Helping a Loved One with Type 1 Diabetes
It's been about a month since I last posted and I know that I left you hanging regarding the big "change" in our lives. In mid- September, Cam was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Sadly, when most people think about Diabetes, they think "you did it to yourself" or "you must have ate really poorly to get that condition." The truth is Type 1 Diabetes is a chronic condition caused by an autoimmune process in the body that prevents the pancreas from producing insulin. While usually diagnosed in children, Cam is one of the few that faces late onset of this horrible disease.
He had all the signs: drinking tons of water, using the restroom more frequently, major weight loss, etc. I brought him to the doctor for a routine check-up and his blood sugar was very high: 392. They took his blood, completed labs, and we were immediately sent to the ER because Cam was experiencing DKA or Diabetic Ketoacidosis. After being moved to the ICU, many insulin drips, finger pricks and 3 days in the hospital, I was able to bring him home and we started this emotional, life changing journey together. It's much harder on him, but has affected me as well. After all, I'm the first line of defense as his wife and have definitely been ushered into the world of medicine a tad more than I would like... I can officially say that my needle phobia is slowly going away.
We now don't have any white flour or processed/refined carbohydrates in our house - all complex carbs! The only sweets we have are fun size packs of Skittles (reserved for Cam when he's having a low) and Haribo gummy bears. Ezekiel Toast and Dave's Protein Bread are officially our new favorite carbs. I know we’ll encounter many highs and lows in the near and long-term future - all I can do is ride this ride with Cam, be there for him, and together we will make healthy choices in order to live better lives.
I hate to find a silver lining in a reality that is so challenging for my husband, but a healthier lifestyle is definitely it. Stay tuned as I share recipes and stories from this new chapter. xoxo!
