“I’m back!”

I sat up totally confused. I looked at the clock and saw that it was the time when I typically get out of the shower.

In the morning my wife takes our son to school while I get in the shower and get ready for work. I have an alarm that wakes me up but most of time I wait to hear, “We’re leaving” from her then I get up.

Today, I didn’t.

I jumped up in a panic, disconnected my pump, and turned on the shower. As I waited for the hot water to arrive I sat down on the toilet. I could no catch my breath. I was taking deep breaths trying to slow my heart rate but I couldn’t. The bathroom started to steam up as I sat there trying to find the energy to get into the shower.

Was I having an anxiety attack? Is something wrong? Should I just call in sick today and go back to bed? The room was spinning and I could not catch my breath.

I stood up, grabbed hold of the counter, and forced myself into the shower. Luckily the new place has safety rails in both showers because I held on to them the entire time. When I bent down to pick up the shampoo it felt like I ran a race or something. I could not breath. What the heck was wrong with me.

After I was done I walked out of the shower and grabbed my towel. I started drying off was apparently huffing and puffing so loudly that my wife heard me in the kitchen.

“Are you alright honey?”

“I cannot catch my breath” It was hard for to even say that.

“Did you test?”

I plopped down on my bed and grabbed the machine I keep on my nightstand.

I pricked my finger and put the blood on the strip.

My head was resting in my hands when I heard the BEEP from the meter.

62.

I took some glucose tabs that I also keep on my nightstand and started to feel better in a few minutes.

It’s funny that I did not even consider it being my blood sugar. I have had type 1 diabetes for 18 years now and still I forget about it.

Then again, you cannot think correctly when your body and brain are in need of glucose.