The World Shares in Diabetes Awareness...

Tomorrow - Nov. 14 is World Diabetes Day!

What should you do - get your BLUE ON!! Wear some blue in honor of this day and the awareness of the worldwide epidemic that is Diabetes.

In 2011 Diabetes was the cause of 4.6 million lives worldwide. This isn't just a growing problem in the United States - and in some countries a diagnosis with diabetes can be lead to death very quickly due to the lack of needed medicines and the basic understanding of the symptoms.

So tomorrow - bring out some blue and think or learn more about diabetes and all those around the world that need a cure!

Until there is a cure,
Jennifer

A blue candle is lit - a sad day for a type 1 family......

I couldn't write a blog yesterday because I was too busy trying to forget the reality of the story I read about Joel Cannable - a young man that lost his war with diabetes a few days ago. (Yes I firmly believe young because he is my age!) His passing of a diabetic seizure is a tragedy beyond words for his family and one that every parent (no matter the age of their type 1 child) has in the back of their heads pretty much at all times - some people wonder why I get up and check Allison's blood sugars at midnight and 3am - this is why.

My prayers and thoughts are with the family and friends of this bright young light that has left our world. Here is the story the news reported on Joel Cannable.

Take a moment during this Diabetes Awareness Month and remember a person that did not hide his diabetes, managed it well but still lost the war. Let us all be aware of what is at stake and why we need to be informed, educated and understand the dire consequences that can come on suddenly and sometimes without warning with type 1 diabetes - both the lows and the highs can be tragic.

In honor of Joel Cannable - I will light a blue candle - please join me in celebrating his life and praying for his family and lighting a blue candle in his memory.

 



Until there is a cure,
Jennifer

Ryan, someone you can count on.......

As I was packing for our vacation last week I was aware of my son's wishes to wear a diabetes support shirt every day, but I also knew we would be at Disney World with his cousin and thought that maybe he would want to have different options available to him so I packed some shirts that were not diabetes related for him too.  Just in case he wanted to wear something else for a day.

So all week he has gotten into his drawer and picked out his own clothes for the day - without a word from me - and all week he has selected a diabetes support shirt. As we were walking into Animal Kingdom yesteday I mentioned it to Chris that I was surprised, he had some fun Disney shirts and his favorite shirt to wear - but still he chooses the diabetes shirt. Chris said what is so true of Ryan - when he gets into a cause he puts all of himself into it - how he does everything - you can always count on Ryan.

He is right, everything he chooses to do he does with his whole mind and heart.

When he is on the soccer field he is so focused and works and runs at 100% the whole time - he isn't the star player - but you can always count on Ryan to be there and put himself wholy into the game.

He may not be the best student in class - but you can always count on Ryan to be there and putting himself out there to do his best and put his whole mind and heart into all his work.

He is a Redskins fan - he puts his whole heart and mind into each game - even though they are hard to be a fan of all the time - but you can always count on Ryan to be there cheering them forward.

He is a Scout - and all that means. He gives his heart, mind and soul to being a good citizen, being a good person, and doing his best. He loves being a scout, and you can always count on Ryan to do the right thing just like a Scout.

I realize after seeing him this week that diabetes awareness isn't just something he does - it is something that matters to him - by choice. Allison has someone in her life, that although they fight all the time, well they are siblings after all, she has someone that she can count on to be there. When it comes down to it, he supports her and her need for a cure and for people to be aware of her disease, she can count on Ryan.

Until there is a cure,
Jennifer

What does it feel like.......

I wonder...what does it feel like to have your blood sugar go from 54 to 380 in less than 30 minutes? What does it feel like to go from 500 to 42 in less than an hour? What does it feel like to stay at 380 for three hours in a row? What does it feel like to stay in the 50's for a long time?

I sat and watched my daughter sleep this morning wondering what her "number" was. We had an issue with running high last night - and without the pump that meant getting out a needle and poking her in the arm at 3am - not my favorite thing. She didn't even know I did it! Amazing to be able to sleep through someone pricking your finger every hour and getting a shot in your arm! I wonder what that feels like - to get "used to" being poked and prodded by your parents while you sleep?

What does it feel like to have type 1 diabetes? I probably won't ever know. I won't be able to walk in my daughter's shoes or say I totally understand what she feels in regards to diabetes. I can wear a pump, I can prick my fingers and give myself make believe shots all I want but it won't tell me what she feels. I wish I could, I wish I could understand better the angry that comes with the high, the depression that comes with the low, the craziness that comes with it all!

When my daughter experiences love for the first time, I know that feeling. When my daughter experiences losing a friend for the first time, I know that feeling. When my daughter succeeds and fails at school, I know that feeling. When my daughter wins and loses in life, I know that feeling. When my daughter has her first kiss, has her first date, has her first driving lesson, finds her life partner, gets married, has her first child, gets a job she loves, gets a job she hates - I know all those feelings. I can help her with all those things and help her along the path of understanding those feelings.

But diabetes, I don't know that feeling. My daughter takes it all in stride, but as we continue through this diabetes awareness month, I have realized that my awareness is simply one of only WHAT diabetes is not a what it "feels" like to have it living inside your body. As I watched her sleep and her chest rise and fall I prayed for her to continue to have that strength of character she carries with her in regard to her diabetes, and to not let diabetes ever win in her life. I hope she knows that although I don't know the feeling from the "inside" I will forever be fighting for her and fighting against the beast inside of her and will do everything I can from this side of diabetes to make sure she gets to experience all those things in life that are actually worth feeling!

Until there is a cure,
Jennifer

Magic Was in the Air......

I was nervous starting out the day yesterday without Allison's pump - we have gotten so used to it's ease of use and calculations for us that I wasn't sure what was in store for us as we embarked on the ever crazy world of a busy theme park! But, magic was in the air!

Except for a couple crazy lows from excitement we had numbers all within range yesterday - truly a magically day with diabetes. Not only that, my daughter again taught me something about her "vacation plans" and diabetes. I thought we were going to have be "sneaky" and "silent" about it all day - trying to find remote places to check blood sugars and inject the insulin! NOPE that didn't have anything to do with her vacation from her pump - it was just that from her pump - not from people knowing about diabetes.

Magic was in the air!

When we sat down to eat lunch she just let us do it right there at the table we were able to just whip everything out there - check blood sugar, draw up the insulin and stick it in her arm - she didn't care, didn't flinch, it didn't bother her.

Magic was in the air!

As we were sitting waiting for the 3pm parade I looked at her and thought she seemed "low" so I asked if she would check her blood sugar. Not a private place around - she just grabbed the meter, opened it up and proceeded. The adults around me gave me a second and one a third look - the kids that surrounded her on the ground all gathered around to "see" what she was doing. She explained it to them - and the adults overheard. One of them leaned over to me and ask "how old is she?" My first thought was one of negativity - he was about to say something incorrect or stupid to me about diabetes, that he didn't know the difference between type 1 and type 2 - I was wrong, again. I told him she was 8 - diagnosed at 6, a year and a half ago. His comment back to me was "She is amazing to handle all those kids and us adults watching her and she explained it so well to those little kids - she has a real handle on her life - good for you and her!"

Magic was in the air!

Then they invited all the kids to come play on main street while we waited for the parade. If Allison had not removed her pump from her side she would never had "jumped" at this opportunity - she loves to jump rope but complains of the bother of her pump "jumping around too much" while she does it - she leaped up and ran over and got in line - and jumped her heart out!

Magic was in the air!

Later we decided to get some ice cream! As we sat down with our treat and prepared to watch a show at Cinderella's Castle (the most magically place of all) - I had to check her and give her a needle with insulin. Honestly I didn't want to do it sitting on the ground surrounded by tons of others but Allison didn't care so we did. As I drew up the needle - the looks from people around me came on strong! As I prepped her skin she said - no wait I'll do it! Talk about stares! As my 8 year old daughter inserted her needle of insulin into the back of her own arm, I got a pat on my back. Allison gave me the needle I secured it and looked at the person sitting next to me that had patted my back. "WOW - I am a nurse and work with training patients to give themselves shots - I can't think of half of them being able to do what she just did - how old is she? She really is just amazing!"

Magic was in the air!

I learned magic isn't about me being able to make a quarter disappear (although my kids love it when I do that) - it is about innocence, happiness and trusting that those around aren't always going to be negative. So maybe we didn't get the magic of diabetes being cured but we did get the magic of it being understood and no one we encountered was afraid of it or us when we showed it to the world - that did make it a MAGICAL day!

Magic does exist and maybe fairy tale dreams and wishes can come true - so I will continue to wish upon a star that one day a cure will come......

Until there is a cure,
Jennifer

(Oh and meeting, MICKEY, MINNIE, DAISY and seeing ALL the PRINCESS - that definitely added to the MAGIC of the day!)

A vacation for everyone - even Allison's Pump.....

Yesterday we spent the sunny Florida day at the pool at our hotel - we have a whole 7 days here so thought we would spread out the time with some fun in the sun poolside and then some at the happiest place on earth (I mean a person can only take so much happiness right?) Anyway, of course while swimming Allison's site comes out. No big surprise, we were actually expecting it. It was the third day of this site (was going to be changed anyway) and she is a water bug so sites get water logged easily when she is swimming! We tested her and she was a whopping 51 so we didn't worry about replacing the site right away either - she would come up and then probably drop down again with all her activity in the pool anyway!

So we wait and slowly she starts to rise during the day - missing that all important basal going in her body! It finally gets to the point where we need to get her back attached to her pump. We get it prepped and primed and ready for insertion and Allison breaks down. Now, on occasion she does this, especially when her blood sugar is a little high, so we were dealing with it like always - but then she says something different - it isn't fair I want a vacation - this is my vacation too.

Hum....what?? A vacation from diabetes? Well she knows that isn't possible.

We wait for her explanation - it is possible to have a vacation from her pump - and that is what she wanted. On her vacation - this week she wants to NOT be attached to something 24/7. She wants to go back to "shots" or as in the diabetes world we call them MDI (multiple daily injections.) WOW was I surprised! She would rather have at least 4 shots a day (one which she used to hate more than anything at night in the bum) than wear her insulin pump that gives her freedom to eat at random?

Yes, she would. She wants to swim with freedom in the pool without a site on her and having to take her pump on and off. She wants to get on all the rides at Disney without having to figure out if it is one that her pump needs to be removed. She wants to sleep at night without rolling over on her pump or twisting up her chord on her arm, leg or where it lands that night. She wants to run around without something dragging down her pocket or the waist line of her clothes. She wants to wear her princess dress without a pair of shorts under it to support her pump.

Now, I get it! My idea of a vacation is a little peace and quite and watching my kids have tons of fun and smiling. Her idea of a vacation is one where she can have fun and not be "attached" to something that reminds her of her disease 24/7.

Until that moment I thought the insulin pump was the best thing in the world. But watching the tears run down her face and listening to her I now see it from her eyes. She does like it better than MDI's all the time - but vacation is a vacation - for everyone! This is her time, her moment, to live differently for a week. To let her mom and dad do all the calculations and draw up the insulin and give her a shot in the arm and then her not think about it again and forget, maybe for a moment, that there isn't this silent disease working inside her body. There won't be a constant reminder attached to her body all time.

So a vacation for everyone it is - no pump, a little peace and getting to watch all my kids have tons of fun!

Today we are headed to the most magical place on earth - unfortunately there isn't enough magic there to rid Allison of her diabetes - but maybe just enough to have her forget she has it for today!

Until there is a cure,
Jennifer

Wearing diabetes on my wrist.......

See This....

 

 

 

I looked down yesterday and realized that I have been wearing this for a year. Last year we got these braclets at a meeting with the American Diabetes Association and my daughter Allison asked if I would be willing to wear it for a whole year. I of course took on that challenge and starting Nov. 1, 2011 - the start of Diabetes Awareness Month last year - I put this on my wrist.

 

I have worn it without removal for an entire year, bathing, swimming, sleeping, meetings - everywhere. At first I  noticed it and it bothered me a bit but then it became a part of me. A part of who I had become, a part of my attire. I wore it with pride and knowing that although I could not experience the daily things my daughter deals with I could at least have on me at all times a reminder of my daughter and her struggles.

 

Unlike this braclet Allison cannot take off diabetes for a while, she cannot remove it from her body because it doesn't go with the business outifit or if it bothers her when she sleeps. So I will continue to wear this braclet until it falls off my wrist - and then I will get another one - and I will wear that one - to always be a reminder that there is something greater than me out there - my daughter who deals with the challenges diabetes gives her daily.

 

You don't have to wear a braclet with me - but this month if you want wear a ribbon and show your support to Allison and all those others out there with diabetes that you are going to be with them and help them along the way and find a way to STOP DIABETES in their lifes.

 

Until there is a cure,

Jennifer

Vacations with diabetes..........

What lies between our family and our Disney Vacation – packing the car and school letting out! I know everyone loves a vacation – just like us – and we are very excited. I wanted to take this moment to show you the extra steps we are taking because we have to be prepared for anything along the road – especially a diabetes related issue.

We like you have to pack clothes, toiletries and shoes but we also have to pack diabetes supplies – and then backups for our diabetes supplies and to be on the “safe side” backups to our backups.  This is a picture of the supplies before I split them into two separate bags. Yes two bags – just in case something happens to one we have another!

Just like everyone takes time to have kits available if your car breaks down or you if you know a storm is coming you get supplies. We do this for our trip with diabetes. We are hoping that it all goes smoothly and there are no issues, but you MUST be prepared for that “what if” at all times when you are travelling with diabetes.

As you think about your trips and all you do,  take a moment and think about what families with diabetes have to do on top of all of all of that. We aren't complaining or nervous about travelling with diabetes, we have done it in the past and will do it many more times in the future. I am just taking this moment during  this month, diabetes awareness month, so maybe next time you meet a family that has type 1 diabetes along the roads of your travels you will remember, they are there to have fun, but they are also being a little more cautious, a little more watchful and are probably very prepared. You will know that they aren't crazy, hovering, helicopter parents, but because like you in a storm they don’t want the worst to happen, but if it does they will have all they need and know what to do to help their child.

Until there is a cure,

Jennifer Holdgreve

Recognizing my Type 1 Hero Roxanne (Who is yours?)................

November 1, 2012

Today is Type 1 Day – a day we recognize all those that we know that have Type 1 Diabetes and all the challenges and issues they face every minute of every day carrying around this disease.

Those that I know with type 1 are the strongest, bravest, energizing and engaging people in my life. My daughter is no exception to this (but you can read many blogs about my daughter and how wonderful and amazed I am at her.) Today I celebrate another friend of mine, that although she is like me in many ways, she has a son that was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a son that does not have type 1 diabetes, a supportive husband and is a naturally happy person – so much like me – BUT she also has type 1 diabetes.

She grew up with it from a young age. She experienced it in a different time when medicines and mechanics were not as sophisticated as they are today. She went through her teenage years with this disease, she went through dating and marriage and the birth of two wonderful children with this disease.

She has experienced “highs” and “lows” I will never know – but she still carries herself with great dignity and pride. She is teaching her sons that life isn’t about having diabetes – it is about living life to the fullest no matter what lies in your path.

In the past year that I have known her she has helped carry the troubles of other parents that are dealing with the stresses of this disease with their children without regard to the fact that she actually knows what it is like to be that child.

Since meeting her one thing I have prayed for, almost as much as I have prayed for a cure, is that my daughter will look at this beautiful amazing young woman and realize that life doesn't stop, that you are capable of living a fun and fulfilling life even with diabetes.

Thank you Roxanne for being an inspiration to me and to the countless others that have, and will, cross your path – you are a true Type 1 Hero – today I recognize you for all you do and all you accomplish as a person thriving with this disease!

Until there is a cure,

Jennifer