Diabetic Recipes
The day before Charlie was to begin playing ice hockey for the first time, we went to the rink to break in his new skates and get a little practice in.
As it is with just about everything we do, decisions need to be made regarding Charlie's diabetes. Do we adjust basals? Maybe. Does he skate with pump on or pump off? What do we do with his testing supplies? I didn't want to hold the bag while skating the whole time yet I couldn't leave it behind in a locker. I ended up stuffing my coat pockets with alcohol wipes, peanut butter crackers, a juice box, test strips, a pricker and the meter. With a camera, cell phone and keys also in my pockets, it's a wonder I was able to move at all.
This would be different than soccer or T-ball, I thought, getting my footing on the ice and breathing in the cold air. I won't be able to just run out there to test his blood sugar like I have in the past with sports played on grass.
The bleachers where the parents would watch looked as high as a mountain peak. He would never hear me out there. There could be no "Charlie, how's your blood sugar?" I would need to buy a bullhorn. There seemed to be many obstacles that would separate me from Charlie. The glass along the boards looked tall and unbreakable. Above the glass was black netting which would entangle me if I was to pole vault over the glass to Charlie's rescue. The space between the rink and the bleachers may as well have been a lake of fire and the cute little kids whizzing past me in full hockey gear were the devil's minions. The whole thing intimidated me greatly.
You know those credit report commercials in which people's credit scores hover over their heads in light-blue holograms? I think I'd like that for Charlie's blood sugar. Is that technology available yet?
That could come in handy right about now.
Carey,
Seems like you need to get permission to sit in the players box with the coach, or whatever, so you can be near. Also, they just need to send Charlie over to you every 20 minutes or so. Make them work it out for you....Charlie deserves to have FUN!
When our little Elijah "sings" in the church choir, we have a friend sit behind his wheelchair, and me on the front row of course, because seizures and choking issues happen so fast, I have to be near. I am like a mountain lion unless I can be near my baby at all times!!!!
Bless you for loving little Charlie so much! This D monster just goes on and on. It crushes me and I'm an adult!!! YUCK
Mousie, who's little son is finally HOME from the hospital!!! YEAH!!!
Mousie - fantastic news about Elijah being home! Oh and happy birthday!
Thanks Carey! We are definitely happy to be home, even though the road ahead is a long one for him! A major praise that he can now eat through his intestine (j-tube) instead of a PICC line ( intravenously) Definitely easier on Mama to take care of! Since we are eating 24/7, we've added a feeding pump to his baclofen pump and my insulin pump. We are all pumped up! (sorry, I couldn't resist)
We are Charlie's biggest fans!
Mousie and Elijah
As always your post has me laughing out loud! We think alike, a bullhorn.....thats funny, but true unfortunately! Thanks you for bringing humor to something about this disease!
I am a diabetic of many years. My grandson, now 18, has been witness to all that goes with living in a diabetic family (several members battle this disease). Thankfully he nor my daughter (his mother) are not diabetics. I was amazed at how many young boys on his high school hockey team were though. I was very proud of how well just threw observation of my diabetic life, he was able to support his fellow team mates. Most of these boys start the practice or the games with elevated blood sugar, as their activity and water loss will result in lower blood sugars later in the games/practices. The coach keeps everybodies diabetic supply bags on the bench -- and as the captain of this team this year my grandson makes sure everybody has tested before they hit the ice, and these boys test after so many minutes on the ice -- without a break in the play -- looks like the team will maybe be a big contender for the state high school championship this year and it's all been a team effort -- no parents are involved with their sons diabetes during a practice or a game. Hopefully your son will be fortunate enough to continue his sports and you will be able to set in the bleachers like all the other parents do.