type I diabetes - Arden's Day

Arden and I were in a restaurant recently, after we sat down I accessed her carb needs and gave her a bolus with her PDM. I was about to begin eating when I saw that the family next to us was doing a blood glucose check one of their children. Though we don’t pay attention, I’ve long assumed that people see us with Arden and watch. I don’t mind, I don’t even blame them. I’ve always just thought that it must be captivating if you aren't accustom to seeing the process. I couldn’t believe it when I found myself transfixed on the little boy’s BG check. Caught up in the moment, (seeing what pump they had, lance device and so on) I held my stare a bit too long and the boy’s father looked up, our eyes met. I felt horrible that he may think that I as judging his situation, so without missing a beat I picked up Arden’s MultiClix lancet (the same one he was using) and showed it to him.

He nodded and then looked at Arden with a sadness that could only be realized by another type I parent. We spoke throughout the meal about insulin pumps and other type I topics... it was nice. If that family is out there, I want to thank them for the few moments of normalcy that our exchange provided me and I hope that you got a similar feeling.

Good luck Max, be healthy!

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Molly Chase

I was recently at McDonald's with my 4-year-old son (he's not diabetic--I am) when I noticed a set of grandparents doing the BG check and bolus on their little guy, who looked about 2 1/2. After they were done doing their thing, I caught the woman's attention and asked them if that was an insulin pump I was seeing on the little guy's jeans--I'd never seen a kid so little wearing one. It was, and they were so eager to talk to me about my experiences--I was diagnosed TI relatively late in life (age 25)--and they wanted to know what life was like for a grownup with diabetes. The grandfather expressed his frustration with a lack of a cure, his fear of hypoglycemic episodes, how worried he was that his little guy would have complications.

It was such a good moment. We spend a lot of time feeling singled out, stared at, like a needle-wielding weirdo, that we tend to get defensive, and when we find another diabetic out there (or, I would expect, another parent of a diabetic) it's hard to not tell each other all of our stories in one breath.

Friday, April 16, 2010 - 09:17 AM

Scott

Thanks for sharing that story Molly!

Friday, April 16, 2010 - 09:23 AM

Sarah Kelly

interesting how this is such a moment for us. I was recently at a Children's museum when I noticed another little boy wearing the same pump as my son, my heart leapt with joy and saddness at the same time. It was that great feeling of "we're not alone" immediately followed by wishing that t1d had left this child alone. Bittersweet I guess.

Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 03:12 AM