Life With a Diabetic Kid

Our daughter had breast cancer. She chose to go to Boston where she figured she would have more than half a chance at success in treatment. Which she has had, and will happily soon be returning home, if only temporarily, as she is planning to move there for good. Meanwhile we have her son, our grandson. He has Type 1 (insulin dependent)  Diabetes. Most days he is cheerful and active and silly. But the rare day cones along where things are not quite right. I am no mathematical genius, and certain numbers my mind refuses to retain. I have no idea what to say when the doctor asks me the amount of insulin he uses in a day. We have had episodes...

Scenario: High blood glucose: He comes out of his room, gives me a weak looking smirk, and heads for the shower. For some reason he craves being in warm water when his blood sugar is high. When he comes out, he says he has vomited. "Have you tested your glucose level?" "Yes, it is 140" "Check your ketones" 'moderate' ...Okay... drink a lot of water... Try food... can't eat oatmeal and toast, does not want egg salad. Lays down. Gets up again... Looks skinnier and worse.  There is a certain look he gets around the eyes when his levels are wrong... "Are you 100% sure the pump is working properly?" "Yes" Okay...
This goes on for a couple of hours then "I smell insulin" "I changed the set an hour ago"... okay "Do it again" Okay. So he re installs his catheter and says he believes this one is better. SIGH.

Another scenario: Low glucose... eat a quick carb.. candy, 1/2 cup of milk, a couple of glucose tablets... wait 15 minutes, recheck blood glucose.. still too low? Eat something else, half a banana, some fruit juice... recheck in 15 minutes.This keeps  up for awhile till his level is either acceptable or has spiked a bit too high, in which he takes more insulin and rechecks himself every hour or so until he is in the normal range. This all takes quite a toll on him, and is best when he does not allow himself to get off balance.

Rest a lot, drink lots of water... and try again tomorrow.