Peers and PE

So the drama with peers in 7th grade? Ohhhh my. Well, it goes something like this....

(According to Maddi)

"I dont think you should be eating that." (3 lifesavers before PE)

"What is that on your arm?" (pump site, Maddi says she has heard this about a "billion" times this year and GIRLS continually whisper and stare)

"You can run more for your Diabetes ya know"

"No wonder you have Diabetes" (Life savers before PE!)

"I'll never have THAT problem"

"Why are you just sitting there when YOU are the one that needs to be running more than us?" (during a blood sugar low)

"Just go!" ( A girl running behind Maddison in PE (physically pushing her) when she suddenly felt low and needed to test)


Damn these 7th graders! I dont know if all these questions and comments suddenly arise from the fact that 4 schools have come together to form one middle school, or if 7th graders really just have no sensor? Teen lack of acceptance for differences? Are they more flooded with media misinformation than the younger grades? Where are the parents that raise their kids to be understanding/caring and supportive of those around them? I seriously don't understand!!!

These kinds of comments from peers are the exact reason why Diabetes in the teen years is so damn difficult and down right emotionally challenging to manage. Who would want to whip out their meter and check a low blood sugar when everyone is staring and gawking over you? People (especially teens!) don't understand that a low blood sugar cant wait. They don't understand that you may suddenly be paralyzed by weakness and shaky legs, unable to continue in PE. What they see is Maddison popping lifesavers or little candy hearts (still left over from Valentines day!) and sitting out of class many times a week. They dont understand why. It seems to Maddison that they see Diabetes as a weakness. They judge. They nag. They whisper. They stare. They even say she uses it as an excuse to sit out of class.

If only Maddison knew how much stronger Diabetes has made her. Physically, emotionally, deep down to her soul....if only the judgements of others didn't hurt.

Its just so hard!!!

This year Maddison has lunch at 11am, recess after, and then PE immediately after that. Well shit! Surprisingly we have managed to stay pretty darn well in range for PE most days, but lately things are trending even lower during or after PE. Some days they toss rings over a net, and some days they run miles. It would be much easier to manage if we had a schedule of anticipated exercise wouldn't it?

We have decreased basals before and after PE. Increased protein at lunch. That worked for awhile. We have taken 15c off the lunch bolus. That worked for awhile. We have eaten 12c lifesavers before PE, done a combination of less carb bolus and less basal, added a snack after PE....and sometimes she will still go low. Not low low....but low enough to feel drained (60's) and unable to participate in the rest of PE, or she ends up missing out of class information later on as her brain recovers from roller coaster numbers. All D Moms know about IOB (active insulin) after eating, and how hard it can be to manage! That is a whole chapter in a book itself!

From what I see this week in Maddi's sugar log is that it isn't long before the "lows" will turn into LOW LOWS.

Now enter Momma bird who has been watching closely.

Time for even more dose changes. Why? Well.....because after 6 weeks of being back in school and running miles in PE nearly every day, (good riddance lazy summer) Maddi's metabolism is changing. Which means her body is more effectively using insulin, which means she suddenly needs less insulin than all summer long! Now I have the job of figuring out how to keep her body and mind functioning without being too high, or too low.... with a shit load of insulin on board from lunch, during PE. -Sigh-

Nothing new right? Every year our kids have a different situation with school classes, lunch, recess and PE, so eventually we figure out what works best to avoid lows and highs. Sad thing is, its all about trial and error. And our kids battle through the ups and downs until we get the numbers right. This is also a lot of extra responsibility and emotional stress to carry as a Mom!! We ARE responsible for their blood sugar numbers. We just are. No one should have to manage their child's health and body functions 24/7/365, but D Moms do. No wonder Maddison is at the point that some days she tries to avoid PE altogether. She just doesn't know which treatment plan to go by anymore! Every week has been different. But, so far this school year Maddi has been managing her Diabetes and making decisions just as well as any Momma bird I know! Im very proud of her knowledge to say the least :)

Teenagers. Middle School. Peers. Diabetes. Not an easy thing to manage, physically or emotionally. I was so naive to think it wouldn't be much different than years past. Parent or child.....this is the toughest age by far! Maddison has been venting away her Diabetes frustrations as they come, but I know that comments and other kids are beginning to eat away at her some days, and I dont blame her. I dont blame her one bit. Luckily, Maddison doesnt let it all bring her down. But if/when she wants to cry or scream and let it all out, I will encourage it. And then, we will move on. We are stronger than letting Diabetes, peers or PE craziness keep us down for long.