I took my baby boy up to Wriggle ‘n Rhyme at the library last week. For the uninitiated, W n R is 25-30min singing and moving to music thingee that the libraries hold everywhere (all through the country I think, definitely all around Auckland). It’s really cute – they have a big colourful, glittery mat, and all the kids and their parents sit around it and sing some songs and wave arms about etc etc.
When I left the house I checked my BG and it was 6.5 but it was only an hour after a meal. The thought crossed my mind that I was heading for a low but I didn’t really have time to do anything about it and quickly forgot about it. Parks were scarce when I got there so I had to park quite far down the road, so I grabbed Hugo out of the backseat and hightailed it up to the library with him. Also, last time I went there was barely room to move so I elected to leave my bag in the car, which – you guessed it – had my glucose tablets in it.
So – Hugo’s nearly 9kg now, which is pretty heavy over long periods. This particular class they had us swinging and swaying the babies…
…. you all know which way this story is headed, and it’s down. By the time we’d done about ten mins of scooping, swaying, bouncing etc I was starting to shake a little. Face was all clammy and I could feel sweat dripping down my back. Nice. So, I excused myself early and scuttled off. BG by the time I got back to the car: 2.4.
No shame in going low on blood sugar, that’s for sure. What I do find annoying though is the fact that people who don’t understand diabetes might think “ooooh look at her – awfully unfit, look, she looks exhausted and is sweating after ten mins of swaying!”. I know I shouldn’t care, but I do. It also annoys me that because of my diabetes, my son missed out on some of the songs. It’s not his fault either.
Posted in Hypos & Hypers, Slice of Life
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Saffy wrote
You’re not alone
(Yes, we have those things at our libraries here in Welly too). I’ve experienced similar hypos at our weekly baby music class. Sometimes I feel like I should wear a t-shirt that says “be nice, I’m T1″ – I look at the other (I’m exaggerating, perhaps half) mummies so nicely made up and dressed and there I’ve been – hair wet, deranged, hypo’d. Yuck.
Goes with the territory, me thinks. But now I do turn my pump down to 50%. Seems to have made a huge difference.
Sarah wrote
Aah yes, I feel for you – had an embarrassing hypo moment this morning at kindy, where I had to scoff a handful of jellybeans (all sugar and junk food are banned from kindy). Of course another super-fit, wholesome mother chose that moment to have a conversation with me. I wondered what she thought of me, my cheeks bulging with sweets and trying not to look to look dazed and confused… I need one of those T-shirts too, Saffy!
Renata Porter wrote
Nic…lesson learned about the rushing…next time you won’t forget. As far as the people, piss on them. I think it’s awesome you are seeking out programs to do with Hugo. I also think it’s awesome that you are able to do so…you should be proud. Keep doin what you are doin and SMILE BIG!
Erena wrote
Man that really sux aye! I usually have my worst lows when Im rushed or stress and am not giving my BG’s the attention they need – I just can’t afford not to be really sure my BG’s are as they should be, and my terrible time management and organisational skills dont help!
I totally disregarded the ‘heading low’ indicators one time when I was going into a job interview, needless to say I don’t actually remember alot about it except that I knew I was low but just had to make it through without collapsing in a clammy shaking mess on the floor! I managed to do that but have NO idea what I said or how the interview went… and I never got the job!
What gives me a real fright is coming out of situations where I have had a serious low and that this has had the potential to harm not only myself but my daughter (driving, overnight when my partner is away, cooking etc). We can be pretty dangerous when our BG’s are low and the fact that reason and control have gone out the window is a pretty scary thought! I’ve certainly been alot more conscious of my BG’s and where theyre heading since becoming a mum, my pump has made these low episodes alot less frequent and avoidable. I wish we could have ‘respite days’ in which we could just hand our diabetes over to someone else for ONE DAY so I could have a break from the constant need to be ‘aware’. One can only dream….
Ruthie wrote
I have been in your shoes many times Nic – and truth be told, if I’ve got jelly beans still in their marked bag (which I usually keep in my handbag) I pull them out and scoff a whole heap so people can see I need sugar for some reason and I also make a point of pulling my pump out and checking it so people think ‘ooooh she’s all mechanical, I wonder why?’ and 99% of the time, a random stranger at the library or in the shop or cafe or baby get together place will ask what my pump is and I usually say ‘I’m diabetic on an insulin pump’ and I say it loud enough so everyone can hear. I like the attention of it! Always have!!! haha (Ever the extrovert!) And inadvertantly, I’m teaching people about insulin pumps so more awareness helps! Alternatively, if I’m not in a good mood I just don’t care and do what I have to to get myself out of hypo. My son will learn how to help me one day and I’m already making him aware of me doing bloodtests which he is incredibly interested in! Don’t ever think you’re the cause of him missing out – because we have this disease regardless and he’ll learn the importance of empathy one day because of you!! xo
Ali wrote
Hypos – Arghh! Inconvenient, badly timed, embarrasing hypos – triple Arghh I’m sure my paranoia of going low at the wrong time is one of the very many contributing factors to not being able to hit that elusive 6% HBA1C. I get so nervous that it will happen that I often overcompensate and take my hypo remedy before the levels even start to drop (especially before important meetings) consequently ending up high! Such a balancing act.
Penny wrote
I am so with you Nic.
I have felt guilty for having to take a break at work when I go low. The best though is when I go hypo half way through a clinic appointment – I hope that I have been acting normally (my colleagues all tell me differently) hoping that i can make it to the end – failing so leaving the clinic leaving the parents wondering who this half crazed doc is that is seeing them (are they unfit, are they having a heart attack, are they on drugs?????????) – not a good look.
Sometimes I take a good hour to recover – I have often wished that at these times I have a bright neon sign saying T1 HYPO.
If it could just switch on at the right time.
Alice wrote
I’ve only just found your website and it’s soooo nice to hear of other people having exactly the same experiences as me! I’ve been T1 for 11 years but have never hooked up with any other T1s, been to support groups or anything like that. It seems I’ve been missing out! I’ve just been living in my own little T1 bubble and bumbling along on my own (with the love and support of my non diabetic friends and family of course).
As for hypos, yip, been there – regularly! My least favourite ones are when I’m at school (I’m a primary school teacher). My students all know what’s happening if I’m eating jelly beans though! In fact I even have a ‘blood sugar monitor’ who reminds me to have my test at lunch time and sits with me to interpret the result for me – very cute!
Anyway, thanks for the awesome site. I’m now officially a regular reader!
Dawn wrote
I had a hypo at my daughter’s fifteen month vaccinations last week because I was rushing around. I had to eat the lollipops reserved for the kids….
Ruthie wrote
Welcome Alice!!! You’ll get to know all our names very soon, I’m sure! As for you’re very own Blood Sugar Monitor, sweet setup! haha I bet he/she thinks they are so special when they get to be your monitor because it’s such a personal teacher-thing to help with. Very cute indeed!
As for your lollipop experience Dawn – that’s hilarious! See, being T1 does have it’s perks at times! haha
Aaron wrote
whenever anyone asks me what is the worst thing about diabetes it is ALWAYS a story like this. Above the injections, testing, CHO counting and other garbage is when it interferes with our normal every day life and that of our loved ones/children.
And of course, the stigma doesn’t help, does it.
Nic wrote
Welcome to the site Alice!
Thanks for all the other comments – yup, looks like we’re all definitely in the same boat – a problem shared is a problem halved indeed.