I always knew that when Emma started Grade 1 her blood sugar numbers would be better and more consistant just because of the regular routine of going to school every day all day. I am totally loving it! When her blood sugars are good and where they are supposed to be, it's like I have my old kid back again. She's in a great mood...she is even more funny than she normally is...she has lots of energy...it's just awesome. I am definitely hoping that I am not jinxing things by talking about this though...lolol. Lately I have come across a lot of people who are either in the process of starting or have just started their child on the insulin pump. For a while now (2 years to be exact), I have gone over it in my head and thought about the pump and Emma. At the moment she is afraid of the needle used to insert the pump and has told me that she doesn't want to get one until she's like 8 or 9. I am ok with that because I feel that I shouldn't pressure her or force her to do something to her body that she isn't ready to do. I feel like it should be her decision first and then my decision. Maybe I am just stubborn, but i know that I personally would not be ok with someone telling me that i HAD to have something attached to my body all the time if I wasn't ready for it. She is only 6 years old and the reality of it is that she will have to deal with this stupid disease for many many years to come until a cure is actually found. I don't really see the benefit in forcing her to do something.
On the other hand, I do think that it is fantastic that all of these people we know have made the decision to go on a pump. It is a wonderful device that will probably bring better blood sugars in the long run and I say kudos to whoever is able to do it! I've heard that it's like starting all over again for the first little while...and i think it is just amazing that people find the strength to do that again. If the day comes where Emma says to me that she is ready and wants to do the pump now...i will of course do it for her! Until then I think we aren't doing too shabby though. I'm proud of us actually. I am starting to feel a little "left out" though...like we are the odd ones out because Emma is in fact not ready for it. Patience is something that goes hand in hand with diabetes though and I know the older she gets...the more things will change...and hopefully for the better. So, for now...i say if it ain't broke, don't fix it! I don't want to rock the boat...and other assorted cliches...lolol
just wanted to clarify that i am in no way saying that the parents who are putting their kids on the pump are forcing them to do it...i didnt mean that at all. I think it is awesome that they are going on it! Very happy for them! :o)
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with any of what you wrote, Amy! Isn't the expression of your feelings the whole reason for blogs, after all? BTW, I waited 34 years before starting with a pump! I always convinced myself that it was the cost holding me back (vs. the government funding for adults too now), but I think part of me was also hesitant because of the "fear of the unknown". Maybe Emma will never want to go on a pump; it's just not for some people! I totally respect her, and your, decision and support you one hundred percent!
ReplyDeleteya, i took Kaeden about 2 years to even consider the pump.. he was really scared that it would hurt and feel weird wearing it... he's the kind of kid who doesn't handle change very well, and he was used to the needles. but it's his body and his choice! i'm just so glad that he even agreed to *try* it.. and now he loves it so much!!
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, it is totally a personal decision and it took us a long while to make the decision. Had Zachary not really wanted to go on it, I'm not sure we would be going this route. I too struggle with the idea of being connected to something 24/7. Out of the families that have attended our group, 3 kids are on the pump (one just yesterday), 4 once Zach starts and 3 are not. And out of all the other families who were interested in our group but have yet to make it to a meeting, none of them are on the pump. So you're not alone :) Had we been getting the same kind of consistency you and Emma have achieved we would have been happier staying with needles too. We're hoping for better stability for Zachary instead of such fluctuations - it's really hard watching your child be low then high all the time. Especially when we feel like we're working really hard to keep him stable. I guess that's diabetes though. Sometimes it doesn't play by the rules. So glad we were able to meet you and Emma and hope to see you next month.
ReplyDeletethanks so much for all of the support everyone. It really means the world to me and I hope u all know that I support you all too with what you are doing. I think the pump is a great thing and I hope one day Emma will be up for it. :o)
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