In the Hospital

What followed after the diagnosis was a three day hospital stay. When most people are diagnosed with diabetes, they are in pretty tough shape.   Since the early symptoms of high blood glucose levels are similar to the flu, most don't go to the doctor until they have run very high glucose levels for several days.   They are often very sick by this time.  Since Kadie and Skeeter went to the doctor’s office so quickly, Skeeter was in comparatively  good shape.

During the three days in the hospital, Kadie and I went through a detailed educational experience. We spent our time with nurses, pediatric endocrinologists, and registered dietitians.  We learned about the various kinds of insulin, the safe places for injections, carbohydrates, and the "honeymoon period" (during which the pancreas continues to produce some small degree of insulin) . We received a lot of reading material and free samples of syringes, glucose monitors and strips.

During this time in the hospital we also got a sense of what Skeeter is made of. The first day she was in the hospital, they gave her insulin through the intravenous drip. But the second day they showed her how to give herself injections. The nurse began by patiently giving step by step instructions.   She was going to explain each step one at a time.  She showed us how to prepare the syringe, and then wiped her leg with the alcohol wipe.  But as the nurse prepared to giver Skeeter her next instruction, Skeeter plunged the syringe into her thigh without a moment’s hesitation.   (While I cringed).

And she's done it three times a day ever since.

Receiving the News

It had been a hectic day.  Kadie had taken Squealer to the doctors for his normal checkup earlier that morning, but the doc’s office was swamped with walk-ins.  So she and Squealer had to wait for several hours to be seen.  After his appointment, Kadie dropped him off at school and got a call that Skeeter was in the nurse’s office at her school and wasn’t feeling well at all.

Kadie picked her up and was taking her home when Skeeter said that for the last several days she had experienced a burning when she urinated.  As a nurse, as well as a parental veteran of two daughters, Kadie immediately diagnosed a urinary tract infection.  Since she didn’t want to spend several more hours in the doctor’s waiting room, she called the office, shared Skeeter’s symptoms, and asked for them to phone in a prescription to the pharmacist.

The doctor’s nurse responded that in these circumstances the Dr. prefers to see the kids in person before calling in a prescription.  So grumbling the lengthy drive back to the doctor’s office, Kadie reluctantly took Skeeter to see him.

After another lengthy wait in his office, they checked Skeeter’s vitals and took a urine sample as a routine part of her visit.  A few minutes later her doctor came returned with a somber expression.  In a voice that Kadie said she will never forget he said “Skeeter’s Glucose levels are way too high.  I’m afraid that she has diabetes. You need to immediately take her to the emergency room at the regional hospital.” 

In a state of shock, Kadie began crying as she asked: “Can we go home and pack some clothes?”

The doctor replied “No, this situation is very serious.  You need to go straight there.”

What I Learned

I knew very little about diabetes. I knew that there are three different kinds, Type 1 (formerly Juvenile Diabetes), Type 2 (formerly Adult Onset Diabetes), and Gestational. I also knew that some kinds of diabetes are insulin dependent, and some kinds can be regulated with diet and exercise.

But recently I’ve learned a few things about Type 1 diabetes. It affects .04% of the population, or about 700,000 people in the US. I’ve learned that it is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s protective immune system is turned inward and begins to attack the pancreas, rendering it incapable of producing insulin. No one knows why the auto-immune system does this.

I learned that insulin is necessary for allowing the cells of the body to convert glucose into energy. Glucose is the food of the cells and that leads to a great irony: without insulin, glucose levels in the body simply build, and build, and build while the cells starve--surrounded by food! These increased glucose levels eventually harm the eyes, the nerves in the extremities, and the renal system. Left untreated, diabetes can result in blindness, loss of limbs, and kidney failure. Until insulin was isolated and purified in the early 20^th century, a diagnosis of diabetes was a death sentence: a 100% mortality rate.

I’ve learned that Type-1 diabetics are insulin dependent for the rest of their lives. They do not outgrow it. They do not control it by exercise or by eating a particular diet. If they do not take insulin daily, they will die.

A few months ago , I learned something else about Type-1 diabetes.

I learned that my 12 year old daughter Skeeter has it.

Returning

Just a note to let you know that I am planning on returning to the blogging world. After the last few years off, things are changing a bit to allow me the opportunity to think through some things in the blogosphere. Although the great interest in blogging seems to have cooled down some (Due to Facebook?) I’ve decided to reenter the fray.

Some things have happened with the family recently that I want to explore online. In addition, I had some experiences at work that were particularly challenging and this anonymous space gives me a bit of room to process them. And lastly, it looks like I will be beginning an interesting Intentional Interim Ministry and I don’t want to miss the opportunities to blog about it.

I’m looking forward to being back.