Week 3 with Type 1 Diabetes

Well Elyssa's BG Levels haven't gone over 220 this week. We still wake up every 2 hrs during the night to catch when she starts going low. It has really worn us down but we have to do it for our daughter. She is not eating so I know that is contributing to the low levels. I think she has figured out if she only eats her no/low carb foods she doesn't have to get an insulin shot. She just wants to eat chicken, turkey, cheeses, eggs, lettuce, carrots, sugar-free Jello and a cup of popcorn. The Dr. has said she needs her 90g of carbs so we are pushing her to eat them. Her favorite food is pancakes and we can't even get her to barely eat her pancakes in the morning.
I just can't believe that my daughter's character has changed sooo much. She wasn't perfect before but she was a really good girl and obedient. Now she has been one tuff toddler to take care off. She is cranky, moody, doesn't listen, and doesn't know boundaries. She has to be watched continuously so it makes it very difficult trying to wash dishes or do laundry or anything else around the house. I don't know if it's because we've been dealing with the diabetes all month but she has forgotten some letters of the alphabet, messes up when trying to count to 10 and before she could count to 15 and she mixes up some shapes. I know she's only 2 yrs 8 months old but it feels like we have taken a big leap backwards in her development. Maybe it was the 5 day stay in the hospital being in diapers but she doesn't want to use the potty anymore. She will not drink out of regular cups we've gone back to sippy cups. I guess right now sippy cups are easier too because they have the oz. lines on them. Also, she was always so verbal before but now she just points at things and makes sounds instead of saying what she wants so we have to keep trying to guess what she wants in the refrigerator.
Elyssa is constantly sweating and no longer wants to take baths. She kicks & fights and it still takes 2 of us to hold her down for her shots. The endocrinologist asked if she lets us give her insulin shots without crying. Well sorry Dr. but no she is a toddler and puts up the biggest fight when she sees both of us coming at her. If she knows it's time for a shot she runs to a bedroom then locks the door, or to her closet and shuts the door and puts her weight on the door so we can't open it, she hides under the table, and she's hid under the kitchen sink in the cabinet and held on to the pipes while we tried to get her out. The endocrinologist said she will end up stabilizing and life will get easier but from what I have read and heard from other parents is that Blood Sugar Levels never stabilize and it is a never ending balancing act. I'm finally coming to terms with reality that Diabetes, Dr. visits, Injections, Insulin, Blood Glucose Levels, No Sleep & Moody child is now a part of our lives and isn't going to leave. So I have to try and suck it all up and just keep trying to do the best I can.
P.S. I have only cried a couple times this week and not daily like the previous 2 weeks and anyone who knows me knows I'm not the crying type. So Yay me!

Week 2 with type 1 Diabetes

We went back to the endocrinologist and Elyssa's insulin dosage was increased so now we were dealing with lows.  That night we woke up at 2am and her BG was 34 so we were trying to get her to drink juice but she wasn't reacting. I was getting sooo scared but after a couple mins. of trying she finally grabbed the juice and drank it. Phew!! I just cried thinking about what would've happened if we didn't wake up at 2am to check her. Yeah I wasn't able to sleep after that. The next day we gave her insulin, her lunch, then later during her nap I thought I'd check her and again she was at 33. This time it was a little harder to get her to wake up and drink or eat anything but she did. Those mins from the time I tested her to the time she finally starts drinking are killers. My heart was beating so fast, my hands were shaking and I just kept asking her to drink the juice. We called the dr. and the insulin to carb. ratio was changed yet again probably like the 10th time since we've been home. Then I think I don't know whats worse the tantrums and screaming when she's high or the fear of her having a seizure or going into a coma when she's low. I just keep thinking nobody should have to live like this. I am so scared for my daughter every day. All the doctors & all the nurses said it will get better but I truly don't think there will be a day that I don't worry about my daughter.

Week 1 with Type 1 Diabetes

We got home and scheduled appt. with pediatrician right away. Saw the endocrinologist right away. We got all the supplies, all the insulin but all the education was a blur from so many sleepless nights. Elyssa would have highs in the 400s and would have the worst temper tantrums. She would pull her hair out, hit her head on the floor, throw things, scratch her face and we would try to calm her down but sometimes I would just cry. This was not my daughter and I just kept saying to myself  I want my daughter back. I would correct her highs and give sufficient insulin for food but nothing was helping.

Elyssa's Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis

I have never blogged before but my 2 yr 8 month old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes now I am left with so many questions and looking for answers. Our lives changed forever the night of July 1st, 2011. So much happened and I had so much to say I put the story on it's own page. It was a night, a weekend, a 5 day hospital stay I will surely never forget.