Diabetes Awareness: But she's too skinny to have diabetes......

We have been extremely busy the last few months and I have gotten behind on my bloggin'.....A lot has happened in the Dean house since my last post so I have plans for several posts over the next few weeks!

However, with this post I want to discuss type 1 diabetes misconceptions.  I've touched on this topic in the past, but this issue has been coming up a lot more lately.  I used to get defensive when people would make these types of comments, but then I realized its because they don't know any better.

There are many misconceptions about this disease, but I've put together the ones I feel strongly about.  Here is my top 5 list of type 1 diabetes misconceptions:

1. "But she's too skinny to have diabetes." Although diet and weight are factors for type 2 diabetes, it is not the cause of type 1 diabetes.
2. "She can't eat that cupcake." As is should be for us all, moderation is key.  Also, there are times when sugar levels can drop too low and sugar is needed to raise it.
3. "She can't play sports because her sugar will drop." Exercise is important for everyone including those with diabetes.  Precautionary measures like eating snacks and frequent bg checks can help avoid hypoglycemia.
4. "She'll never be able to have children."  Diabetic pregnancy require closer monitoring, but there is no reason,  with excellent blood sugar control and diabetes management, that mother and baby will remain healthy throughout the pregnancy and birth.
5. "Taking insulin will cure diabetes." Insulin is not a cure, it is their life support.  Unfortunately there currently is no cure for diabetes.

Enjoying the summer!!

What's been going on.....

Whew....well things are going well with Alyssa!  She is healthy and active and enjoying the summer!  Life is busy and hectic for our whole family and I haven't had the time to catch up our blog!

Before school got out Alyssa's elementary school held a Kid's Walk to Cure Diabetes (JDRF) and Alyssa raised the most money out of the entire school!  She was gifted a huge care package from Chick Fil-A as well as many other prizes from JDRF!

On June 15th Alyssa celebrated her 10th birthday with a party with her friends at the park!

Now we are preppy for walk season and looking forward to taking part in all the activities!  In the meantime Alyssa is working hard at the thing she loves the most, competitive cheer and enjoying the summer!!

Diabetes stinks....

This morning while I was straightening Alyssa’s hair (today is picture day at school), I asked her, “If someone asked you what it was like to have diabetes, what would you say?” She replied simply with, “Diabetes stinks.” Now, for those of you who know Alyssa, you know that she can be quite dramatic. For instance, if she’s has a headache, her head is “killing her to deathhhh” or when she’s told to clean her room, she‘s been known to lay out in the floor explaining she‘s way too exhausted to take on such a task. So, as you can imagine, I was expecting a much more elaborate answer….like “diabetes is horrible!”, or “diabetes is the worst thing ever invented!”

Now most would think that this reply was a good thing. That Alyssa has adjusted to having diabetes, and that although it’s not great, it really isn’t that bad. Instead, her answer saddened me at first. What child should have to endure this? What child should not be able to eat a piece of candy without thinking about it or be able to eat a piece of their friends birthday cake without looking to their mother to be sure it’s ok. (Side note: at a recent birthday party she told me that she wanted to give up eating pizza so that she could have a slice of cake.) What child should have to prick her finger so that it bleeds before each meal, before physical activity, after physical activity, before she goes to bed, in the middle of the night, and every time she doesn’t feel just right. That’s any where from at minimum 4 and up to 8 times a day. What child should have to have 2 SHOTS in her bottom after breakfast, a SHOT in one of her arms after lunch and a SHOT in her other arm after dinner and sometimes a SHOT before bed if her glucose levels are too high.  What child should have to face the risks of heart and kidney disease, blindness, amputations, and early death?  More simply, what child should not be able to go to a sleep over or anywhere without their mom?

I know there are many diseases out there, and each one of them sadden me….especially any disease that robs a kid of the childhood they are entitled to. Diabetes is a disease that can do just that….if its allowed to….. My husband and I refuse to let this happen. The day Alyssa was diagnosed, I prayed that God would let me take this from her. I think in a small way He has because she has no fear or anxiety about the future of her disease.  I think she sees how diligent we are in advocating for her and researching for new treatments as well as preparing her to be able to manage this on her own one day.  She notices all the people who love, support, and push for finding ways to improve her life.  She knows that without research insulin would never have been discovered and meters wouldn’t be improving each time a new one comes out. Without research insulin pumps would not have been invented (We are so excited that Alyssa’s first pump is on the way and how its going to make life a little bit easier. And instead of 4 SHOTS a day, it will be a new infusion site every 3 days!!) Through all of this she believes living with diabetes will get a little bit easier over time. Most importantly, she trusts my words when I say there will be a cure one day.

I’ve said this many times….Diabetes is the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about before I go to sleep, and I will gladly take that on for her.  In Alyssa’s eyes diabetes is just a small part of her life and I‘m happy in that.


*This year our team, Alyssa's Army, will be walking in JDRF's event, Walk to a Cure at Elon University in Burlington, NC.  If you would like to make a donation to our team, you can do so through the link below.

Alyssa's Army Walk Page 

 

 

It's walk season.... Fundraising ideas

We have so many fundraising events that will benefit this year's walk. Of course we have the online donating through JDRF's walk page. We had a fundraising yard sale a couple weeks ago that was successful. Currently, we have 2 catalog/online shows going with Pampered Chef and 31. Next weekend some friends of ours are hosting a pig pick in' fundraiser. We asked one of our company's suppliers and they agreed to sell JDRF sneakers and another hairstylist friend is donating a portion from each client for the month of September. Our church also has been extremely generous with love offerings and donations for our yard sale.

With a little less then two weeks to go, I do not see how we can not reach our team goal of $3500!!

It's time to gear up for walking season!!

Yesterday I re-upped for JDRF's walk to a cure on Oct. 6th in Elon, NC.  This year our team name will be Alyssa's Army!  I'm so excited about all the response we have already gotten!!  Research is so important, not only for a cure, but to also make the lives of people living with diabetes a little bit easier.  Remember, without research there would not be life saving insulin or meters or pumps...the list goes on and on!  It's very likely that each of us has been touched in some way by this disease; so, each one of us has a reason to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.....my #1 reason is Alyssa!

I just wanted to add that Advanced Auto, Ford Motor Co., Marshall's and Walgreen's are all huge supporters of JDRF.  (I am not recieving any compensation ;)  So the next time you have a choice of where to shop, support companies that support JDRF!! 

Below: Some pictures from last year's walk!!

Packing for the Pool

Packing for the Pool

Today we are celebrating my son’s 17^th birthday with a family pool party at my sister-in-law’s home and as I prepare for the afternoon, I realize how much goes into preparing for Alyssa. This has become second nature and has become part of our ’check off list’ before we leave the house. This prep is not only today, this is anytime we go anywhere. Another reminder that diabetes doesn’t take a break.

In addition to packing sunscreen and beach towels, we have to pack a bag full of diabetes supplies. In her backpack: bg meter, strips, lancets, alcohol swabs, insulin, syringes, juice boxes, glucagon emergency kit, snacks, water bottles, and candy.

Alyssa is a very active little girl and rarely takes a break; and because we are going to a party where there will be swimming and lots of play with cousins, the chances of low blood sugar are very likely. On the upside, she’ll probably be able to enjoy a piece of birthday cake without an extra injection!

Type 1 Diabetes Research

My posts have been few and far between lately….mainly because I am a full-time wife, mother, business owner, and student… This semester three of my classes all require extensive paper writing so honestly I haven’t had much time to blog. I have really missed it, so I have decided I will at least try to blog twice a month.

I want to begin with how EXCITED I am about the recent FDA approval for testing the artificial pancreas. This study is already under way in other countries. Although I know it will take some time for testing and for it to be made available to patients suffering with Type 1 Diabetes, at least we are on the road!!

Now, for the naysayers who say JDRF is wasting valuable funds researching this artificial pancreas that could be used towards finding a cure~~ WTH!?! JDRF’s mission is also to fund research that improves the lives of those living with this disease. Without research there never would have been insulin, meters, insulin pumps, medication ect…. All of these discoveries keep our Type 1 loved ones healthy and ALIVE! There is still much research going on about beta cell replacement….which if it works…will help the pancreas make insulin on its own. Research takes time and new developments are happening all the time. I do not claim to be a ‘diabetes expert’, however, I love and am the primary care giver of a child who lives with Type 1 and I make it my business to support, advocate for, and research anything that will make her life a little bit easier.

Ultimately, Diabetes SUCKS!! And when I sit and think about what lies ahead for my daughter~ I cry, I get angry, I even scream sometimes…my job is to protect her and there are times I feel helpless. But then I remember there are so many other diseases out there and many other parents who’s children are suffering with untreatable, incurable diseases and I’m thankful that at least we can somewhat control diabetes and I believe we will see a cure. And we are blessed that more and more options are on the horizon.

JDRF First Outpatient Artificial Pancreas Trial Approval

Walk to a cure and weekend stuff

Wow!! So excited about everything going on in my life right now! Just registered our team “Alyssa’s Angels” for our first JDRF Walk to a Cure that will be held at Elon University in Burlington on October 8th. The response has been outstanding!! http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/alyssasteamangels

My oldest son, Phillip is touring his first college today with one of my best girlfriends. I can hardly believe that he is a high school junior! I’m still struggling with the fact he just got his license!  My other son, Jamon will be starting the 8th grade at a new school this year!
I have 2 weeks left of my summer break and then I’ll be back to school for my 3rd semester!

We had a great weekend full of celebrations for family and friends~ diabetes showed its ugly head Friday night while we were at a pool party. Alyssa’s levels were perfect all day long, she ate a great dinner, had a lower dose of insulin because I knew she would be swimming (1 armed swimming because she’s still wearing a cast until Wednesday) and then came the dreaded words “I feel shaky.” Her glucose had dropped to 43, the lowest it has ever been. 4 oz of juice, checked in 15 minutes, up to 63, still shaky and now nauseous. Juice usually does the trick, so I think it was lower than the meter read. I gave her about 2-3 oz of Pepsi, checked blood in 10 minutes and back up in the 90’s…whew. Gave her 2 peanut butter crackers, nausea gone and back to the pool she went. Back home, checked again before bed, 300 :-/! What a roller coaster….I know it was the Pepsi, but I felt I had to get that sugar up quick! Glucose tabs tend to take too long; the juice brought it up, but not enough. Saturday was a good day and so was yesterday, I just have to get a handle on what amount of insulin she should get if I know she’s going to be over active. It’s just so difficult to judge?? Tonight she is going to vacation bible school and I am debating whether or not I will give her insulin with dinner, because I know my girl will be chasing all the boys around!