newbie on here :D

[heatherahopson]

Hi.
I'm Heather. 23. Two children (ages 18m and 6m).
I'm Type One Diabetic. Got diagnosed in March '09. My father has Type One too. Had a very tough time with it and still do now.
Went into DKA in Feb '10 for a week with double pneumonia too. I rarely test which I need to get back into so signed up to this forum for help and support and to rant too sorry!
I was on the Insulin Pumps with both pregnancies and my control was amazing but after my second child and not having a bump the wire was getting pulled out all the time and eldest child was interested in the pump all the time. So resorted back to pens!
Need huge support and motivation from you guys thanks 🙂. I have support at home etc but they can't understand with not living with it! My father doesn't talk much about it if you looked at his blood monitor you'd think he didn't have the condition perfect results everytime!

 

[Northerner]

Hi Heather, a warm welcome to the forum 🙂 So sorry to hear you have been having problems and had to abandon the pump due to inquisitive fingers!

What insulins are you on? I would try a couple of things to start with - begin testing at bedtime and on waking, and before each meal. Don't worry about the numbers, just do the test. In a week or so you will be able to spot patterns and areas where you might need to make changes. I presume you carb count if you have been a pumper? Record also your carb intake at each meal and then see where you stand. The overnight readings should give you a good idea of how your long-acting insulin is working and the other information will hopefully give you a rough idea of where your meal ratios might need tweaking.

You can let us know here how things are working out - we don't mind if you talk about diabetes until the cows come home, and we know just where you are coming from! 🙂

 

[Redkite]

Hi and welcome Heather 🙂

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time with the diabetes. It must be quite hard work with 2 littlies so close in age (my good friend's two are 13 months apart and she was permanently shattered when they were small, but now it's great for the two of them being so close in age!). I can also see why the pump was tricky, as I had to stop wearing earrings for the same reason! If you think you'd do better on the pump, you could think about wearing it in a close-fitting pump-belt under your clothes, and taping down the tubing. The pump buttons should be lockable (they are on the Veo).

I would try and follow the advice usually given out to Mums by Health Visitors etc. to make sure you get some "me time" and in addition give yourself a bit of "D time". A minute or two first thing in the morning and before each meal to check and record your BG level, even if the two of them are screaming for attention 😉

I don't mean to be nosy, but are you breast feeding the little one? If so, beware hypos, you need to keep yourself well topped up with carbs!

And....easier said than done, but don't compare yourself unfavourably to your Dad - everyone's diabetes is unique to them, and I imagine your Dad has more time to dedicate to his own self-care than you do at the moment.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi.
I'm Heather. 23. Two children (ages 18m and 6m).
I'm Type One Diabetic. Got diagnosed in March '09. My father has Type One too. Had a very tough time with it and still do now.
Went into DKA in Feb '10 for a week with double pneumonia too. I rarely test which I need to get back into so signed up to this forum for help and support and to rant too sorry!
I was on the Insulin Pumps with both pregnancies and my control was amazing but after my second child and not having a bump the wire was getting pulled out all the time and eldest child was interested in the pump all the time. So resorted back to pens!
Need huge support and motivation from you guys thanks 🙂. I have support at home etc but they can't understand with not living with it! My father doesn't talk much about it if you looked at his blood monitor you'd think he didn't have the condition perfect results everytime!

Hello Heather and welcome to the forum.
to solve the tubing/cannula being pulled out, use some tape MEFIX is good and put a strip across the tube about an inch from the cannula so any tug wont pull it out. also if any excess tubing just make it into a loop and tape it out the way. You can also set the child lock on the pump so buttons can not activate the pump. 🙂
The word no is also a good word for children to learn, as in out of bounds for the pump. 🙂

 

[heatherahopson]

Thanks for the replies! 🙂

Hypo hell when i was on the pump. I was expressing; not anymore gutted because with my first expressed for 8months! Second baby arrived and only able for 3 weeks. I got use to feeding baby, express with the pump off and then eating something putting the pump back on DSN said treat it like a hypo is happening so i didn't have to wait for one..

I tired everything with the pump attaching it to my bra and the wire under clothing and it still came off some how; then tried different cannula's etc still nothing.

But back to now I'm on Novarapid and Levamir.. Use to carb count but now I hardly eat due to the kids during the day (I know there is always time) but honestly I'm none stop during the day. I have 15-20units at tea between 6-8pm.

Regards to tests I have a few weeks testing and carry it on etc and make sure i write everything down but now a days (been feeling rather depressed at the moment); I just don't want to think about it.

Everyone who knows me and sees I'm down says think of the children they don't want another DKA event etc which makes me think that shouldn't be said to me at all can't use my children as the reason to do something (yes i know it should in a way but not in that tone or attitude) so i just get more mad and do less of everything.

Think the depression doesn't help

 

[Redkite]

Thanks for the replies! 🙂

But back to now I'm on Novarapid and Levamir.. Use to carb count but now I hardly eat due to the kids during the day (I know there is always time) but honestly I'm none stop during the day. I have 15-20units at tea between 6-8pm.

Regards to tests I have a few weeks testing and carry it on etc and make sure i write everything down but now a days (been feeling rather depressed at the moment); I just don't want to think about it.

Everyone who knows me and sees I'm down says think of the children they don't want another DKA event etc which makes me think that shouldn't be said to me at all can't use my children as the reason to do something (yes i know it should in a way but not in that tone or attitude) so i just get more mad and do less of everything.

Think the depression doesn't help

Sorry to hear you're feeling depressed. Could it be post natal? Or do you think you're just a bit overwhelmed at the moment? Do your children sleep through the night or are you sleep deprived (this would certainly contribute to a low mood)? Sorry for all the Q's! I'm just wondering whether you are feeling down generally because you're on the go all day looking after the kids, or whether it's the diabetes itself that's getting you down.

People say the wrong things sometimes, intending to be well meaning - of course you don't want to end up in DKA again, but it's a bit like telling someone to snap out of it, NOT helpful! Be kind to yourself, don't obsess over the tests you *haven't* done, instead set yourself small goals for each day.

My sister's ex was type 1, and he used to familiarise their two children with his diabetes tasks from an early age. Would it be possible for you to get into a habit with your older child of maybe when they are sitting down for their meal saying "now it's time for Mummy's test" and doing it in front of them? Maybe you could always do one when you read them a bedtime story. I'm just thinking of ways you could fit it into your day and get the children to grow up accepting that this is something you have to do and they can't interrupt for that minute or two.

I remember in those early months not eating properly myself either - instead of meals I would eat whole tins of rice pudding and bars of chocolate (luckily I'm not T1 myself). But at the risk of saying "do as I say, not as I do", I bet you'd feel better if you were able to eat regular meals. Can your other half help out a bit with cooking dinner and maybe even making you a sandwich to have later on for lunch?

Hopefully some T1 parents will be along soon with some advice...🙂