Sometimes Having Diabetes Stinks!

We knew that diabetes could be very serious when the diabetic becomes ill, but like so much of life, until you experience it you don't really understand what "serious" means. This week we have learned.

If you read my last post or follow me on facebook then you know that Benjamin has been very sick.

I am wanting to write about what happened for our family. This will be long & is a story about sickness so read at your own risk!

I am including several links for anyone who wishes to learn about the technical terms.

If you want to just look at pictures & skip the details please don't hesitate to do so.

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It all started Thursday afternoon when Benjamin woke up from his nap & was very fussy. He didn't want to eat, and he just wanted to be held. I thought it might be an ear infection & we had plans to go to his pediatrician (he did have an ear infection, but we discovered it at the hospital instead of the doctor's office).

Benjamin started vomiting at around 5:00 PM. I was getting him out of the car at the gym. Obviously, I did the best I could to clean up with the small amount of wet wipes I had, and we headed back home.

At home I immediately started a load of laundry & put the boys in the tub. Benjamin only lasted in the tub for 2 minutes and wanted out. As soon as I grabbed him vomiting started again. Our long evening of what felt like continuous vomiting began.

Benjamin has Type 1 Diabetes. You can read about it HERE.

Because of his diabetes, when he can't keep food down his blood sugar numbers can get very low very fast. Even though Benjamin was vomiting, we did the best we could to keep him drinking juice in an effort to keep his #'s up. You can read about the dangers of low blood sugar #'s HERE. Initially, Benjamin was willing to drink in small amounts, but around 8:00 he began rejecting any food or drink. His numbers were dropping & he hadn't had a wet diaper in over 3 hours. We spoke with his endocrinologist (diabetes doctor), and together made the decision to take him to the ER so they could start an IV. Getting Benjamin on an IV would allow us to hydrate him, start anti-nausea medication, and deliver the sugar necessary to get his #'s up.

We arrived at the hospital around 10:30 PM & they immediately got us into an exam room (praise the Lord they took us in right away, because there were many in the waiting room). In our room the nurses & doctors worked quickly to check all his vitals, understand all his medicine/insulin, and clarify what had been going on. The ER doctor was wonderful! She is the same doctor that gave Benjamin his initial diagnosis & she remembered us.

Benjamin was put on an IV around 11:00. Anyone who has had to watch their small child have an IV needle inserted understands that it is HORRIBLE. One of the worst things I have had to face in my life. Benjamin screamed in fear/panic/pain through the entire process. He had to be held down firmly. They had difficulty finding a vein so the entire process took around 20 minutes. Everyone was so glad when they found a vein & we knew the ordeal was almost over.

Once the IV was in place we simply had to wait for the fluids to accomplish what they were suppose to, and for the test results to come back from the lab.

The night stretched on something like this... calm Benjamin down from the IV trauma, Benjamin falls asleep, nurse comes in to check vitals, Benjamin wakes up & screams in terror because he is sure they are going to poke him again, calm Benjamin down, he falls asleep, doctor comes in to update me on tests, Benjamin screams, & repeat.

Around 4:00 AM they decided Benjamin was stable enough to go home.

At home we went to bed immediately, but woke up to check Benjamin's blood sugar at 5:00 & 7:00. Both times it was at the low end of OK.

Friday morning Benjamin's blood sugar numbers were looking OK & he was drinking small amounts (not willing to eat yet). However, he started having diarrhea & his ketones moved into the very high range. You can read about the dangers of high ketones HERE.

By the afternoon things were getting serious again. We were getting Benjamin's ketones down by giving glucagon (read about glucagon HERE) followed by insulin, but from 2:00 PM on we couldn't get his blood sugar #'s above 50, and Benjamin would not eat or drink. We tried ice cream, Popsicles, pixie sticks, Recess Pieces, and all kinds of fruit & fruit juices. I paid highway robbery prices for some blueberries (his favorite food) & he ate 2.

We were in contact with his doctor about medication & #'s all afternoon. Finally, at 8:00 she said we needed to take him back to the hospital for another IV.

So we did. Again we got right into a room despite the full waiting room. The same ER doctor was on duty & she immediately recommended that we admit him this time.

We had to do the entire IV battle again. HORRIBLE. Again it took 20 minutes & a couple tries. This time it ended up in his foot.

Just before midnight a room opened up for us & we were moved to the pediatric unit. Thankfully Benjamin was so tired that as long as no one was in the room other than mommy, he would sleep. However, the moment someone entered the room to check his IV or glucose or vitals he would scream. It was a long night, but somewhere in the midst of the hospital noises & what seemed like constant vitals & blood sugar tests, Benjamin slept & I managed to get 3-4 hours of very broken up sleep.

Saturday morning Benjamin woke up happy & proceeded in all his activity to pull out his IV. I wanted to cry thinking about putting another one in. Thankfully, the doctor decided that we would wait a little bit to see if Benjamin could drink & eat enough on his own. Doug came from about 9:30 AM to 4:15 PM to relieve me, so that I could go home to shower, see Joseph, and take a short nap. The rest of the day was spent encouraging Benjamin to eat and drink juice. We had one scare at noon when his reading was 40 something & they started to prep him for another IV. Thankfully, with some major encouragement from Daddy, Benjamin chose that moment to down two juice boxes. Hurray! While he didn't eat much during the day (2 peach slices, one slice of bread, a small granola bar, a spoonful of yogurt & 2 dozen cheerios) his eating and drinking combined as enough to keep his numbers around 100 & at 7:30 PM we were sent home.

Last night we all slept well. We checked on Benjamin & his number frequently, but he always went right back to sleep. Benjamin & Joseph were ecstatic to be back together!!! They hugged & tackled each other. Benjamin was sooooooo happy to be out of the hospital & in his own bed where he didn't have to live in fear of someone putting another IV in.

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Today we are making progress. Benjamin is very tired & mostly just wants to sleep, read books with mommy & daddy, or watch his favorite movie (the only one he will watch) -- Charlotte's Web. He just doesn't have the energy to play much yet. He is eating, but very small amounts with lots of encouragement & patience on the part of his parents.

All morning & early afternoon Benjamin's numbers have been stable. However, this evening we are having struggles with low numbers again. It will be a long night as we will be checking Benjamin at least every 2 hours & possibly giving glucagon shots & encouraging eating/drinking if he is low.

We are so grateful for all the prayers of family & friends. So many people offered to help in any way they could. I know I have said this before, but I can express it again.

The body of Christ is an awesome thing!

We are especially thankful for Uncle Nate & Aunt Pam who selflessly cleared their schedules and took care of Joseph. He had so much fun with them.

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"Praise the Lord!

For it is good to sing praises to our God;

for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

The Lord builds up His people; He gathers the outcasts of the land.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of stars; He gives to all of them their names.

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;

His understanding is beyond measure.

The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God!

Praise the Lord, O you chosen ones!

Praise your God, O you people!"

Psalm 147:1-7,12

God is good ALL THE TIME!