Diabetes

Since Kyli was diagnosed on Sept 21, 2012, only about 3 1/2 months ago, I have struggled with the idea that this is going to be a permanent aspect of our lives. I do not consider it a burden, or a punishment, or anything like that. What I struggle with is that this is not something we can take a vacation from. Wherever we go, it goes.  EVEN when we are in vacation, we still have to be concerned about her sugars, more so due to the change of activity and excitement. If we get sick, we have to check it more often. If she is more active than normal, we need to make sure we are checking her sugars. If she sleeps late, if she eats more than normal, if she has a lazy day, if she goes for a walk, if she goes to gymnastics, whatever she does we have to ensure her sugars are within a safe range.

The other day, while I was laying down with Kyli after our hospital visit of 4 days (that will be another day), Kyli being her very loving and sweet self, grabbed me around the neck, hugged me ferociously and then said, "Mommy, I love you" and then of course sealed with a big wet sloppy kiss.  In that moment, I realized that EVERYTHING is going to be more that just okay. Mike and I are taking great care of her and she is loved, very loved. She is happy and she truly only HAS diabetes. She is NOT diabetic. It is a characteristic only, she is so much more.  What makes my heart so happy is that now, almost always, I view her has Kyli and that is it.  Only when we have to test sugars, or she is acting odd does the reminder that she has diabetes come out. The fact that I have to view her with diabetes still makes me sad, but at the same time it empowers me.  I want to spread knowledge about Kyli and her disease. People seem to understand so little about type 1 diabetes versus type 2. As a matter of fact, yesterday I went to Barnes and Noble and looked at the books they have for diabetes. EVERY SINGLE ONE was about type 2. While I understand that more people are diagnosed with type 2, type 1 needs more books out there and more knowledge. We need books out there that show parents like me that we are not alone and that we are not the only one who has a child diagnosed at a very young.  The only reason I am more comfortable with Kyli's diagnosis at 2 was because we did a Diabetic Retreat a few months ago and I was FINALLY able to speak with a few parents that had an early diagnosis too. It is nice to have doctors that know how to help Kyli's diabetes but it is completely different when it is your own child.

What I guess I am trying to say is that I know that God will never give us more than we can handle, but I have found a peace with what he has given us and a strength in knowing that we can prosper with this diagnosis.