Texting with the Nurse

BittysMom · #1 09-13-2011, 12:25 PM

Caroline (in Kindergarten) has been having some unpredictable numbers. Yesterday she dropped 180 points from her prelunch level to right after recess (249 to 69). Now my Endo is having us only cover for carbs unless she is over 300.

The Nurse at her school is wonderful. She texts me Caroline's numbers with her private cell. Today, when I went up for lunch at 11:30, Caroline was 262. So we didn't correct and just gave her .5 unit for 51 carbs. I purposely packed a more carb-rich lunch than usual hoping to avoid a low. (her ratio is 1:70)

The nurse just checked her at 12:45 and she was 109. That's a 153 drop with .5 unit. So my thinking is the insulin isn't done working yet and she should be checked again. So I texted back the nurse asking if she could test her again after art at 1:50. She comes home at 3:30.

The nurse is so wonderful, but I'm wondering- will it always be this time consuming? Is this normal? Things were going so well and now I'm all-consumed about this and I feel like I'm in over my head. Making decisions on when to test etc. I feel like I just don't know

Butterfly Betty · #2 09-13-2011, 12:33 PM

In my experience, yes and no. Sounds like you're lucky to have a nurse who is willing to go our of her way for your daughter. We're about nine months into this and there are days that I feel like all I do is talk diabetes with one person or another, and then I have days where I don't. I'm thankful for the days when I don't have to.

Christopher · #3 09-13-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BittysMom

The nurse is so wonderful, but I'm wondering- will it always be this time consuming? Is this normal? Things were going so well and now I'm all-consumed about this and I feel like I'm in over my head. Making decisions on when to test etc. I feel like I just don't know

You are in the very early days and feeling overwhelmed is normal. Additionally, your child may be Honeymooning and that makes things harder to predict sometimes. For me, diabetes is a very time consuming thing, not only physically dealing with it, but mentally thinking about it all the time. I think what you will find as you continue on the journey is that things will ebb and flow. Sometimes things will go really well and you will feel more in control. That may last for a while. Then things may get more difficult and harder. The trick is always trying to put diabetes in perspective with the rest of your life and all the other things that make up you and your child's life. It is only one piece. A very important piece, no doubt, but still only one. Hang in there...

minniem · #4 09-13-2011, 12:40 PM

I personally would be happy she's texting you. That's above and beyond in my book. My DS's teacher at times will text me or call me with a number just to make sure they are treating it correctly. To me, it is a lot, but I like it because it lets me know how he's doing during the day. I think about him constantly anyway, so I don't mind.

Plus as you get more comfortable you'll know Caroline's diabetes better than anybody. So you'll know how to treat different scenarios better than the nurse.

Just keep going day by day. For me it's overwhelming some days and other days it's our new normal (never thought I would utter those words when I first heard them!). Good Luck!

BittysMom · #5 09-13-2011, 12:41 PM

I'm looking forward to some of those days. We do have our moments where we forget about D, but they are generally when I have her at home right next to me and I don't have to worry about asking someone else to take care of her for me.

BittysMom · #6 09-13-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minniem

I personally would be happy she's texting you. That's above and beyond in my book. My DS's teacher at times will text me or call me with a number just to make sure they are treating it correctly. To me, it is a lot, but I like it because it lets me know how he's doing during the day. I think about him constantly anyway, so I don't mind.

Plus as you get more comfortable you'll know Caroline's diabetes better than anybody. So you'll know how to treat different scenarios better than the nurse.

Just keep going day by day. For me it's overwhelming some days and other days it's our new normal (never thought I would utter those words when I first heard them!). Good Luck!

Yes, I'm very thankful for how willing the nurse is to do what it takes. I guess I'm just hoping for a time where I won't be sitting here with a lump in my gut wondering all day and debating if I should ask her to test her again...

Butterfly Betty · #7 09-13-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BittysMom

I'm looking forward to some of those days. We do have our moments where we forget about D, but they are generally when I have her at home right next to me and I don't have to worry about asking someone else to take care of her for me.

I worry about her all the time. Sophie's numbers are still out of control, and even though her teachers, the nurse, and I all work together, still feels like I'm alone. I know I'm not, but our school is small, and she's the only D kid in Elem, Jr high, and High school. She feels out of place, and so do I. One day, though, I have faith that she'll feel "normal" again, even if she's always been extraoridary.

tiger7lady · #8 09-13-2011, 12:48 PM

That's awesome that the nurse is willing to text you during the day. We also have a fantastic nurse who will IM me (I'm sitting at work all day in front of a computer).

To answer your question, some days it will feel like too much but other days it does become a new normal. Those first few months are really hard and quite an adjustment. Hang in there - you are doing great!

Flutterby · #9 09-13-2011, 12:54 PM

Sounds like you have a wonderful nurse.. Things will change on a daily basis.. there are some days I'm on the phone with the school constantly, and other days I don't hear from them at all.. Its the beginning of the school year you'll definitely hear from them more. They're getting to know your child and what works and doesn't work for her.. ontop of that she's still newly diagnosed so things are different anyway.

Keep doing what you're all doing.

BittysMom · #10 09-13-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

You are in the very early days and feeling overwhelmed is normal. Additionally, your child may be Honeymooning and that makes things harder to predict sometimes. For me, diabetes is a very time consuming thing, not only physically dealing with it, but mentally thinking about it all the time. I think what you will find as you continue on the journey is that things will ebb and flow. Sometimes things will go really well and you will feel more in control. That may last for a while. Then things may get more difficult and harder. The trick is always trying to put diabetes in perspective with the rest of your life and all the other things that make up you and your child's life. It is only one piece. A very important piece, no doubt, but still only one. Hang in there...

Thanks. I make a point of trying to make diabetes a back-burner type of thing in Caroline's eyes. Since she's young it's been pretty easy I think. It's me who is handling this the worst. She is honeymooning, not on any Lantus and barely any humalog. I'm used to life being very tidy. I'm going to have to adjust to the uncontrollable nature of this.