Tour de Cure

Saturday, March 31st is the National Tour de Cure day. Gold's Gyms and other places around the nation will be participating in this event organized by the American Diabetes Assocation. I am voluteering as a spin instructor for part of the day on Saturday at our Gold's in Hershey. I am tempted to wear a big pin with this sweet face on it.

I am excited to be able to contribute to this cause somehow. I heard recently about a little girl back in Iowa younger than Ruby that was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. My heart hurt for her and her family as I knew what they were going through and the feelings that poor young mother was having. She would be mourning the death of normalcy, trying to get a grip and figure this whole disease out without getting too freaked out, get as educated as she could as fast as she could and try to be brave and fake smiles when her newly diagnosed daughter looked to her for strength and comfort. This disease has changed our whole family's life. This is what a normal day entails for Ruby:
-Ruby wakes up and immediately needs to eat.
-I check her blood glucose levels, which involves poking her finger to get a drop of blood. I check these to determine what dosage of insulin she needs.
-She gets a shot of insulin, usually in her little bum which is now covered with little scars.
-She eats breakfast after I measure out all of her food so that she gets exactly 40 grams of carbohydrates. No more, no less. We now have several sets of measuring cups at our house.
-She gets a snack exactly 2 hours after breakfast to help the insulin tie her over until lunch.
-Two hours later at lunch we do the 2 pokes - the blood glucose check and the insulin injection again, and she received another 40 grams of carbohydrates.
-She gets a snack exactly 2 hours after lunch again.
-Two hours later at dinner, we do the same 2 pokes again, glucose check and injection and she gets another 40 grams of carbs
-Two hours after that, right before she goes to bed, I check her glucose levels again and she receives her last shot of the day, followed by a fatty, carby snack to hold her over at night
-For the first several months, we'd have to check her at midnight and at 3-4 am to make sure her glucose levels were ok. It was like having a newborn again. Thankfully that part is over.
But our lives have changed in many other ways other than the constant poking, the blood, the regimented diet and timing of meals, etc.
-Ruby now wears this medical bracelet with the word "DIABETES" embossed on it. It never comes off.

In the corner of our kitchen is a "sharps" dispenser - usually an old milk carton. Very lovely.
She must always be in some kind of organized sport or activity, to encourage her to have a healthy and active lifestyle. Activity keeps her levels where they should be. So far we've switched off between gymnastics and swimming lessons.
We have many sugar free/low carb foods around the house. Here is Ruby enjoying a sugar-free popcicle.

-Insulin is a growth hormone, so my tall girl is even taller than she normally would be.
-Her behavior is very dependent on her blood glucose levels. When she is acting naughty naughty, she is usually high. Constant high levels leads to problems later on like kidney failure, lost limbs, etc. When she is acting tired and whiny, she is usually low. Lows have a more immediate cause to worry - seizures, comas, etc. Needless to say, to keep her healthy, we have to run a tight ship. It is challenging though, when she starts acting up--is she really to blame? It's a hard thing to deal with.
-I carry the following things with me wherever I go: Blood glucose monitor, insulin, syringes, glucagon pen, glucose gel, and candy - all in case of emergencies. I've had to use everything but the glucagon pen. Let's hope I never have to use that - that is a last resort, if she was unconscious and couldn't swallow. I have to assume it will happen one day, so I will be ready.
-I never noticed how much candy she got offered before - at the store, at the mall, at the gym, at Church, etc. She is so good about it and always says "No. Sorry, I can't. I have Diabetes." With her lisp, it's even cuter. "Di-ah-bee-thee-th."
-At birthday parties, church functions, etc where desserts are served, I usually have to bring something else for her to eat instead. And she's always excited. "A sugar-free Jello cup! Oh boy!" She's so so good about it. She is my hero.
So if you're inclined to participate in a good cause this weekend, consider the Tour de Cure Spin-a-Thon. That's where I'll be.
In other news, I finished the underwater mural! Cash money millionaire!