Husband: I’ve noticed A has been drinking a lot yesterday and today. More than normal. He got up a couple of times to use the bathroom.
Me: Hmmm. Concerning, but probably nothing.
Husband: [after a day of out of town BMX racing] He was not hungry, didn’t eat dinner. Said his stomach was bothering him. He crashed at 7 PM.
Me: [Quietly freaking out a little] OK, when you get back, we need to test his fasting BG. Just to make sure.
The following morning…
Husband: Hey, A is still asleep (it’s around 8 AM)
Me: SHIT. Where is the nearest CVS? Or any pharmacy? You can buy a cheap kit and check him…
It’s probably nothing. We are paranoid. Aside from him getting really tall and skinny in the last few months (he went through a major growth spurt right around his 13th Bday in November), there were no other signs until a couple of days ago. OK, he’s been sleeping more too. And really hungry. But he’s also a teen boy.
There was no point of re-do. We knew it. But tested again anyway and there was no difference. Upon returning home, we tested again. High BG, large ketones. There was no room for doubt…
Endo on call: I will arrange for direct admission. You don’t need to go to ER.
Me: Do we really need to be in the hospital? Can we wait until tomorrow [Monday] to do it in outpatient?
Endo: With high BG and large ketones, you do. I am sorry. I know you know it too.
Damn it, she was right. I knew it, but did not want to hear it.
On the way to the hospital…
Me: Your life is going to change a lot and not at all. No more mindless snacking. No more running out of the house empty handed. You’ll have to carry crap everywhere. You will need to take diabetes into consideration with just about every daily decision. It’s going to be there 24/7, 365. But you will be able to continue to do everything you’ve been doing.
A: I probably won’t be able to travel for BMX?
Me: Why not? Of course you will. I’ll tell you the same thing they told us at the hospital when V was diagnosed: we fit T1D into our life, not the other way around.
Whirlwind 24 hrs in the hospital. Like speed dating, but more morbid. Same attending Endo who was there 8 years ago when V was diagnosed. Nurses, doctors, dietician, PT, social worker, and many other visits. Shots, carb counting, starting on Dexcom right away. We got this, this is not our first rodeo.
This is the crappiest BOGO deal ever. Zero stars. We did not ask to be admitted to an extra elite T1D club. And damn it, we are going to be OK. Welcome to the double dose of “It’s OK and it sucks, forever.” We are going to throw all of our experience, sarcasm, coffee and wine at it. Onward!
