Justin's Story

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

The Other Half of Diabetes-Diabetes Blog Week 2016

Topic for Tuesday:
We think a lot about the physical component of diabetes, but the mental component is just as significant. How does diabetes affect you or your loved one mentally or emotionally? How have you learned to deal with the mental aspect of the condition? Any tips, positive phrases, mantras, or ideas to share on getting out of a diabetes funk? (If you are a caregiver to a person with diabetes, write about yourself or your loved one or both!)

I am the caregiver (Mom) to a 10 year old kid named Justin :)

We have been on this T1D Journey for about 3 1/2 years now.  Demanding isn't even the right word for it.  I have gone from furious, to crying in a matter of minutes over diabetes and its ridiculous antics.  

It has gotten better over the last few years, although there are still times when I'm super frustrated & just need a good cry.  I really just try to keep a positive attitude, if a high number shows up on the meter, we give a correction and move on.  If a low number shows up we treat it and move on.  I noticed really early on that if I let that meter control me and my emotions, it affected Justin more.  So if he tests and 380 shows up...am I upset yes, but I'm just like dude, we gotta give a shot and maybe change that pump site. The only time I get more anxious is with anything under 55....especially if the dexcom is showing any arrow down.  I feel my heart stop for a second, as I'm rushing to get him a juice to drink.  

There are many days when it just overwhelms me again, just the daily having to do all those things gets to you over time.  I get super frustrated and cry then I feel better.  

As for Justin, he tends to bottle his feelings up over time.  I'll ask him if he's had a flame thrower day after school.  It's usually a no.  He's had some rough times with other kids at school and the diabetes.  We are working through those things, and they seem to be getting better.   I know there are days when he's just over it, and I try to be encouraging and just help him.  He tests himself, and boluses himself.  But on those days when he's just not feeling it, I jump in.  Whatever it is that helps him at that moment.  Pricking his finger, bolusing from the remote.  However I can relieve some of the stress he's feeling.  We try to laugh about things, yes he usually laughs changing sites.  He will just be silly, or something makes a noise and its just hysterical.  

We encourage each other alot. If he sees me getting upset he tells me it's ok.  I do the same for him.  And sometimes we've shared a good cry and you know what we felt better afterwards and then were back to fighting this battle full force.  

For us, "God didn't give us what we could handle, he's helping us handle what we were given".......










2 comments:

  1. Love that you and your son are supporting each other through the diabetes challenges!

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  2. Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog 😊

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