One of the downfalls of injecting insulin is that you have to rotate injection sites because the fat breaks down from the insulin. We have 4 areas of the body that we can inject into: Upper Arms, Upper Thighs, Buttocks, and Stomach.
From the very beginning, Josh and I agreed instantly that we refuse to consider injecting into her stomach. Ellee doesn't have enough fat there (which I am VERY jealous of!). I also feel that since that is the only place that you are suppose to put ports when on a pump, I don't want to break that area down any sooner than we have to. And El threw a fit every time we suggested her butt, so it's always been between Arms and Thighs. Is she had her way, we would only use her arms!
We are constantly asking her to let us try a shot in her butt and she throws a fit and starts bawling at the mention of it! One of the advantages of the Novo Jr pen that we are using is that they have varying lengths of needles. Our recent 3 month supply is "Nano" needles - only 5/32" instead of 5/16" of a standard "short needle" syringe! We bargained with Ellee to allow us to try a shot in the butt once we get the shorter needles. She was reluctant, but agreed.
Josh had the girls for a few days and sent me a message saying "two nights in a row!" and I knew exactly what he meant! Tonight after dinner, I dosed the pen and called her into the room. She knows the routine and when ever possible we inject in the thighs unless we are in public and she has pants on. I pick my battles and try to let her decide where the injection will be. If I don't like that area then I suggest we do something else and although it may be reluctant, she's switch sites. Tonight, when she saw the pen she started to undo her pants so that we could do a thigh. She stops suddenly and looks at me "why don't we do my butt?! It doesn't hurt as bad as I thought it would!"
FINALLY!!! Progress!! Another site to alternate between to allow the fat to rebuild to prevent lumps! It's a step closer to controlling this disease and not letting this disease control us!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
One Step Forward
Over the past year and a half, we have learned that when Ellee's sugars are either high or low, it effects her moods. I have learned the hard way that if she is being difficult or defiant, that we need to stop and check her sugar before I punish her for something that she can't control.
After a severe low about a month ago, as recommended by the doctors, I sat her down and talked to her about how her body felt during that the low. I explained that when she feels funny like that, she needs to tell us that she doesn't feel good and we need to check her sugar because it's out of whack. I can't really expect a 5 year old to understand what is going on with their body and why it makes them feel the way it does, but we agree with the doctors that she needs to start recognizing her lows.
Both Ellee and her sister have a habit of coming into my room wanting to sleep in my bed in the middle of the night! They both have electric blankets now so I know it's not because my bed is warm! And since our recent move into Grandma & Grandpa's old house, I am more alert when I hear them get up in the middle of the night. Most of the time I make sure that they find their way back to the bedroom from the bathroom. The other morning around 4am I heard El get up and she walk into my room. She has a been known to sleep walk, so I asked her to go in and go potty before she could get in my bed. She did and came back instead of going back to her bed so I asked what was wrong.
"I can't sleep"
"Why not"
"I don't know, I just can't. Mommy, I don't feel good, I think I'm high."
When ever we have a reading that is either higher or lower than her range, my mind instantly replays the last meal and I recalculate the carbs to make sure I dosed her correctly. I didn't think she was high, let alone high enough to make her feel funny, but it would be possible that she was low. No matter the case, she said that she thinks her sugar is out of whack, so I am up instantly to check.
Sitting at the kitchen table waiting for the meter to beep: 60. The low end of her range is 90, so she was definitely low. A quick look around the kitchen for something small that will bring her up fast and I found fruit snacks! I had mixed feelings as I watched her eat her snack. The brief thought of what would have happened had she not woke up and said something, but that was quickly overcome by the more optimistic thought that she is finally starting to recognize her lows! She may not know the difference between being high or low, but I am happy (and thankful) that she is starting to realize that something is wrong and we need to check it! One step forward in dealing with this unfortunate disease!
After a severe low about a month ago, as recommended by the doctors, I sat her down and talked to her about how her body felt during that the low. I explained that when she feels funny like that, she needs to tell us that she doesn't feel good and we need to check her sugar because it's out of whack. I can't really expect a 5 year old to understand what is going on with their body and why it makes them feel the way it does, but we agree with the doctors that she needs to start recognizing her lows.
Both Ellee and her sister have a habit of coming into my room wanting to sleep in my bed in the middle of the night! They both have electric blankets now so I know it's not because my bed is warm! And since our recent move into Grandma & Grandpa's old house, I am more alert when I hear them get up in the middle of the night. Most of the time I make sure that they find their way back to the bedroom from the bathroom. The other morning around 4am I heard El get up and she walk into my room. She has a been known to sleep walk, so I asked her to go in and go potty before she could get in my bed. She did and came back instead of going back to her bed so I asked what was wrong.
"I can't sleep"
"Why not"
"I don't know, I just can't. Mommy, I don't feel good, I think I'm high."
When ever we have a reading that is either higher or lower than her range, my mind instantly replays the last meal and I recalculate the carbs to make sure I dosed her correctly. I didn't think she was high, let alone high enough to make her feel funny, but it would be possible that she was low. No matter the case, she said that she thinks her sugar is out of whack, so I am up instantly to check.
Sitting at the kitchen table waiting for the meter to beep: 60. The low end of her range is 90, so she was definitely low. A quick look around the kitchen for something small that will bring her up fast and I found fruit snacks! I had mixed feelings as I watched her eat her snack. The brief thought of what would have happened had she not woke up and said something, but that was quickly overcome by the more optimistic thought that she is finally starting to recognize her lows! She may not know the difference between being high or low, but I am happy (and thankful) that she is starting to realize that something is wrong and we need to check it! One step forward in dealing with this unfortunate disease!
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