Because Diabetes is a family disease...
do our other kids have to get shots? no...
do they check their blood every day? no..
But honestly everything our diabetic kids do, affects our family..
Time.. The time we have for our non-D kids is much more limited.. Its sad to say, but its true.. Taking the time to go to meetings with schools, endo appointments, even just the time before meals to check glucose, add carbs and dose is time taken away from the family.. This was one of the hardest adjustments for my non-D kids.. They felt unimportant.. because their needs were set aside because of the urgency of our D kids..
Thats hard for a parent.. You want all of your kids to feel loved and appreciated. But the fact is, when your diabetic child has a blood sugar of 52 and you have to run and get them a juice, monitor them and recheck, that is the most important thing at that moment..
The expenses of diabetes affects our family.. I now work 30 hours a week outside of the home to help pay for the diabetic supplies. This is the first time in 10 years that I have worked outside of the home.. Clothes arent washed, dishes not done and dinner not always ready because I am working. My kids have to get ready for school by themselves because I am at work by 630 am. These arent life changing things, but they are definately changes..and adjustments made because of diabetes..
The exhaustion of it all... lol, yes, when mom is getting up at night to check glucose..and sometimes up several times due to lows, or highs, she is tired!! Sometimes I feel like a zombie! I never get a real nights sleep! on top of it, keeping up with all of the kids' activities, homework, and life is exhausting!! So im a little grouchier, a little less patient (ok, a LOT) ..
Although there are a lot of changes a family does when a child is diagnosed, you do it all as a family. We go and volunteer for JDRF as a family..
We do the Diabetes walk as a family..
We go through this journey..as a family.
We support eachother adn do our best to make everyone feel oved adn important.
Our non D kids know that this is a life threatening disease and they help look after their siblings.
Just the other night I was downstairs watching a movie..
My son text me and said , "Madi just woke up and was sweaty, she might be low. But she went back to sleep"
I ran up to check her and she was 63.. what would have hapened if he didnt tell me and she just slept? maybe a seizure? I dont know... but how thankful I was that he told me and knew what to look for. He knew it was important information and let me know immediately! He is 12.
