margolove

The day that I moved out of my mom's house, my mom cried the entire way home from my new apartment. Not only was she losing her daily companion, but she was scared. All moms get scared when their kids move out, of course. But moms of diabetics have a completely different perspective.

She had seen me have two seizures before. She'd been there when I blacked out in the grocery store when moments earlier I was feeling fine. She'd driven me to the emergency room when I was sick, in fear of DKA. She'd watched me grow up with this disease, in the highs and lows, quite literally.

She also let me take full responsibility long before I moved out. I was allowed to take my time in taking over the disease. It happened on my time, when I was ready. But there was support for me to fall back on, so the transition was easy. She'd given it completely to me at some point, letting me make insulin changes, remember to test, schedule doctor's appointments, and all that diabetes entails.

So she knew that I was capable and ready. Even if it was scary. She also knew that I was prepared in more ways than one. I had taken specific precautions to make sure my college life was filled with few emergencies. I continually take those precautions, coming up with new ideas and sticking with my responsibilities.

I have a mini fridge filled with juice next to my bed, so that when I'm too low to make it to the fridge, I'm equipped to manage the low. My meter is always right next to my bed, within easy reach. I make sure that I have several mandatory items in my kitchen: juice, multiple types of quick snack foods, glucose tabs, and "free" food to manage hunger during highs.

I keep a juice box and quick snack in my backpack. There are also glucose tabs or Life-Savers or both with my meter. I keep at least two dollars in quarters on me at all times. I also carry identification and wear my medical alert bracelet every day. An emergency kit is under my bed that has a glucagon kit, glucose tabs, and a package of crackers (multiple friends know where this is).

A close, dependable friend of mine has a key to my apartment in case of emergency. I text or call my mom every morning so that she knows I've made it safely through the night (we typically talk about 2 times a day). I also make sure that friends are aware if I'm having a bad low. I've even had friends stay the night if I'd done unusual activity or fear a nighttime emergency.

I'm also not afraid to go to the doctor when I'm sick, because I know that managing other conditions (from colds to hormones) is a major part of managing diabetes. I check my blood sugar multiple times a day and wear a continuous glucose monitor when I feel it's necessary (or my mother insists). I'm constantly aware of how my daily life can affect my diabetes (working out, stress, exams, even first date jitters).

Every day is a new challenge. Sometimes things happen, sometimes it's very uneventful. But I know that I'm always prepared because I've taken the necessary precautions. My mom can also worry less (though I'm not sure she does) because she knows I cover the basics. It's not easy at times. It's very scary, in fact.

I live my life just like other college kids without diabetes or other health conditions that can affect wellness. I just add a few adjustments into my daily routine. My mom worries about me, just like every other kid's parents. She just has a different kind of worry to add into the normal stress of having a kid move out.