Reflections on One Year

On December 8, 2012, we discovered Sam's Type 1 Diabetes. We just filled up our first log book, which we use to track his blood sugar and insulin dosages.

A LOT has changed in one year. If you've followed this (rarely updated) blog from the beginning, you will remember how truly awful the first weeks of life with diabetes was for us. It wasn't just the huge life-style change, it was Sam feeling desperate to control something in his 3.5 year old life, it was a truly horrendous stomach bug that further complicated everything. It was fighting, literally fighting through every blood sugar test and every insulin administration. Have I used the word hellish yet?

When people ask me these days "How's Sam doing?" I can honestly say he's doing really well. He probably doesn't remember a day when he didn't have diabetes. His doctor is amazing and makes small changes at almost every appointment that always have a good affect. He is encouraging to Charles and I and always reminds us of the hope on the horizon, of the technology that will surely change Sam's life someday soon. Sam is very comfortable testing his blood sugar himself, and lets his big brother do it sometimes. Like most young kids, he's a creature of habit, so we test him in the same area (forearms) and administer insulin in the same area (his hindquarters) every time. We do what works for him and for us.

As I anticipated writing out these thoughts on one year, I wanted to do a "day in the life" post for you, spelling out a typical day. Well, no day is truly typical with diabetes. But here's a general idea:

• Sam wakes up, we get a blood sugar reading
• Sam eats breakfast, gets insulin for what he eats, taking into account his blood sugar reading. He also gets 3 units (this is a recent change, it used to be 2) of his slow-release, long-acting insulin.
• Around 3 hours later (hopefully lunchtime), check Sam's blood sugar again. For the most part, we've eliminated mid-morning snacks, which really helps. 
• Eat lunch, getting insulin for what he eats, taking into account his blood sugar reading.
• Around 3 hours later, check Sam's blood sugar again.
• Eat a snack, getting insulin for what he eats, taking into account his blood sugar reading.
• Around 3 hours later (hopefully dinner time), check Sam's blood sugar again.
• Eat dinner, getting insulin for what he eats, taking into account his blood sugar reading. 
• My kids are bedtime snackers, so Sam often eats something before bed. He gets insulin for that (usually without a blood sugar reading beforehand), then another 2 units of his long-acting insulin. 
• Kids go to bed. 
• 3-4 hours later, when Charles goes to bed, he checks Sam again and adjusts as needed- if Sam is low, Charles wakes him up and gives him a glucose tablet. If he is high, he gets insulin. 
• Often, if Charles has to give Sam insulin in the middle of the night, he will check him again another 3 hours later, just to make sure he's not crashing.
• Repeat. Every single day. 

In the past year, we've had only 2 date nights that allowed us to be away from Sam for more than 3 hours. Both times, good friends who also happen to be nurses watched the kids for us and administered Sam's insulin for us. This needs to change. We need more dates, and WONDER OF WONDERS, a night away. That's not completely the fault of diabetes. Our 10th anniversary is next month and our last night away was on our 5th. No lie. That's insane. Maybe that can be our goal for year #2.

God has been so gracious and merciful to us. He has blessed Sam with health. He has blessed us with supernatural patience. He has surrounded us with a community of family and friends who love us, love our kids, and want to help us. We are so thankful. Personally, I would give almost anything to change this part of Sam's story, but I know from my own life and my own story and my own experiences that God has a plan. He has a reason. He has wisdom that far exceeds my own.

So here's to another year.