Tag Archives: juvenile diabetes

Our Family’s Experience with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) Part 1

My seventeen-year-old was starting to look very thin. Gaunt, even. I asked him, “Are you taking care of your diabetes?” Concerned, I sat down and scrolled through his glucometer. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. 400s. 500s. Even some HI readings. (Normal is between 80 and 120.) What was going on? “You’re not getting enough insulin,” I said. “Are you counting your carbs?” This was a kid in a college-level math class. I knew he was very capable of doing the figures. “Yeah,” he shrugged. “But they prescribed me a ton of insulin at the last clinic visit. It … Continue reading →

Do You Have BOTH Juvenile Diabetes and Autism in Your Family?

A few days ago, I received an email from a mother in Florida who was responding to my blog entitled, Autism, Juvenile Diabetes, and Autoimmune Factors. She explained that like me, she has both of these diagnoses in her family. She has one child on the autism spectrum and another with juvenile diabetes. She also has a child who is considered “high risk” for contracting juvenile diabetes, but so far is free of the disease. She told me that she is aware of four other families living in her general vicinity who have children with autism and diabetes. However in … Continue reading →

For Parents of Diabetic Kids: What is Hypoglycemic Unawareness?

My son Garrett had a frightening experience in a class at school one day. Suddenly he was having difficulty writing. He had a hard time remembering how to spell simple words, and started to feel strange. Dizzily, he walked to the front of the classroom and approached the teacher. He opened his mouth to speak, but couldn’t remember how. He stood in front of the teacher trying to say something, anything, but the words wouldn’t come. Finally a look of understanding crossed the teacher’s face. “You’re a diabetic, aren’t you?” she asked, and quickly led him to the cafeteria, where … Continue reading →

No More Excuses…A Type 1 Diabetic Climbs Mount Everest!

Since I have two sons with juvenile diabetes, I often hear “I’m a diabetic,” excuses. “Mom, I have to eat this cupcake right NOW. My bloodsugar is low.” “Mom, can’t you excuse me from the 1.5 mile run at school, since I’m a diabetic?” Well, now I’m armed with proof positive that diabetics can do anything. And I mean anything. Will Cross doesn’t let chronic illness get in the way of achieving his dreams. Thirty years ago he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes (type I) at the age of nine. Now, a 39-year-old father of six, he became the first … Continue reading →

“I Forgot I Had Diabetes!”

We were sitting around in our favorite gourmet burger spot, enjoying a celebration for my son who just turned twelve. Everyone had decided what size cheeseburger they wanted, how they wanted it cooked, and what kind of cheese would be grilled with the meat. We tried to keep an eye on the smaller members of the family, who had run over to the arcade, while my husband and I and our older children chatted about random stuff. Our pager buzzed, and the food was ready. Everyone hopped up to the counter and dressed their burgers, then eagerly sat down to … Continue reading →

The Jewelry That Gives Peace of Mind

Have you ever considered what might happen if your child had a medical emergency and you weren’t around? And if your child couldn’t speak due to a disability or because he was unconscious, how could he get help? William Y. Rial, Former President of the American Medical Association has said, “Even if your children are old enough to understand the seriousness of their condition, why gamble on the ability to communicate in a situation in which they may be unconscious or too ill to speak? If your children suffer from any condition that could endanger them or complicate treatment in … Continue reading →

A Little Hope Over Lunch…

Yesterday I had the opportunity to have lunch with the Executive Director of the Utah Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Another children’s book writer and I are pitching the idea of creating some illustrated books which could perhaps go into the “Bags of Hope” which are given to newly-diagnosed kids. All of our work would be donations to the cause. I’m excited about the project and the director seemed very receptive and encouraging. As we spoke over lunch, we talked about my two sons with juvenile diabetes. The director told me she could “count on one hand” the … Continue reading →

The Great TRICK-or-TREAT Divide: Juvenile Diabetes and Halloween

Do you have a child with juvenile diabetes, or a child on a special diet? Or do you just hate the idea of your son or daughter eating a lot of candy? With Halloween approaching, you might be wondering how to deal with the whole trick-or-treating routine. How do you allow your child to participate, and still limit the sugary indulgences? Note: Children with juvenile diabetes can eat candy! It’s not forbidden for a child in good control. You simply must count the carbohydrates into their meal plan, or give enough insulin to cover the amount. Still, a whole lot … Continue reading →

Medical Research: Our Family’s Affair

Well, the “study folks” finally made contact with me. They had left several messages and I had intended to return their calls…sort of. I knew that participating in a research study was something our family would be asked to do. Perhaps I was intentionally not making myself very available. But I knew that eventually they would track me down, and yesterday they did. The Request “Mrs. Crow? This is Jeannie…” She went on to explain that because our family had two children with juvenile diabetes, we were eligible to participate in a study called the Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium. … Continue reading →

“My brother’s got it, too.” Siblings with Juvenile Diabetes

This photograph makes me smile, because it shows the playful personality of my boys so well. (I have two other sons, Kyle and Liam, and three daughters not pictured.) Riley, age eleven, is finally getting into the groove of his diabetic routine. It has been two months since his diagnosis. For an eleven-year-old, he’s amazingly responsible and careful. Yet there’s something so unfair about a kid having to spend his life giving himself shots. I’m very proud of how he’s handling all this. At first, he was reluctant to give himself the injections, and we didn’t push the issue. His … Continue reading →