Diabetic Recipes
Charlie begins first grade tomorrow. He will have two health aides. One in the morning and another in the afternoon. Neither aide has seen a pump and I'm pretty certain, they've never tested someone's blood sugar. So ...
Susanne will take the first shift, stalking with binoculars from an old, abandoned house across from the elementary school in army fatigues.
As for me, I'm going undercover - enrolling in Charlie's class as a transfer student from Ghana.
We do feel fortunate that the school has decided to provide health aides, but we just hope that they can slip somewhat into the background. We're also very much aware that this sort of special arrangement could be socially detrimental for Charlie if we were to continue beyond first grade. For now, however, it gives us a little peace of mind and it buys us time for Charlie to learn how to test himself, and bolus himself, etc.
Still, I have this horrible image in my head of tag-team testing - one aide pricking a finger on his right hand while the other pricks a finger on his left simultaneously. I picture Charlie reaching desperately with his tongue into a bag of pretzels while both hands are occupied.
Aide #1: "I got 168. What did you get?"
Aide #2: "I got 172!"
Aide #1: "Damn! You win again!"
Aide #1: "OK, one more time before he goes to art class. Double or nothing."
New nurse. New aides. New headache coming on suddenly. Susanne will be at the school most of the day tomorrow giving the aides on-the-job training. I'll be there on Thursday reading a book about diabetes to the class. Something tells me the kids will give me plenty to blog about. Stay tuned.
Good luck!! I know all of you will do fine.
Have a great first day Charlie:)
I know that you are so scared but... Charlie will do fine. I have been an insulin dependant diabetic since I was 4, now 58. I made it fine thru elementary school, high school, and college without having more than 2 episode per year where I needed help. The teachers could always tell by my eyes and mood that something was different. They then would make sure that I had a piece of fruit or lifesaver to bring my bloodsugar up. I have had more problems during my teaching career of 36 yrs than growing up. It is hard for the parents but try not to worry too much.
I too, agree with all of these posts!! Diagnosed at age 6 and am now 57...I just celebrated my 50 yr. anniversary complication free and became a part of a "50 yr. medalist research project" through Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston! What a great experience. It seems that teachers, nurses and most school personnel are MUCH more knowledgable about diabetes these days! You might suggest to your son's health aides/nurse/teacher, that they gather information online (at dlife, ADA, JDRF etc.) and/or attend a pump class at your local hospital. Good luck, you will all survive and once Charlie takes on more responsiblities with his care, the world will be open for him! I would love to talk/email to other 50 year survivors!
Im a school nurse and a diabetic with an insulin pump and im actually shocked? Do you guys not have a school nurse on that campus? In our district we have anurse in EACH campus! Im lucky enough to know what these kids are going though cause i too was diagnosed at age 11. I guess im just suprised that i hear you have health aides instead of a nurse. Im thankfull our distric does provide that.
I have had type 1 for 30 years and I work at a school. A fifth grader there has a pump and the is tested by the office staff. The plan to control her sugar is she can eat all she wants and then she gets the insulin to cover all the carbs. I was shocked. Because her sugar is not eratic all the time, everyone thinks thats okay. A typical lunch is (everyday) chocolate milk, pasta, bread stick, slushie, and two large cookie. Everyone thinks I'm being silly just because she want "to be normal" There is no amount of carbs she is restricted to have. I feel frustrated because everyone is getting tired of me saying what I think about her eating all the sugar.
Believe it or not, your little banchy will do just fine, with or without "health aides." I have had diabetes before even preschool and I'm now working on my Master's--proof you can survive school with Diabetes.
As for the pump, make sure Charlie understands it too. Maybe this is the time to start having him test his BG himself. We diabetics tend to mature much faster than the rest. More responsibility, more attention to the details makes for a more mature child.
Sorry, dluckey5....I pressed "flag this" under your posting and I was told that it had been reported!!! I don't blog much and thought I was saving your comment NOT reporting it!! I hope it doesn't affect you.
I am Gabriel's mom and he is in the third grade. He was diagnosed with Type 1 last year. Fortunately, we have a school nurse to help with his monitoring. She got him to do his own shots and now we are looking at a Omnipod for him. I know it is hard to not worry about your son, but relax some and give the health aides your phone number if they have questions.