while I zoom around cleaning and preparing dinner? Maybe a bike ride or a walk first. All depends on when Maddison is ready to volunteer.

4:30pm Check my blood sugar. Check Maddison's blood sugar. Drop Hannah off at Volleyball practice, go to my moms and make dinner. Help Maddison with her homework. Chit chat and enjoy dinner with Mom while trying not to think about how we miss my Dad dearly.

7:00pm Pick up Hannah. Feed Hannah and the husband dinner. Do dishes, homework, prepare for the next day. More laundry. More cleaning. Direct Maddison to take her bath. Check the pump tubing after her bath to make sure no bubbles decided to form. Make the rounds to assure Maddison tended to all her pets. Spend some time online. Look over BS numbers and decide what needs to be adjusted, if anything.

9pm Read Maddison's bedtime story and listen to her concerns of the day. Check both our sugars. This is where the night gets tricky. If Maddison still has a bit of insulin on board from dinner and she is under 130 she stays up until 9:30 when I recheck. If she is high she is safe to go to bed and I continue to check her BS every hour or two until her BS is around 130. If Maddison is under 100 going to bed she sucks down some juice or has a tiny snack. I will recheck in about 20 minutes. If Maddison was crazy running wild outside after school she gets a temp basal. If Maddison's BS is under 70 she stays awake until she is at least 90 and I go from there hoping to not have to give my sleeping child juice.

10pm Maybe Maddison is in range by now and I can sleep. If not, back to the chores and internet I go until I recheck again.

12am Bolt out of bed wondering why Diabetes doesnt sleep like they say it does. Check Maddison's blood sugar. Do whats needed. Check my own if I feel like it. Stay awake to chase numbers if I have to.

3am Check Maddison's blood sugar. Stay awake chasing more numbers if I have to.

5am If Maddison was high or under 100 at 3am, I wake up to recheck.

6:30am Here we go again!

Thats an EASY day in the life of Diabetes. I think next we should post about a "sick" day with Dibetes, because those are the days that REALLY put us to the test and become scary.

May

I can't believe its May already! I'm in total freak out mode! Mainly I'm freaked out about my Hannah going to HIGH SCHOOL next year! Need I say more? For some reason, Hannah going to high school also makes me feel OLD. Like, I'm having a midlife crisis old! I know I'm not even 33 yet, but man, am I feeling old!

You know how one day you look in the mirror and think "OMG, who the hell is that?" Well, that's where I'm at lately. I LOOK old. Old and tired. I know Diabetes plays a big part of me looking so old! We all know Diabetes = no continuous sleep at night. I can SEE it catching up with me lately since Maddison hasn't really had a predictable night for months. Tired is normal for me.....but FEELING OLD.....that's a new one.

Maddison's numbers have been ((KNOCK ON WOOD)) fantabulous during the daytime with great predictability. Most nights she does well too, but I'm still not sure she is safe from going too low....Ive been watching night time basals for months now and still have yet to find a "safe" number to leave her at so I can sleep a good stretch without worry. Every night is different it seems, which brings me to the next MAY issue that I'm freaking out about.....SWIM TEAM!

Ohhhhhhhh swim team!!!! Signing Maddison up for the swim team is saying GOODBYE to the last few weeks of fantabulous blood sugar numbers and HELLO to lows and highs. There is just no way around it. Signing up for swim team is inviting CHAOS back into my days and nights. Maddison will be training Monday through Thursday with competitions on Saturdays. I can already see myself nervously watching pool side while Maddison swims her heart out. Other parents are gonna think I'm a freak! I'm sure the those first few weeks of training I will be clinging to the edge of the pool watching for signs of a low like a paranoid weirdo. I'll be a nervous wreck, not to mention Maddison trains at 6pm......right after dinner and bedtime shortly after! How will I sleep all summer?

Summer and swimming has always proven to throw me for a loop, even without a competitive swim team. Typically, my kids swim twice a day in the summer if not HOURS a day. Swimming all day (our pump isn't water proof) means I have to reconnect Maddie's pump ever so often to give her insulin. But how often? Is Maddison just going to be relaxing in the water or is she playing Mermaids and Pirates, zooming around in the depths of the pool? If she swims right after eating (with insulin on board (IOB)) does she need some Gatorade to keep from going low? Active insulin while being super active = scary crashing lows. Will she feel it when her little heart is pounding from the excersize anyway? Maybe we just need extra protein? Less bolus? Half a bolus? NO bolus? Will her site fall off AGAIN today? I hate seeing her swollen skin where super adhesives keep her site stuck in the summer. UGH. Swimming is so much damn work with an insulin pump!

Last year Maddison had lows right after swimming, then highs 3-5 hours later. Then lows again 8-12 hours after swimming. I couldn't figure anything out because swimming also equals a hellacious appetite! Continuous eating! Was it the ratio or the basal that caused this low or high? Missed basal while disconnected? Maybe the sensitivity factor. Who the hell knows? I just managed each day as the numbers came. Nothing was predictable the entire summer it seemed! Sure, if Maddison swam exactly the same way each day I could have figured it out. I even logged the duration AND intensity of the swimming EVERY SINGLE DAY. How crazy is it that I tracked my kids every move in the summer and never learned a damn thing!!?? Maddison always has the highest A1c's in the summer because I cant figure out a damn thing with all the activity, eating and lack of structure! Sleep in? YEP! Stay up late? YEP! Run wild in the neighborhood for hours with all the neighbor kids? YEP! Summer IS a ton of fun....but I'm never ready to say goodbye to predictability. I'm not sure if I'm more freaked out about high school or swimming. How sad is that?

I've had nothing but lows lows lows lately. I'm about to slap the CGM back on, but I need the sensors for Maddison's summer ahead! I'm on an 9 week stretch of actually sticking to my normal morning workouts (I go into work an hour later now to fit it in!) so my metabolism must be kicking back into gear. I'm back down to just 5 units of basal a day like when I used to be at my goal weight and worked out daily. Just 5 units of basal and I'm still having lows! Speaking of my mid life crisis feelings....Being in my 30's now the extra mush areas don't come off as easily as they used to. ICK. Darn Christmas cookies!

May has brought about too many school projects. Too many parties and too much stress for me! Hannah starts two different sand volleyball leagues the end of this month. Did you know it will soon be over 100 degrees every day and up to 118 by July? YEP. 2 on 2 sand Volleyball in AZ. Its pure torture. Hannah is also starting a week long volleyball camp to prep for the high school team. I think all I do all summer is taxi my kids around. Talk about a difference from how I lived as a kid. May is quite a month. The summer is always quite an experience. No wonder the summer goes too darn fast!

Hiking and Trending

Josh and Maddison just set out for a morning hike. I'm taking the opportunity to stay home and clean this tornado of a house, plant a new garden and do some yard work...even though....I would rather go with them. I LOVE the outdoors. I LOVE a good morning hike. But, Maddison and her Dad need some time alone together...AND Maddison and I need the break from each other. (not to mention Dad needs the time to manage D himself)

I'm the main D care giver. I manage all doses. Record all logs. Count all carbs, correct all day and all hours of the night. Maddison doesnt have anyone other than the school nurse who knows her Diabetes. That just leaves me, so, I worry when she's away from me, even with her Dad. I KNOW she will be fine. I know he's totally aware of caring for Diabetes. He's fabulous. BUT, he doesnt know her trends for this week. This week isnt the same as last week, and isnt the same as next week.(unless by some fat change things decide to "stabilize" for awhile!) You can't always treat lows the same. You cant always treat highs the same. Its experience from the trends that are happening NOW that determined what I decide in the moment I see a low or high number. All this makes me realize Maddison needs to start paying attention to what she needs for TODAY. She needs to be able to help make decisions when she is away from me about treating a low or a high based on her trends. Trending is what its all about my friends!

Josh doesnt really have the hands on experience to know how activity like hiking, biking and swimming effects her blood sugars. Sure, he hears me tell him what Maddison's blood sugars are like this week....but, that doesnt really mean much when you aren't actually managing it. 12-15 blood sugar checks a day combined with adjusting doses, watching the IOB....that is the only way you learn about Diabetes and what it needs for today. This week Maddison is trending low and has had many snacks to avoid them. Add to that 5u of insulin on board from breakfast, a morning hike, a week of trending low....you gotta be on top of it to avoid lows. I hate lows!

I set a temp basal on Maddison's pump and increased her ratio for today's hike. Thats the best we can do. I can't wait to hear all about their hike and see the pictures they take. Until then, I will stay busy and try not to wonder whats happening in that little body of Maddison's while she's skipping up the trail. Even when our D kids arent with us we still wonder what the day holds for blood sugars. Some day, I hope to not wonder anymore. Some day, I hope to the greatest depths of my soul that we find the CURE.