No Rage Against The Machine
Yesterday was a brilliant day for HI's.
When I picked up Brendon from school, he had started getting ketones, so we knew he wasn't getting the insulin he was supposed to be getting. By that time he was in the 600 range...or HI.
And then by dinner time, he was in the 300's.
I could've raged bolused during the day, but I was too afraid that there would be that one bolus that would "do the trick" and I'd be greeted with a nifty low.
A new issue arised.
Brendon was dawdling when it came time for me to insert a new infusion set and I was trying to get him to hurry up and settle down so I could change it. He had been riding in the upper 500-600 range for a couple of hours already, with ketones, and I wanted to get everything fresh and new.
"You've been very high and I need to get this done so I can get some insulin in you."
"But I feel fine."
"Even though you feel fine, it doesn't mean that you are."
"Well, why do you need to do this so fast if I feel fine."
"It's not good for your body to be this high. And the high might sneak up on you and make you feel really bad, so let's get this done."
He has to understand that what he feels physically and what the numbers read don't always jive, but he has to take action according to the meter number instead of how he feels.
I don't want him having a false sense of security thinking that he's "OK" as long as he's "feeling" OK. The number always has to take priority. My cousin has gone through major complications because he treated himself with insulin based on how he felt physically instead of testing himself to see what his body was REALLY doing to him.
So back to the rage bolusing.
Like I said, I was afraid to keep correcting him to get his numbers down faster because I didn't know which correction would be the one to drop him too low.
He had insulin on board from a snack he had at home, plus whatever he had on board from the corrections done at school.
By dinner time, he was in the 300's.
An hour after dinner, he was a 300. I called Brendon's school nurse because she was very worried and just wanted me to tell her how things were going.
By bedtime at 8:00 (about 2 hours after dinner), he was FINALLY at 145.
This morning at breakfast, he was at 108.
So for several hours, this kid put up with some mega high numbers.
He takes a licking, but keeps on ticking ;D
When I picked up Brendon from school, he had started getting ketones, so we knew he wasn't getting the insulin he was supposed to be getting. By that time he was in the 600 range...or HI.
And then by dinner time, he was in the 300's.
I could've raged bolused during the day, but I was too afraid that there would be that one bolus that would "do the trick" and I'd be greeted with a nifty low.
A new issue arised.
Brendon was dawdling when it came time for me to insert a new infusion set and I was trying to get him to hurry up and settle down so I could change it. He had been riding in the upper 500-600 range for a couple of hours already, with ketones, and I wanted to get everything fresh and new.
"You've been very high and I need to get this done so I can get some insulin in you."
"But I feel fine."
"Even though you feel fine, it doesn't mean that you are."
"Well, why do you need to do this so fast if I feel fine."
"It's not good for your body to be this high. And the high might sneak up on you and make you feel really bad, so let's get this done."
He has to understand that what he feels physically and what the numbers read don't always jive, but he has to take action according to the meter number instead of how he feels.
I don't want him having a false sense of security thinking that he's "OK" as long as he's "feeling" OK. The number always has to take priority. My cousin has gone through major complications because he treated himself with insulin based on how he felt physically instead of testing himself to see what his body was REALLY doing to him.
So back to the rage bolusing.
Like I said, I was afraid to keep correcting him to get his numbers down faster because I didn't know which correction would be the one to drop him too low.
He had insulin on board from a snack he had at home, plus whatever he had on board from the corrections done at school.
By dinner time, he was in the 300's.
An hour after dinner, he was a 300. I called Brendon's school nurse because she was very worried and just wanted me to tell her how things were going.
By bedtime at 8:00 (about 2 hours after dinner), he was FINALLY at 145.
This morning at breakfast, he was at 108.
So for several hours, this kid put up with some mega high numbers.
He takes a licking, but keeps on ticking ;D
posted by Shannon at
8:20 AM
13 Comments:
Wow, that's amazing that he was that high but didn't feel it. That's scary how that can happen (even with the low numbers).
Good for you for explaining that you have to follow the numbers vs "how you feel" - that is SO important.
I'm glad his numbers finally came down. I hate those stubborn highs - and you're right - rage bolusing always ends up with a blasted low in the end - you showed restraint there - sometimes it's so hard! :)
By
Jamie, at 4/17/2008 9:01 AM
Its just as frustrating to read this as it is to live in it.
Those were some amazing high numbers though...holy cow thats what some people come into the hospital with during their initial diagnosis.
I'm glad he's back rocking and rolling again...
By
Brett, at 4/17/2008 9:19 AM
He was just as high in the hospital with ketosis when he was first diagnosed.
What made me the most nervous was the false sense he had that he was OK. I never want him to rely on how he feels IF he's feeling OK. It's sad that even when he's feeling fine, he's really not.
By
Shannon, at 4/17/2008 9:23 AM
Nicely done, Shannon.
Keeping your head in the face of scary highs is damn hard-- and stressful.
But you did keep your head-- and you taught Brendon some important lessons.
Not only about paying attention to the numbers-- but how to respond when those numbers are extreme.
Awesome job.
By
Sandra Miller, at 4/17/2008 10:00 AM
When Riley runs high for several hours he is almost unbearable to be around. It makes him very grouchy.
I can't believe Brendon ran so high for so long and didn't feel it. (I mean I believe it. I don't think you're lying or anything. Actually, I'm kind of glad he didn't feel it because I think if he did he would have felt awful.)
You did a great job using the teachable moment.
I look forward to a day when all we need to teach is the birds and the bees and tabel manors and things like that. Not how to tell if your high and what to do if your high or low....
By
Penny Ratzlaff, at 4/17/2008 10:15 AM
tabel=table
Maybe I need a spelling lesson.
By
Penny Ratzlaff, at 4/17/2008 10:16 AM
You taught him one of the best lessons he will ever learn about his diabetes management. As much as instinct and feeling play a role, it's always best to test. For me it's my false sense of lows that causes me to always test. I won't take a sip from a juice box without a test, even if it's in the middle of the night.
By
Jillian, at 4/17/2008 10:21 AM
I doubted the numbers a couple of times because he was acting and feeling so well.
But I reminded myself that he was tested on two different meters (Albert...if you're reading, I will be using your meter ASAP!!) that both read about the same.
And then later I thought maybe his hands have some juicy stuff on them from eating fruit or something and I made him wash his hands really well.
We still had a high reading seconds after.
By
Shannon, at 4/17/2008 10:27 AM
I quadruple check and do hand washing, too just because it's hard to believe they can be that high and feeling good still.
I'm glad he was able to come down to better numbers. It stinks when the numbers refuse to budge.
By
Lea, at 4/17/2008 11:12 AM
wow. Poor thing. You I mean - he obviously didn't care at all. You handled it wonderfully well.
By
Michelle, at 4/17/2008 1:23 PM
Hooray for awesome parents! It is hard to find patience at times and I always end up "raging" and regretting (read:low).
You amaze me Shannon. truly.
By
George, at 4/17/2008 1:54 PM
Whew...thinking about those numbers makes me feel a little queasy.
Olivia is like Riley...highs make her feel and act awful. Lows she hardly seems to notice.
Such a fine line to walk...you don't want to scare him too badly, but he has to know that a situation like that requires immediate action. You did great, Shannon.
By
Paige, at 4/17/2008 9:02 PM
diabetes is full of shenanigans...grrrr! *Fantastic* point about managing the numbers, not the feeling; that is a hard lesson to learn. Nice job mom!
By
Adam Greene, at 4/18/2008 10:41 AM
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