Diabetic Recipes
Charlie got happy on Saturday. Happy to the tune of 520 mg/dl.
For several reasons, if we have something fun planned for the kids, we don't divulge the news until the very last moment. This is because A. – it's really annoying to hear "is it time to go yet?" over and over again for weeks because they can't comprehend the concept of time or understand the complexities of calendars, B. – we don't want them to be disappointed if for some reason we can't go, and 3. – it's really annoying to hear "is it time to go yet" over and over again for weeks.
When we went to Disney, we kept that secret for months. They found out we were going to Disney about three hours before our flight to Orlando was to depart.
Another joy of diabetes is that Charlie's blood sugar spikes when he's excited. He is often "spiking happy."
Employing our normal strategy, we told Charlie about my company's over-the-top summer party the morning of.
An hour later, his blood sugar was 520. This did follow breakfast as well, but come on, 520? The 520 fell to 189 while driving up the Jersey Turnpike and then 67 while being transported via ferry to the party.
His numbers settled down just in time for high-speed potty racing, gladiator joust and flaming mohawks. Charlie won our race, running me and my toilet off the track and into a haystack.
I think it's time to look at Charlie's basal rate settings and adjust his happiness levels.
• Increase basal rates by 50 percent 1 to 2 hours prior to time of expected happiness.
• Rank happiness levels from 1 to 5, with 1 being mildly happy, 3 being 'happy and you know it clap your hands' happy and 5 being 'Girls Gone Wild Mardi Gras' happy.
• Divide happiness level by total duration of happiness and add percentage to temporary basal rate increase.
Or maybe we should just try to diffuse his happiness.
"Charlie, we're going to the beach today, but it's going to suck."
I love the fauxhawk. I've never seen a company picnic like the one your company holds. That's something else. We use the same tactic in telling our kids at the last minute where we're going....and I mean it when I say "last MINUTE". What a swing in numbers too. His mood held up OK? It's amazing what little bodies can endure.
Carey,
Excitement has the opposite affect on Riley. He goes low instead. I too, keep fun things like trips to the zoo or beach from him until the last minute. I learned not to tell him about a field trip at school ahead of time either. The anticipation always did a number on his sugar.
It looks like Charlie had a good time despite the high sugar. I just look forward to the day when he and Riley can have a good time without blood sugar factoring into the equation at all.
I have had Type 1 for 62 years. I have lows when I get very excited or I am frightened to a large extent. If adrenalin produces high blood sugar then I am thinking I may not produce adrenalin in normal amounts, if at all. I once drove through heavy traffic in NY City and I was hoplessley lost. I panicked and I thought I would never ge out of that jam. My blood sugar dropped below 30. I had pulled off the highway to test. Where was the adrenalin when I needed it?
Richard