Wednesday, January 09, 2013

What are our days like?

6.00 I get up and do the first bsl for the day. Our target range for the children is to have them between 4.0 and 10.0. This morning Amelia was 11.2, Tom was 5.3 and Christopher was 9.2. Christopher can have an adjustment and be given insulin because the pump can give small doses. Amelia needs to wait till she is eating to have more insulin because 1 unit would bring her down too much without food.

At about 7.30 the boys get up. Every three days I need to change their pumps. I check the pumps and see who needs changing. Once pump changes are done, we get breakfast. For breakfast, Amelia needs to eat 45 grams of carbs. Since the boys are on a pump, they can eat more or less carbs. Because they don't have a background insulin, they don't have a minimum or maximum of carbs. The pump has a bolus wizard and works out how much insulin is needed when we put it their bsl and how many carbs they are eating.

To work out the carbs, we weigh or measure everything that is carby. For breakfast they usually eat a bowl of cereal with a glass of milk. This is around 30 carbs. Amelia can then have one piece of toast as well. If she still wants some more to eat after the toast and cereal, we usually would go with some free foods. Just before Amelia eats breakfast I give her lantus and novorapid. lantus is the background insulin and novorapid is the fast acting one. Amelia needs to have novorapid with every main meal.

At 10.30 it is snack time. Amelia needs 15 grams of carbs which could be a piece of fruit, fruit bun, savory biscuits or ice block now that it is warm weather. The boys don't have to eat carbs if they don't want to but usually do want something. We do bsl and put them in the boys pumps and the amount of carbs they are eating again. Amelia won't need any insulin. Snack time is just to make sure her sugar level doesn't drop too  much by lunch.

1.00 is time for lunch. We do another bsl and work out carbs again by weighing food. Amelia will have some more novorapid and the boys will put their bsl and carbs into their pumps. We will do the same around 3.30 for afternoon tea and and again at tea time (usually between 5.30 and 6.00). At tea time, Amelia will have another dose of novorapid.  The children all go to bed around 8.00 just before this and straight after family prayer, we will do a bsl and have supper. Again Amelia needs 15 grams of carbs to get her through the night without a hypo.

At 10.00 I do the final bsl check for the day. If anyone is lower than 6.0 or higher than 13, I set an alarm to get up and check them at midnight and again at 3.00am. Last night everyone was inbetween 6.0 and 13 so I did get a full nights sleep. With three of them, I think these nights will be few and far between though.

5 comments:

Jeanne said...

No wonder the diagnosis of DMI is so difficult the first time. Such a steep learning curve. Amelia is blessed to have such a knowledgable mum. I hope you settle into your new normal without too many sleepless nights and surprises.

Anonymous said...

Praying for you!

Unknown said...

You are such a wonderful mum, God gave you these special children because he knew you would be the best mum they could possibly have!
Praying for you as you make these new adjustments to your life.

Le@h said...

Thanks for the insight, Therese. :-) I agree that Amelia is blessed to have such a knowledgeable mum! Many prayers.

Therese said...

Thanks everyone for your words and support. I knew I could rely on blog readers to pray and support me.

Therese.

Please pray for a cure for Type One Diabetes

Please pray for a cure for Type One Diabetes
Our sons Tom and Christopher and our daughter Amelia are type one diabetics. We pray everyday for a cure. We do not want one by illicit means though so don't support any organisation that contributes to Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Click on the photo of Tom and Christopher to read about why I am against using Embryonic Stem cells for a cure.

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Tom's and Christopher's insulin pump

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