The Biggest Challenge: Thinking Too Much

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The Biggest Challenge: Thinking Too Much

10-07-2007 3:09 PM EDT by Michelle Kowalski
Categories: Children Emotions Real Life
Tags: high blood sugar kids parents
Views: 780

I know I shouldn't have, but I couldn't resist testing the baby's blood sugar. Here's my excuse: her diaper was leaking, leaking, LEAKING! only several hours after a diaper change. So I freaked.

I've tested my other kids at random times for random reasons, or just because I wanted to. So I thought it would be OK. I know that kids can run higher than adults, but I had to know if the super leaky diaper meant more than she just had too much to drink.

Oh my God, I thought when I saw 135. I stopped thinking clearly. More accurately, I stopped thinking.

As parents with diabetes we know and understand the signs and symptoms of diabetes so well that we can sometimes (often) overreact and overthink. Every diaper that's more wet than usual, every day that a kid goes to the bathroom more than normal, every meal that the kids eat twice as much as usual is fuel for our fears. The scrutiny we place on everyday activities can make living with the possibility of diabetes for our kids challenging at the least.

After a few minutes of contemplating just how in the world the baby could have what I considered to be such a high blood sugar (OK and I did some Google searches), I remembered that she had in fact had something to eat since breakfast. Just 30 minutes or so prior to her first finger stick, she guzzled a juice box.

It was almost instant relief. But don't think I won't check her again before bed.

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Comments (4)

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On October 7th, 2007 at 4:33 EDT shannonl said:

Yeah, once you know too much about something the hypervigilance sets in and things become magnified when it would go unnoticed to the ordinary eye.

There have been a few times when I've checked both of my other kids when their diapers were fuller than I thought they should be.

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On October 7th, 2007 at 8:27 EDT karend1 said:

Every time my sisters said my nieces or nephews were soaking their diapers constantly I wanted them to test for diabetes, but kept it to myself. I still pray they never become diabetic, it would break my heart to see a little one have to test and get multiple shots, not sure I could cope with it. :(

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On October 8th, 2007 at 8:43 EDT Carey Potash said:

I can relate to this as well. My daughter can't say "I'm thirsty" without my wife and I giving each other "the look."

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On October 8th, 2007 at 9:48 EDT caseyleigh said:

I can relate...
This morning, my son said that he had a stomach ache. So, I tested him and his blood sugar was 171. He told me once I calmed down about the blood sugar reading that he had just eaten something. Mind you, he is 14, so he doesnt need constant watching (in ways yes, but other ways, no). I tested his blood sugar 2 hours later and his blood sugar was 101. I felt better about that reading.
When he was really little, I would have to test him a lot cuz he was just not acting right. Whether he would pee a lot or drink more than usual, or even have a soggier than usual diaper would have me checking him like crazy. He is prediabetic, but isnt overweight-in fact, he is underweight. I was diagnosed at being diabetic when I was almost 13, so I was really thin. Oh, and BTW, I am a type 1 diabetic.

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