This is a discussion, a tough discussion, but hiding from it WILL NOT MAKE IT go away.
When I read a comment like; “….my child was diagnosed a year ago and I set my alarm to wake up 3-5 times to check, just to be sure……”; I am compelled to say something. And there are other comments like this that I have read. A dialogue should be had, and I seek input on this difficult subject from our community.
This may be tough to read but perhaps we can all help each other.
The rules: There is no right or wrong—-anyone can say anything. This is for all of us to learn. What do you think, what do you feel, and what do you do? Please ‘reply’ here and not on the FB page so all can read.
To be very clear, if you feel you must wake up numerous times than the call is always yours. Is it wrong or right has to be your decision. But as the late (and great) Dr. Richard Rubin taught me; everything is a balance.
How long can ANYone wake up 5 times a night? There is a balance and you should discuss with someone who can advise you.
Can our children die in the middle of the night from a glycemic reaction? Yes.
Is diabetes a disease that can cause this? Yes.
The balance must be found to know how to monitor. to the best of our ability, a point where we feel comfortable that we do not to stand over their bed.
I, (me, my opinion only) always felt that giving my kids the keys to the car was one of the scariest times in my life. I hate cars. They kill. I mean really kill. It was an absolute fear. I have picked up enough bodies from my firematic days, and seen the horrors enough time. I fear them. I hate them.
Got it?
I also know that getting your license is a rite of passage. I needed to find a balance and i searched high and low for it.
FOR US, diabetes through the night is the same thing. It is a struggle, it is a balance. It is finding when can one person wake up; when can another.
I have said this a thousand times; we can and do not live in that fear. To we recognize it? Absolutely. We (and I include my children in this) do not live in the fear of dying in the middle of the night.
I am speaking from conversations that I have had with them. Are they afraid that it could happen? You bet. They respect the fact.
Let me say that again, they respect the fact. That means that they do what they do; we do what we do; all to take te steps to make sure that it doesn’t happen.
But it is not a life of fear. We do not ‘just think’ they will wake up if they are low. We check. We take turns.
I cannot tell you the ‘routine’ that you need to find. I JUST CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO….but I can share with you to start to find the balance. If you live by the fact that YOU MUST wake up 5 times a night; I will not tell you not to do that because you will not hear me—-I will tell you that you should start to discuss with others.
Why do some people wake up once a night and seem okay about it? Do people who lost a child wish they did things differently?
Today’s article is to commence a dialogue; not to tell anyone what they are doing wrong. I seek input from EVERYone so people know how to find that balance.
Good luck to all of us as we battle this ugly monster. Please share what you feel.
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.
I wrote earlier today about having a good lead to help educate Family Physicians on looking more closely for diagnosis of diabetes before allowing misdiagnosis.
