I was stuffing Charlie’s smelly hockey equipment into his big hockey bag when I heard Susanne from the other room.
"So you’re gonna tell the coach about Charlie’s … and she paused.
"Bad gas? Yeah, I’ll let him know," I said.
"Diabetes," Charlie mumbled while picking up a 2-7 spare in Wii Bowling.
"Oh, right, diabetes."
Ice hockey season started on Sunday. How nice it would be to just throw him on the ice and say, "have fun" like all the other kids’ parents do - the biggest worry being a potential blister. For us, there’s just so much to think about. So much "strategery," as Will Ferrell would say in impersonating George W. Bush on Saturday Night Live.
But really, there is. There’s quite a bit of strategery. Fasten pump to hockey pants while trying to pull pants super tight. Give the 8-year-old sitting across from me the hairy eyeball when she stares at the pump which has fallen from the waistband and is swinging like a pendulum. Hope that swinging pump makes her sleepy. Very sleepy. Fasten skates tight enough so that he doesn’t break his ankle and loose enough so that he doesn’t lose blood circulation. Keep pump on while Charlie does warm-up laps from about 11:15 to 11:30. Motion to Charlie to come off the ice so that I can take his pump off and test his blood sugar - a gesture that could be interpreted as, "Come here now, I need to remove the splinter from your butt and you need a quick manicure."
Attempt to reach in behind the super tight hockey pants to remove the infusion set to no avail. Untie the super tight hockey pants while Charlie grows impatient, wanting to get back on the ice. Flash a bit of Charlie's crack to a group of girls attending an ice skating birthday party. Test blood sugar (200), give half of a granola bar without bolus and hope for the best.
Fifteen minutes in, Charlie looked over at me and gave me a thumbs down. I initially thought he was telling me that his skating stunk.
What he was really telling me was that he felt low. A system we established last year.
"No, you're doing great, Charlie. Keep going!"
It brings tears to my eyes. My diabetes was diagnosed when I was 4. I never got involved in any sports. Wish I would have had parents willing to give so much to help me to be normal. Still, it is sad to see what a young man must go through to do the things he loves. Keep at it and keep loving him.
Hockey started for us on Saturday and the stratergery is in place! - when people stare at his pump - we usually have a funny dad that says that Trevor is battery operated! (which makes Trev laugh before he explains) Have you tried just "suspending" the pump rather than removing it? Our signal is patting his helmet - we also have the coach stick a few glucose tabs in his pocket in case Trev gets to him before us - and the coach that told Trev - "just skate it off" is not allowed near him!! Have fun!! Go Avs!!
Thanks dadkern.
Cool. Trevor plays hockey too! An Avs fan no less. Yeah, I've thought about suspending the pump, but it just seems like he's wearing so much equipment to begin with. Thought I'd try to lighten the load. Good ideas. I do wonder about the glucose tablets as we've never tried them. I wonder how many in general would be equivalent to a juice box and if it brings up sugar just as fast or faster, etc. Go Devils!
Carey - my son prefers the tabs to the juice as well because he says they taste like sweet tarts. 4 tabs are equal to 15 carbs, or one small box of juice. Good luck!
Hi Carey,
What wewe have found with the glucose tabs is that they work faster and it is a smaller amount needed to correct so we don't feel like we are chasing low vs. highs (ya know what I mean?) Also Trevor like them better because sometime a full box of juice upsets his stomach - and he can keep glucose in his pockets if he goes for a bikeride or wanders the neighborhood with friends or his brother. They dissolve in the washing machine too!!
May have to go get some. Thanks very much. Certain brand or flavor you guys recommend?
I always let Trevor pick the flavor - we always get the store brand. There are also cool little thingys you can put on your keychains that hold 4 tabs at a time - we all have one and one hangs on Trevs back pack (these I think are on Medicool.com)Let me know what you think!