The Insanity of Diabetes

Tales of an Insane Superwoman

The Insanity of Diabetes

Living with diabetes will make your life crazy because you can't seem to ever get it just right and your mind can never rest. This is the saga of my kids, Bart and Flo, ages 13 and 11, and the ups and downs of helping them care for themselves with the disease. Hopefully it will assist other parents of diabetic children in learning that they are not alone and that others have the same problems and horrors that they felt they would have to experience alone. The A1c levels of both children have remained in the 6-7 range, which is about the best that can be expected for type 1. Puberty, which is looming straight ahead, will cause the sugars to be harder to manage, and already Bart requires a lot more insulin than he did just a few months ago.

This is Bart. He is an 13 year old seventh grader who was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 3.5 years old. He now wears an insulin pump and manages his diabetes pretty well by himself. He is self sufficient in diabetes management at school and has made many new friends at his new school. He enjoys learning about military history and weaponry. He watches the military channel and the history channel when permitted TV privileges.

This is Flo. She is an 11 year old sixth grader and was diagnosed with diabetes at age 2.5. She also wears an insulin pump and takes care of her own diabetes at school as well. This year she is completely self sufficient at school. Flo enjoys gymnastics, guitar playing, horseback riding, and hanging with our four cats. She also has the uncanny ability to juggle many activities and still maintain a straight A school average.

Here are both of them together in December 2005. With the red eyes and braces they almost look scary. They've come a long way since diagnosis and have accomplished much. Here they are goofing around after lighting their Hannukah candles.