Photo taken at Norris Houk by Paticia Kodet created 1988.
In the DOC, I read a lot about "pumpers". It seems like everyone has a pump or other device to help make life a little easier (if there is such a thing) or better in controlling their children's blood glucose levels. Their children seem to eat whatever they want, whenever they want. No schedules, no need to say no, ever. I see T1 children eating things that I am not sure I would want my non-T1 son to eat! Please do not be offended if you know someone with a pump or if your child has a pump. I am not saying that all parents of pumpers are like this and I have many many friends that have their children on a pump or other device. If having a pump or other device works for you or them, then that is fantastic! However, just because this family chooses to still use bottles of insulin and needles, stay on a stricter schedule and tighter carbohydrate count, then that doesn't make me a bad mom either (which I have heard more than once!).
Since Jasmine was dx in January of 2010, I have had people tell me that a pump is much better for her. Her numbers would be better, her life would be better, my life would be better. I try to explain to them that my daughter does not want a pump or device attached to her little body (she wore a practice pump and hated every minute of it!). Oh my!!! The negative and nasty looks of disgust that I receive from them! They firmly say to me, "You are the mother, you are the one to make the right decisions! This would be better for her and you need to make her get one! She doesn't have a choice!".
Choice? She doesn't have a choice?! This is about the only choice that she does have in all of this! When T1 came along it took my daughter's choice away to have a normal carefree childhood. It took her choice away to be just a little 5 year old girl having fun in Kindergarten without any worries. It has also taken her choice away in 1st, 2nd and now 3rd grade, to just be able to go to school, play, take a test or attend an assembly without ending up in the office because her blood glucose numbers have dropped to a dangerous low. It has taken her choice away to be able to have a play date at a friend's home. It has taken her choice away to just have a cookie or some pasta or any kind of food without weighing, measuring and calculating each and every carbohydrate involved. It has taken her choice away to attend school when there is a special activity going on because she is at her Endocrinologist's office, receiving her diabetes check up, having blood drawn and lab tests done. It has taken away her right to sleep through the night without being awakened, forced to eat or drink something because her levels are too low. It has taken away her ability to jump in the car to go shopping or anywhere without first making certain that a bag is packed with her meter, her test strips, her Glucagon emergency kit, her insulin, needles, alcohol wipes and quick acting sugar in case her numbers start to drop. It has taken her choice away to prick her tiny little fingers 4+ times a day to test her blood glucose levels. It has taken away her choice to just be a kid without this vast knowledge of knowing the signs of a high or a low blood sugar, information of what diabetes can do to her kidneys, her heart, her vision, her LIFE, unless she is aware and takes care of herself. T1 diabetes took her choice away to be herself, just a bubbly happy 8 year old without it raising it's ugly head and reminding her that she is different and that she must never forget that. Because if she does, her life would be in danger. By the way, having a pump or other device attached to her body would not change any of the choices above.
So the next time, I hear, "It's not HER choice.", be prepared for this mom's fury. This is her body, her choice, her right, her decision to keep the schedule we live by and to receive the shots she endures. Her choice if she wants a pump or another device attached to her body or not. Her choice that makes her happier living with this lifelong disease. And if one day, she decides that she wants a pump, then that is HER choice too. Be it injections, pumps or other devices, we all want the same outcome, a healthy, happy child. So please stop making those of us that still use injections feel like dinosaurs, that we are not doing the best we can do or that we don't care about our T1 child as much as parents of pumpers do.....unless you want a T-Rex mama to rumble with!!!
We hear the same thing here Colleen was dxd in 1999 at the age of 3. She's sixteen and certainly makes choices. Regardless on the way you get insulin into your body it's what you do with all the information it takes to manage and get the outcomes your striving for in the end. So, we to agree and don't understand Why people are so adamant that their way is the only way, the right way and anything else is Stupid :) we know are options and for many reasons know that today this is the best for us, and people should show more respect :)
ReplyDeleteI could never understand why there is this injections vs pumps match going on. It should be about what works best and what keeps our children happy and healthy. We absolutely need more respect of one another and more support from each other. After all, only we can truly understand how it is to be the parent of a T1. And I am sure that your 16 year old feels very strongly about making her own choices in this matter! I know how strongly my 8 year old feels!!! :)
ReplyDelete