Quarterly checkup

Seth had his quarterly checkup this week.  We knew his A1C would be up just a little bit, because it was crazy low last time. His endo even said that, "It's probably lower than mine." (Endo is non-d.)   He may see that range again one day, but I think it's pretty unrealistic to expect a teenager to stay in that range consistently. Or any PWD, for that matter.  It did indeed go up a little bit, but still was excellent. He doesn't mind at all for people to know what his A1C is, but I know that's a touchy subject in the DOC.  He wouldn't want to make anyone feel bad about their own efforts/results.  I'm so proud of him.  He works hard, and consistently, to keep his numbers in range as much as possible.  Does he have highs and lows?  Yup. Big swings throughout the day sometimes?  Yup again.  Does he make poor food choices?  Absolutely.  He is a teenager!  But he takes it all very seriously in general and makes decisions accordingly.  Some decisions are proactive (careful carb counting, pre-injecting insulin before meals, taking exercise into account) and some are reactive (treating highs and lows, again taking activity, active insulin, and other factors into account).

It's been almost a year and a half since diagnosis.  From the beginning, we have tried to remember to fit diabetes into life, not life into diabetes.  Some days are harder than others, but I feel like it is getting more routine.  I don't think it's easier, exactly.  Just more routine.  Part of life that isn't going away.  It makes me proud and sad at the same time.

He also passed his driving test and got his license on the same day as his checkup. We finally got rid of that awful picture that was taken about a week before his diagnosis.  Then he went on his first date with him driving the next day.  It was a nerve-wracking couple of days for this mom!  But like everything else he tackles, he did it well.  Diabetes isn't going to stop him or even slow him down very much.  He only slows down to test and treat as needed.  Otherwise, he is going to do what other kids his age are doing.  KDA every single day!

So many new diagnoses

I tried to write this a few weeks ago, but the emotions were so raw I couldn't even get it started.  For a period of a few days, everywhere I turned there was a new diagnosis.  The pharmacist's great nephew, a child my parents know from church, siblings of kids previously diagnosed, and parents of children with type 1.  Everywhere, both in real life and in the DOC.  Pair that with being around the time of Seth's diagnosis and it kinda made me a mess.
Since Seth's diaversary (anniversary of his diagnosis) there have been even more. A family in a nearby town is a new member of this terrible club. Their toddler was diagnosed last month. A facebook friend messaged me to pray for her friend's daughter, who is in a diabetic coma. She was just diagnosed last week and if I understood correctly has not come out of the coma yet.
Add to all that stories (and fake stories) of children dying in their sleep and because of being misdiagnosed and it has been a rough few weeks emotionally. It surrounds me, consumes me.
But through it all, we persevere. The stakes are too high to drop our guard. If I must be a member of this awful club, then I will be thankful that the other club members are really pretty awesome people. They are walking the same journey, experiencing many of the same things. They understand the trials, the emotions, the sleepless nights. What we really need is a cure. Until that day comes, I will continue to surround myself with others that are on the same journey. Together, we are stronger than we are alone. Together, we will KDA.