#iamthetype

I haven't shared this on here so I thought it was time to help raise awareness... On Dec. 9th 2013, Grant was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 7.  It was a shock to our family as there is no family history of Type 1.  It has been a lifestyle change for everyone in our house because life does centre a bit more around Grant than it did before.  I am so proud of how Lauren and Ben took on the role of caregivers for Grant when Todd and I were not around.  There was a lot to learn from, recognizing lows and highs, to counting carbs, giving needles, checking blood sugar, checking for ketones and I am sure there are more little things I am missing.

Getting his glucometer ready to check his blood sugar which he does about 6 - 12 times a day depending on his activities

 

Checking his blood sugar level
                                      

 

                                                          Happy with a good reading!

 The most common question people ask me is, how did you know to take him to the doctor?  The first sign for me was his water bottle was empty when he came home from school and I asked him about it and he said yes he drank it all and even refilled it at the water fountain.  One night that week before he was diagnosed I heard him up to pee in the night and I asked if he wanted to sleep with me because Daddy was away.  I had a hidden agenda because I wanted to see how many times he was getting up.  Well the news wasn't good, he got up 4 more times that night!  The tell tale sign for me was when he went to hockey on Saturday he couldn't make it through the hour of ice time without coming off to go to the bathroom. 
 
I took him to the walk-in clinic and he peed in a cup and I heard the diagnosis I didn't want to hear, but knew in my heart that I had known all that week, but was in denial.  The guilt then set in that I didn't take him sooner, but I wasn't ready to hear those words.  I knew it meant a lifetime of finger pokes, needles, checkups, highs and lows, living our life on a stricter schedule.  Thankfully, we still caught it early even though I waited those couple of days.  They credited me to bringing him so quick because no damage was done.  The doctors and nurses didn't know the turmoil that was going on in my head. 
 
Well life before Type 1 is a distant memory after a year and a half of living with it in our family.  I credit that all to Grant who is an amazing boy!  Days that he should complain, he doesn't!  Testing before hockey, before lunch, at birthday parties are all teaching moments for him.  He is proud of who he is and uses those moments to share with new and old friends what he has to do everyday to stay healthy. 

                                            

Getting his needle ready for his insulin injection

 

His thigh is one of the sites we use for his insulin injection

I am the strong and independent type!

 

I will share more of what life is like living with T1D periodically.  It is always changing for Grant as he grows.  I scrapbooked a couple pages on Grant's journey with T1D so he will know when he grows up how courageous he was at age 7 when faced with this life changing illness.

 

#iamthetype who will love and care for Grant

#controlfreak

 

 

 

Warmly,

Beth (and Grant's Mommy)