March Madness

Life in the Type One Trio is crazy!

For myself, I started CNA classes. The classes are simple and practical. However, the timing of the classes -

not so much.

A couple factors that aid to this "March Madness" are that I'm full-time at MBU- just starting my second year of Type One- adjusting to many hours of studying- and in the midst of the dreaded Flu-season.

I'm not complaining! This is an exciting and critical step towards my bright future!

As for Daniel, he's really struggling on the sickness side of the "madness". 

He's consistently been running 350's-400's for the past three days. High numbers are bad enough, but burning moderate keytones is even worse! If his numbers stay like that for a while, he could be going into the hospital for DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis). 

What is DKA? Simply put, DKA begins when the body is building up keytones due to lack of insulin. High levels of keytones can poison your the body- these high levels then lead to DKA. If you don't keep on top of monitoring the keytone levels and blood sugars- the results can be fatal.

Ya- not a pretty picture.

Thankfully, Mom and Dad jumped into action! Daniel's keytone levels have stabilized- he's just exhausted from the craziness of it all. Blood sugars haven't moved much.

As for Hannah, she's doing great . . . for now. ;) 

Life will stabilize back out - it always does! 

 

(I understand the picture below is debatable ... but honestly, this is a fair description of Type One in the T1Trio.)

 

I'll try to keep posting through the rest of this semester- life is just a bit crazy right now. 

Hannah's 4th Diaversary

Four years . . . 

I cannot say enough about Hannah! Every picture you see is a reflection of Hannah's journey with Type One Diabetes. 

Being the first to be diagnosed, Hannah led the way and remains to be the most experienced Type One in our Trio!

 When I'm sad she's there to cheer me up-
 When I'm nervous she's there to hold my hand-
 When I'm discouraged she's there to love me!

Even if I asked God for a better sister - I couldn't get one! 

I love you with all my heart! 

Happy Diaversary!!

A Bright Future!

I was writing a new post yesterday about all of the thoughts I am trying to process with Type One right now. I wrote an entire blog post, and then decided I would post it today after proofreading. 

Then it hit me. 

It's time for me to move on from that moment. 

It's time to look to the future.

And quite frankly, the future is looking fairly bright! 

I have finally finished all of my requirements for becoming a student at Madison Area Technical College! 

I plan to start attending night school there March 3rd for my Certified Nursing Assistant. 

My goal is to work at a hospital this summer as a Nursing Assistant, and then change my major to a four year Nursing Program this next semester at the University I attend.

Upon finishing my RN degree, my dream is to work at American Family Children's Hospital and specialize in endocrinology.

 In simple terms, I plan to work with Type One Diabetics as my career. Most of the patients would end up being newly diagnosed Type Ones.

For me, this is my opportunity to share my story. Second, I would be able to do what I love best- help and encourage Type One Diabetics! 

I understand this will be a lot of work: nursing isn't the easiest of majors- I really have come to that understanding. 

Yet, I have a drive that I believe will help me through. 

I'll give an example. 

When I was admitted into the hospital after my diagnosis, I was devastated. My life was turned upside down, my normal was gone.

How would I manage all the shots? How would I ever feel normal again? How can one feel normal?

  

Now in that circumstance, imagine if a nurse walked in, sat on my bed and told me they had Type One - and that it would all be okay. Trust me on this, when I was admitted, I didn't really care what the doctors said - they didn't have Type One. The ones I wanted to talk to were the ones who had Type One!

That's what I want to do for others.

I want to be that support that so many newly-diagnosed Type Ones need.

So there's the plan!

I look forward to upcoming opportunities that I will have. God is definitely providing me with opportunities through Type One.

Sure, Type One had a great hit on me Thursday. But I'm about to make my comeback . . . 

and it's going to be good! 

(Type One Trio at A.F.C.H. for Radiothon, this is my dream workplace)

Too Low

It actually happened.

I was in the doctor's office for a second TB Skin test . . . nothing much, just an "in and out" appointment. The only exciting part of this visit was that I got to have Hannah along with me!

I've had a cold for a while. The reason I say this is because it makes me feel low. Whenever I have felt low, I would test my blood sugar and it ended up being high. The only problem with this, is that I have begun to ignore that "low sensation".

After my nurse finished the TB test, we began chatting and getting our stuff together to leave. 

That's when it hit me

When I go really low, I feel this nauseating feeling deep inside of me. A feeling that if I don't get sugar . . . things are going to get really bad.

I turned to Hannah and told her I needed to test. Only problem was, we had both left our testers in my car. I had tested before going in and my number was 130. I didn't think I could possibly have any problems.

From this point, I went down fast. 

I remember I began shaking. Everything was blurring and I began to panic.

The nurse hit the panic button and then . . . I don't remember much of anything - mainly because I passed out. 

As the story is told to me: 

Hannah and the nurse were able to pry my mouth open and begin feeding a glucose powder down my throat. Medical staff rapidly arrived and began filling the room.

A few minutes later I regained consciousness. I felt miserable. I was hot, sweaty, and very nauseous. I woke up to glucose gel and powder still being fed into my mouth. Though I didn't want to, I forced myself to swallow. I knew that if I didn't, I would only get worse.

After I reentered the world, the medical staff was able to acquire a tester.

130

(Though I really wish I knew my number when I passed out, that will be a fact I will never really know.)

They helped me into a stretcher and took me to the ER for stabilization. 

Upon my arrival, they began monitoring me and running tests. The EKG came back great, and all of my vitals stabilized. I retested my blood sugar and I was 145. Not bad considering the large amount of sugar I took in! 

Thankfully, I'm better now. 

I'm at home, still trying to recover mentally from the trauma of the whole scenario. I feel like it was all a dream.

 And to be perfectly honest, I'm scared . . . I can't help it - it's just a reality I have to "reface" now. Because I have finally had a major low, I feel very paranoid that I am going to bottom out again.

It's a fact that any Type One will face in these unnerving situations.

Yet I'm learning I have to look at the other side.

I have a lot to thank God for!

For one, I am alive! Second, I could have been driving. Had I passed out while driving, things could have been much worse. Third, what better place to have it happen then at a hospital! And lastly, though this was a terrible experience- it really ended well!

I know I'll be okay, I just have to catch my breath, calm down, and re-think my Type One. 

1st Year with T1 Diabetes!

 

January 31st 2013 . . .

It has been one year.

I really can't believe that it's only one year - it seriously feels like ten! 

I find myself worried, because if this one year feels like ten . . . how many years will five years feel like? Anyway, I have college tomorrow so I'm going to cut this momentous moment short! I hope the you enjoy the video . . . it is a very short synopsis of an amazing year.

Thanks to all of my loving, supporting, and caring friends and family!

Oh, and on an important note ... In the diabetes world, this is officially my first "Diaversary"!! So I will party through the night as I sleep! ;)

I'm looking forward to another year full of stories, new friendships, and continuous adjusting to this disease!

 

Type Olympic: Kris Freeman

 This is Kris Freeman.

Three-time cross-country "Top-Ranked Skier" of the Olympics. He possessed 16 national titles and was ranked #1 in his sport before being let go of the US Team in April of 2013.

As of February 9th, Kris will start his journey to obtain gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi!

Kris has lived with Type One Diabetes since he was 19. Though many thought this would end Kris's career in cross-country skiing, it didn't!

It seems that many times people write about Type One as a "death-sentence" to your dreams and ambitions.

On the contrary, Kris has proved a powerful fact to the entire world:

Though Type One is a part of him, it can't defeat his dreams! 

(Chris inserting a port for his Ominipod Pump)

 As I look forward to the upcoming Olympic performances, it will be inspiring to watch Kris fight for gold - and for all the Type One's watching!

  Go Kris!