Living with Diabetes: a Mother’s journey
As part of our commitment to helping families create healing and wholeness through food 
we chose to dedicate one month each year to focusing on a health related challenge. In the past we have shared stories from friends and family who have had severe food allergies, Celiac disease or cancer. This month our health spotlight is on Type 1 Diabetes.
Knowing little about the disease I asked one of the dearest mothers I know (who is also my husband’s cousin), Sara Tucker, to share her journey with Owen…
Sara’s Story
He was constantly thirsty
Our son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 8 in the fall of 2011. He was constantly thirsty, and knowing that was a symptom of diabetes, I wasn’t shocked when our pediatrician gave us the news after doing a blood glucose test and getting a reading of 383. What did shock us was being told to go straight to the ER and then being taken in immediately, which was alarming considering there were kids waiting who were clearly hurt and sick. I learned later that we were lucky to have caught it early, and that too often kids are so ill by the time they are accurately diagnosed, immediate care is critical.
More of an Art than a Science
I didn’t know that much about type 1 diabetes until that day. I knew enough to realize this would be life changing. Owen thought it was fun to be in the hospital, with unlimited movies and different food and lots of attention. My husband and I had a crash course in blood glucose management and the use of insulin, and all the other stuff you need to know to keep a child safe and healthy without a working pancreas. Which is a lot, and its more of an art than a science.
I learned patience
One of Owen’s wonderful teachers that year practiced meditation with the children every day. Owen used these breathing and centering techniques to prepare himself as he got used to multiple daily shots. I learned patience. The only time he cried getting a shot was when I mistakenly thought it would be easier to get it over with. But the even bigger gift from Kelly was when she took me aside during one of our first days back at school (my husband and I took turns being there for snacks and lunches for the first month) and said with her wonder-filled, soothing voice something along the lines of, “isn’t this a gift that you will have this experience with your son, to have this extra time with him?” That rhetorical question has replayed in my head hundreds of times. When I check his blood sugar throughout the night, I can’t deny the exhaustion that comes with our 24/7 monitoring, but I often think to myself, how lucky we are to get to look at his peaceful, sleeping face and hold his hand, even if we have to poke it for blood to test.
“It’s just a number”
Another friend made a comment around this time which proved so helpful. Lisa, a veteran T1D mom who gives so much to the community, told me about blood glucose readings, to remember “it’s just a number.” This may not sound profound, but what she was saying is that rather than reacting emotionally, to view it as information to act on. Blood glucose is so difficult to manage, sometimes it is hard not to take it personally when it defies all logic. To remember it is just a number, one of many numbers, helps us stay calm and focused on trying to make the best decision we can, one moment at a time.
This month we are collaborating on a series of recipes for families who are walking this difficult path.
Author’s note: If you want to be part of Team Owen T and help support research for prevention and a cure, please follow the link below. All donations go directly JDRF and are a 100% tax deductible.
http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/owent2015
Zen Moment
When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. -Paulo Coelho
