We Need To Talk About The Seriousness Of Juvenile Diabetes!
Yesterday was one of those emotional days for me. You guessed it, for no apparent reason. Maybe it was the fact that I haven’t slept in a week, thanks to my youngest daughter. Or it could have been that all the blogs I read yesterday morning were reflective and utterly depressing. Wait, was it a full moon? Whatever the reason, I let myself get sucked into my thoughts. Of course, they were about anything that has happened recently that left me saddened.
This explains the choice for my post yesterday. I have a close RN friend who I have known for 8 years or so. We talk almost everyday. From what is happened at work the night before, yes us RNs love to talk, to what is going on with our kids, husbands and emotional wellbeing. Sometimes that latter of that list is in serious question. That is another story all together, right?
Well, my friend called me a few weeks back and was pretty upset about her nephew. He is 2 years old. Apparently, his mom called the doctor because she had some concerns, he was drinking to much and peeing excessively. The doctor told her to take him to the ER. I am sure after much poking and prodding, once again, thanks to us good ol’ RNs, the results came back. His glucose was in the danger zone, 600-ish.
Holy bananas, that is high, especially for a young child. He was living in danger and they didn’t even know. Isn’t it strange how we can be existing everyday, moving through life and not have a clue that anything is wrong? Scary! Some of my patients have had aneurysms that were ready to burst and blood clots the size of a grape. Lucky for them, they had the poops and went to the ER. Those poops saved their lives. Now I am rambling on.
Getting back to my friends nephew, he was admitted to a peds floor. After stabilizing his blood sugar to a mere 300, the RNs, doctors and dietitians started shoving info down their throats. Just imagine having to digest a months worth of information in 2 days. He was admitted on Saturday morning and was released on Monday afternoon. That means in those 3 very stressful, chaotic, emotional days, his mom and dad had to learn how to use a glucometer, draw up and give insulin, serve up a correct meal and detect the warning signs of high and low blood sugar. I think that is a bit much for anyone! In my opinion, we should thank the insurance companies for that. Don’t get me started on that topic!
Thank the sweet lord us moms and dads can do anything when it comes to our kids. You want to hear something scarier than the hospitalization? My friends nephew had to go back to day care the next week. So now, his parents have to go to work and worry all day if their son is being given the right foods, medicine and attention. I can’t imagine what those first few days were like!
I decided to look into laws and regulations for day care providers that deal with diabetic children after a conversation I had with that same friend today. Do they have to have certification and training? Well, I came up with a big ol’ goose egg. I could find nothing that stated there was regulations. If anyone knows any different, I would love a point in the right direction. Thank heavens today is a new day or I would probably be boo-hooing about this finding to!
Type 1, or juvenile diabetes, is not a very talked about topic. I know my pediatrician has never asked questions pertaining to any worries I might have about signs and symptoms in my own kids. Would I even know what they were if I wasn’t a nurse?
My heart truly goes out to any family that has to deal with this on a daily basis. Some days I can’t get all three of my girls dressed before the bus picks up my oldest, let alone the tedious regimen that goes along with juvenile diabetes.
Tags: bananas, blood_clots, danger_zone, depressing, dieticians, emotional_wellbeing, full_moon, glucometer, glucose, insulin, juvenile_diabetes, nephew, peds, peeing, poops, type_1_diabetesRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Diabetes Management, Inspiration
4 opinions for We Need To Talk About The Seriousness Of Juvenile Diabetes!
Jessaka Nastalski
Mar 9, 2007 at 10:17 pm
It’s scary to know that children are in danger and we don’t suspect a thing. I guess that is the case with any person and with any disease, but it’s more “frightening” when the lives of children are at stake. I, too, have concerns about my son. He is heavy (big-boned, I believe, is what he prefers to be called, drinks more than his brother did and urinates quite often. The doc isn’t too concerned. He has not ordered any blood work to be completed. So, I guess I should go on worrying until I “bother” a doctor enough with my concerns or we have an emergency on our hands. Let’s say that I hope to be a nag!
Suzanne Elder
Mar 10, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Hi Kendra,
It’s insane that at the very moment a family is crushed by a diagnosis of Type 1, they are simultaneously thrust into the role of advocate and teacher just so that their child can do what every kid should do—go to school.
My daughter was diagnosed last May. Since then, I have been working feverishly to ensure that other kids have the same care at school that she does.
I’m not a little embarrassed that this is yet a question for any child with juvenile diabetes. I hope your friends fare well. If they need information, have them log on at http://www.TheCareAct.com.
This site is devoted to an effort to pass a law in Illinois to help kids with diabetes. There’s some information there though that might be helpful to your friends.
Best regards, Suzanne Elder
Kendra James, RN
Mar 11, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Suzanne,
Thank you so much for the information. I am located in Maryland, but I will pass the link on to my friend’s sister in law. I hope your daughter is doing well. I wish you and your family much health and happiness.
Kendra
goose eggs
Jun 6, 2008 at 5:01 pm
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