and this is my diabetes story…

When I was in Kindergarten, something happened that changed my life. I didn’t feel like myself. I was always thirsty and I felt very tired. I was even a little cranky. My Mommy thought it was just because I was working so hard in Softball, but she wanted to be sure.

She took me to see the doctor. The doctor told us that I had something called Type 1 Diabetes. She also said that right now my body wasn’t breaking down the glucose from my food. I didn’t know what that meant, but the doctor told us that I needed to go to the hospital right away!

Joyful MonkeyJM

When we got to the hospital, my Daddy was being silly. He told me he wished he had a cool bracelet like the one the lady had given me.

My sisters stayed with my Papa and Oma while I was in the hospital with my parents. I had to stay in the hospital for 3 days. Sometimes I wished I was the one staying with my Papa and Oma.

I went to the school

at the hospital for 2

hours each day.

Here are some of

the pictures I painted at

the hospital school…

While we were in the hospital, my parents and I had a LOT to learn about Type 1 Diabetes. A lot of it was boring and I couldn’t understand it all. I was surprised to learn that the hospital had their own school for patients who were missing school.

Joyful Monkey

We learned that my pancreas wasn’t making insulin like it should. Insulin helps the body to break down glucose (a fancy word for sugar). Glucose is very important to our bodies because it gives us energy. That is why I sometimes feel sleepy; like I have no energy.

We also learned how to take care of my diabetes at home. The doctors and nurses showed us how to check my blood glucose. They also taught us how to give insulin shots. That’s why I had to be admitted to the hospital…the doctors and nurses had to take care of me while they were teaching my parents how to.

I kind of enjoyed the hospital, except for all the shots! My family and friends were very thoughtful and brought me all kinds of gifts; books, balloons, flowers, and more. I definitely felt loved!

Finally, it was time to go home!

Now, we take care of my diabetes at home. We use many different tools.

I use my glucometer to see how much glucose is in my blood. A pen with a small needle pokes my finger. I squeeze a little bit of blood out and put it on a test strip. The test strip is connected to my meter and the meter tells me how much glucose is in my blood; it should be between 80 and 180.

If I am lower than 80, it is very important for me to eat sugar. If I don’t, I could pass out and end up in the hospital.

If I am higher than 180, I need a shot of insulin to bring my blood glucose down. I also need a shot every time I eat something with carbohydrates (sugars).

My teacher and the health assistant help me do this. I still need to check my blood glucose before I eat; that is why I go to the health room before lunch. I also go to the health room to check my blood glucose if I am feeling “low”.

Most of the time I can tell when my blood glucose is low because I feel very tired, dizzy, or just a little “funny”. When I feel “low”, I always need a friend to go with me to the health room!

You may notice that I need to have a snack in order to get my number up. I’m not trying to be rude, but sometimes snacks are very important to keep me healthy.

I have to take care of my diabetes at school, too!

JMJOYFUL

MONKEY

For over a year, I had to get shots every time I ate and every time my blood glucose was too high. This meant I got between 3 and 6 shots every day… 1,800 shots that year! It wasn’t very fun, but I got used to it. This last summer, I got a new tool that only pokes me once every 2-3 days…it is so

much better! It is called an insulin pump.

Goodbye Shots…Hello Insulin Pump!

You’ve probably noticed my pump; it looks like a cell phone attached to my waist. A long tube comes out of the pump and attaches to my leg. The pump delivers insulin into my body.

Sometimes it beeps or plays a short tune; that just means that it’s trying to send me a message. My pump is not a toy. It’s a very important tool to keep me healthy.

My glucometer is the remote control for my pump. You might remember that my glucometer is what I use to test my blood glucose. After I test my blood, it tells my pump how much insulin to give me.

You may also notice that I carry around a purple bag. This bag is also very important because it holds all of my diabetes supplies; like my glucometer, test strips, and insulin. To keep all of us safe, please do not touch my pump or my bag.

I do have something you can touch, though. I have a stuffed monkey named Pumpernickel. He has a pump and a diabetes bracelet just like me!

There are two types of Diabetes. I have Type 1. They don’t know how I got Diabetes, but they have told me that it wasn’t my fault; there was nothing I did wrong. It wasn’t because I didn’t eat right or because I wasn’t exercising enough; it just happened!

The doctors also said that it isn’t contagious. You can’t get diabetes just by touching me or by being my friend, so you don’t have to worry about that! Even though I have diabetes, I can still do all the things I like to do. And, whatever I do, it’s always better with a friend!

I can still be anything I want to be when I grow up. Right now I want to be a farmer or a diabetes doctor (called an endocrinologist). Who knows? Maybe somebody will find a cure for diabetes by then. We’re hoping they do!

I have Type 1 Diabetes, but that is not who I am. I am Joyful Monkey, a smiley, giggling, joyful, 7 year old girl!