Okay, so this week has been a bit crazy where Diabetes is concerned. Lily had an appointment at a clinic this week. Although we go to Vanderbilt, it’s not convenient and it’s VERY expensive for those without insurance (like us)…so I found a local clinic that will do her bloodwork at a very low price. It’s right around the corner which is a bonus.
First of all, the doctor we met with asked about her last A1C, which is 7.4. He started telling her that for her long term health, she needed to get it down. I agree, and we are working on that. I explained to him that we just started using baking soda for the dawn effect. He shook his head, looked at me like I was completely wacko, and said “what?”…so I explained again, and he stated that it was not within his realm of diabetes education that baking soda has any effect on blood sugars. I explained that every time she took the baking soda before bed, she woke up below 200….but when she didn’t, she went over 200. This seemed to irk him and he got a bit curt with me. He told me he was not there to debate theories with me and that we should move on with the exam. Okay. Whatever. Lily was a little upset and I told her it was fine. I explained to her later that it was not that he was trying to be rude to me personally, but that he just didn’t know a whole lot about how to control blood sugars. I also explained that when people like doctors (who have much more education than myself) are challenged, they tend to react in a defensive manner and usually want to avoid a subject that may expose their ignorance on any given subject.
Moving on. He began to explain to Lily what may await her if she didn’t get her blood sugars in control. This made her cry and he felt like a heel. He suggested we get her eyes checked, which we are going to do this month. He is going to run blood panels and check her kidney function, etc…which is really all I wanted from him in the first place. The good thing? My daughter is learning that there will be opposition in this world…it’s important to handle it correctly.
So moving on to the school nurse. Lily told her that she went to a new doctor. The nurse informed her that she shouldn’t go to a bunch of different doctors. First of all, I’m not sure why she feels the need to put in her two cents. Second of all, she does not live my life or raise my child, and really has no place to speak of what we are doing. My daughter is going to her endo, seeing her D.O. and going to a local clinic for bloodwork. But no matter what I do, it seems someone is interested in interjecting their negative opinions…so I now expect it and blow it off. I simply do not care. The nurse went on to tell Lily that her A1C was fine at 7.4…she even read it in a book. Mind you, this is the same nurse who told Lily that she didn’t have to subtract fiber from carbs before taking a shot (something Vanderbilt recommends and that I also found in a book called “Think Like a Pancreas”. This is the same nurse that tells my daughter that she should eat first, then take her shot…something her Vandy doctor disagrees with. She’s 15, not three. Then she told Lily that if she started to take a shot before she eats, she needs doctor’s orders. What the heck? Okay…whatever. So Lily goes on to tell her that this summer, she plans on eating raw and juicing. This irritated the nurse apparently who made the snide remark “don’t call me when you end up sick in the hospital”….Oh joy, more opposition. I just told Lily not to worry…that everyone has their own opinion and that she has to do what is right for her, not just what the nurse believes to be true. What bugs me most is that I know if I brought in a cake or donuts for my daughter, this nurse would not say one negative thing about it. What ever happened to nutrition and long term health?? Oh well…I’m not gonna fight it. I am lucky enough to have a kid who has her head on straight and knows how to take care of herself. She is not perfect, but she is trying to take control of this stupid diabetes thing, and I am here to support her 100%. We just have to move forward and know that the proof is in the numbers.
Just thought I’d share, and also say thank you to you all for giving me so much wisdom and support!
Jayne
Im so excited to find regular mothers who think like me. My 13 year old son was diagnosed with diabetes this past march and we have been struggling to understand it all in a world that welcomes drugs too readily, easily and with arms wide open. I refuse to just follow what they tell me because I know better and in my heart I know I’m not wrong. My husband and I r on a quest to keep our son off of insulin. I know a couple of adults who have been diabetic since childhood and they seem to be increasingly immune to the insulin they have been injecting into their bodies for 20 years. I have always tried to feed my family food that is good for our bodies. I knew the diabetic clinic was lying when they told my son that it didn’t matter what he eats, that they would just adjust the insulin to fit his diet. From the very beginning they have tried to downplay my attempt to continue to feed my son proper food. We have been on a health journey for about 15 years but living busy working lives you get caught up eating the processed crap because it is easy, convenient and the kids love the taste of the refined dead stuff. This new journey has forced us to go back to the basics we used to live by making us realize that you can never let down your guard when it comes to the food we put in our stomachs. In a way, it has been eye opening and we have had to do a lot of tweeking. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. Anyhow, it is a breath of fresh air to talk to people who aren’t attacking you for attempting to stop making the insulin companies rich. In 2 weeks I spent over 600$ on insulin and such. At the beginning of the year I was beginning to wonder how our economy is doing so badly but massive drugstores are opening uP everywhere now I understand. There has to b another way. And I will keep in touch with you all until we find it together, it’s there it just can’t b so easily accessible because god forbid there is natural cure for that. Keep up the fight and keep up the hope my friends.
I applaude your whole family, Jayne. Lily is an awesome young lady with her priorities straight.
We are the “Oh, you are that family, ” when we used to go to the clinic between Dr. appts. Guess what? We do not go there anymore. I was tired of being chided and told I have no clue.
We do have a clue and we are following it. I wanted to tell them they have the wrong clue, but kindly I kept my mouth shut. Because if they did have a clue, they would be doing the whole thing differently. Always remember, it is easier to follow the masses then follow the truth.
I absolutely love seeing our children walk in truth with such grace. Our kids don’t have to be perfect the just need to be who they are.
WOW….that’s a lot for you and your daughter to swallow in such a short period of time. You are right though in what you said about why some doctors react like they do and I think it also terrifies them because what you are doing challenges everything they learned in school and to cross over to a more holistic philosophy could mean so much change in their life and change makes people nervous. Lily is going through hard lessons now but man…the leader she is becoming as she walks through each challenge will be a role well worth waiting for as she walks through all of this. Is there anything else we can do to support your daughter Jayne? Does she look at the blog much or would it help for her to get an email from my husband and send words of encouragement? I want her to get all the support she may need right now like I know you do. What BIG lessons she is moving through right now! Jayne you are awesome for “okay…moving right along” in your attitude with all of this. You are explaining things well to her in regard to negative reactions from people…you are being such a great mom. Bret and I are getting ready to do a juice fast in 2 weeks and go back to Phase 1 indefinitely from Gabriel Cousens protocol. Bret has stayed mostly raw and all vegan but we have had more cooked veggies, lentils, beans, etc than we would like right now. Please let me know how we can support you and Lily this summer. Sorry for such long messages on your blog but I’m a real fan of Lily and your whole family.
Hi Kelly, thanks so much! Yes, you can always send her a note and I’ll show it to her. She doesn’t look at the blog much lately because she is kind of a social butterfly!! Between school and friends, I’m lucky if I get to have a lengthy conversation with her these days. But any encouragement is always helpful! Now, is your husband actually seeing Gabriel Cousens or does he do phone consults? And what book do you recommend? I’m building my library with my mom and brother’s help on occasion. I love all information I can get my hands on for her. Thank you so very much. And never worry about long messages, I’m super long winded myself. And as far as my attitude…I suppose I can’t really do much but move forward at this point. Believe me, I’ve tried laying in bed, feeling sorry for myself, being in horrible moods, but strangely, none of it changed her situation!!:/ So I have to just keep pushing on so she will. Thanks again!!
HI there! Sorry for the delayed reply! Hope you all are well. Bret (my husband) is getting his masters degree in Spiritual Nutrition with him at his school called “Tree of Life.” He spent 5 weeks in AZ last summer with him and other students in the program. It was very intense. He is certified now as a coach. While he was there last summer he also saw Gabriel as a patient. Bret learned so much from him! Let us know what you need Jayne!!!!!
alot of us are in your same boat and we will just row on together…
YES!!!:)
I totally feel where you’re coming from. My 7 year old has had Type 1 for just over 2 years now. We feed her very healthy and much low carb ie. Dr Bernstein. She does take insulin daily also, about 6 shots a day. She is not sickly or unhealthy in any way. She has tons of energy and great A1cs. Still, I am very hesitant to share with anyone how we manage her diabetes because of opposition I have encountered in the past and because of stories like yours. I am sorry that you have to deal with this kind of stuff. We are all trying to do the best we can for our kids! No one should be bringing your daughter to tears over that!
Crystal….that is awesome!!!!! My husband is on 9 units at 40yrs old and other than insulin shots is on no meds. You are starting this for your daughter at such a young age and I cannot sing your praises enough. We just started 2 yrs ago. I think this is just fantastic to the point it makes me wanna cry but in a good way. Keep going!
Hi Crystal, well, I’m not sure if you are aware, but we are living in the South. We are from Southern CA originally, and I’ve never quite gotten used to how things work down here. I’m still a CA girl…I suppose I always will be. So down here, people love their meat n three’s, biscuits and gravy and fried foods. We used to attend church where they would pass out donuts every Sunday! It used to drive me crazy, but now, we just try to avoid those situations as much as possible, OR, when I’m feeling a bit ‘saucy’ (hehe), I will interject a bit of my own opinion, much to the dismay of folks who could truly care less about ‘health’. I figure that we have to plant seeds here and there and eventually, some will grow. Plus, I’ve been known to be a bit rebellious from time to time (wink, wink)…so as much as the opposition can irritate me, I see it also as an opportunity to make someone think about things a bit differently. However, this definitely has backfired at times and people have gotten flustered and offended. I just try to be nice and move on after I say my peace. Unfortunately, most people will always take the path of least resistance. I never want to be one of them!! And good job for taking such good care of your daughter.
7.4
lilly is handling her care really really well
this is super good for a teen….
bless you and her
keep up the good work
Thank you, Caroline. I’m truly hoping it will last. She has her moments, believe me, but she really wants to feel good…and the foods that most people can eat with no problem, make her feel bad…so I guess that’s a good motivator for her.