Science Project

Riley is required to do a science project every three years starting in 6th grade. Three years ago he worked with the flight of paper airplanes: did the construction of the aircraft make it fly further? This year it is to be the effect of carbohydrates on blood sugar of a person with Type 1 Diabetes.

His plan is to eat 15 CHO of Starbursts, 15 CHO of Cheezits, 15 CHO of pizza. Three of his favorite things.

Speaking of favorite things...It is difficult for Riley to save the Skittles and Starbursts and snacks I pack in his bags for lows. He eats them because they are there and they are delicious. This week it occurred to me to get candy and snacks that aren't particularly tasty. (Smarties, yogurt covered raisins and peanut butter crackers) Made me wonder how we got to this fork in the road. Back when he was first diagnosed, there was nothing we wouldn't do (sorry double neg) for him and we would spoil him in every other way.  I am sure that this is a common phase for parents of recently diagnosed T1D children. Right??? We'll see if these candies and snacks stick around longer like until they are needed. That's my science project.

Back to the science project...

This is not what we were expecting. Thought there would be a spike after eating these items without insulin coverage. Was that just wrong expectations? Maybe I was thinking of eating an entire meal then wonder why bg is 350 and realize he forgot to inject. Or maybe because the long acting insulin is at the perfect dosage rate. Or maybe because the insulin on board is still working even though these were all done at least 3 hours after a meal. After further research - looking at what I just typed into the chart- I see that each product actually did cause a blood sugar increase of at least 40 points. The chocolate covered peanutbutter egg is the fastest acting, hitting the highest max at the shortest 30 minute mark. Interesting also that Cheez its took the longest to max.

I'm not sure what Riley's hypothesis is and what he hopes to learn from this research. I offered to test at each interval to show the difference between diabetic results and non-diabetic results. He wasn't interested. I'll let you know what he does with this data.                                    

 

Things Said While Low

Low caught on camera last week during school.
This is the health room. A buddy walked with Riley
from chapel. Eating goldfish, after fast acting carb.

Riley:  Can I have that knife?
Me:      No
Riley:   Like...forever?
Me:      huh?
Riley:   Well I'm gonna have it. When you are dying, you're gonna call me to you and say "Riley I   want you to have this knife."
Me:      This Cutco paring knife..you want to inherit this?
Riley:   Yes

                             AND

Riley:   Mom, let's go out on the prowl!
Me:      Huh?
Riley:   Isn't that what you say? You know go out shopping and stuff? I wanna buy some stuff.

AEP Meeting

We got called into a meeting for an Adapted Education Plan at Riley's school. I'm not sure why March 7th was the date for this since he was diagnosed almost 1 1/2 years ago. The only thing that stood out during this meeting with all of Riley's teachers sitting in classroom desks in a circle that included the student support teacher, Riley, my spouse and I, was that he was eligible for accomodations but not modifications. Wait...What?? Modifications mean modifications to his grades. I want that! Can I sign him up for that?

I'm pleased with accomodations.

• Student is permitted to keep all diabetes supplies with him and test during class if he feels low.
• Student is permitted to eat if necessary.
• Student is permitted to carry and drink from a water bottle and have access to the restroom.
• Studnet will be permitted to make up quizzes and tests when missed for diabetes related issues.
• Teachers will be familiar with Emergency Plan to deal with lows in the classroom
• Teachers will have Smarties in their classrooms.

But I really want grade modifications.

• Student sometimes is lousy test taker - increase by one letter grade.
• Student not so proficient Spanish I - increase by two letter grades.
• Student forgets to bring study materials home for big History test - give passing grade of any letter.
• Teachers find student so interesting, witty and pleasant - give A+ whenever possible.

Left Field

 Endo appointment went well. We didn't actually meet with the doctor. Their new schedule plan is to alternately meet with the doctor one month then the Nurse Educator the following appointment in four months. And the Diabetic Nutrition Specialist at each visit. Ho- hum meeting with nutrition nurse. Sharpened a few ratios, suggested more protein in the diet and we were sent back to the waiting room for the next meeting with the CDE.

I was excited when my favorite nurse came and sat to check in on us. Our scheduled CDE was with a new patient so did we have any questions for f.n.? The DNS covered everything....except she generally asks about Riley's interest in the pump each time we meet and he categorically says no before she finishes her sentence. I suggested f.n. go through the same motions with him. He replied as expected. F.n. asked, "Why not?" Riley described some ridiculoulsy bloody fear that the pump's needle would get accidentally torn out of it's spot and rip his skin apart half way across his body and be totally disgusting. F.n explained with the help of a set of twins that were sitting in the waiting room with us wearing their
pumps, that there is no needle attached to the pump. It may get pulled out, but it wouldn't hurt too bad.

Favorite Nurse-taking advantage so quickly that
I'm surprised I was able to get this picture

The twins were funny. "Yeah we wrestle, yeah we get hurt, but not from our pumps."

Brilliant f.n. (favorite nurse) asked Riley if he would let her  attach an infusion set. Riley looked at me and said, "For the new xbox game." I said .... yes! I had just said no fourteen times before f.n. arrived.



Attached to nothing but courage

We were whisked into an exam room, f.n. grabbed a couple supplies and before he could object...wisk, bam, boom.

He was very proud of himself, as was I.  Such a closed mind opened in a split second. It was right out of left field. I rather like it there.

Camouflage

Not actual bag...stand in that
doesn't make me cry

Another child at our school has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. That brings the total to 5. There are only 300 and some students.

I stopped by my daughter's lunch table to say hello and see how the newly diagnosed kid was doing. I had to say something. I saw the camouflage bag. I asked him how he was. "Good, my mom just stopped by to check on me. I'm fine," he said.

The camouflage bag. Something caught in the back of my throat. I couldn't finish my sentence.  I just wanted to know how the transition to school was going. There was no stopping the quickly forming tears. I couldn't speak.

Endo Appointment Looming

Throwing caution to the wind right before Endo appt

Not to be a band-waggoner. But, I do not want to go this quarterly appointment. I used to look forward to these appointments. During the honeymoon phase, the topics were light coffee table conversation that felt more like a light applause for catching on so well.

Now it's all "that a1c is sure coming up" and "you have to have tried to inject in your belly once a week by the next appointment" and "do you know that Nutella is all sugar?"

It is making everything stressful.

Me: The numbers have to look good for the doctor, Tim.  We have to get the carb:insulin ratio right, right now!
Tim:  I know they were high when Riley was sick, but they're better now, right?
ME:  NO, no they're not. Did you see that 464 the other night?

Me: Riley, what's up with the 464 the other night?
Riley: Um..I dunno. I didnt want to tell you because I know you'd freak out.

Where does he get this from. ..me..freak out?!

Then, last night 130 at 9 pm before bed and 59 around 10 pm. That's just stupid.

Plus, I may have said some things that sounded like other people (Tim) need to pay closer attention while I'm working so much these days right before the quarterly Endo appt.

Cold Caught

138 Fri breakfast
255 Fri lunch
301 Fri dinner
343 Fri bedtime

211 Sat breakfast
397 Sat lunch
262 Sat dinner
260 Sat bedtime

222 Sun breakfast
247 Sun lunch
248 Sun dinner
232 Sun evening check
266 Sun bedtime

240 Mon breakfast
202 Mon morning check
306 Mon lunch
  84 Mon afternoon check

Riley got sick over the weekend. You can see where it started on the schedule above. Right between breakfast and lunch on Friday morning. Sore throat, croupy cough, no fever though.

Then he got better. Sometime Monday afternoon. Or maybe we finally got the insulin carb ratio right to cover the insulin need during his cold.

Difficult to dose now. At dinner we kept the same higher dose, thinking we got it right as shown above. But after two hours, lots of loud carrying-on (symptom of low for Riley) - he was 71. Ate 10 CHO homemade protein bar, tested 70 bg. Ate Belvita 36 CHO and chocolate almond milk 13 CHO, at bedtime he was 180. This morning 240. So...still fighting cold or need to up Lantus??? Then send him to school and hope for the best, ughhh.