I have had some ups and downs with my diabetes, and my mom decided for one week she will do everything I am suppose to. Check her blood sugar before meals, count carbs, record everything ect.
My question is can she take saline shots?
Also, has any parent ever done this or anyone have experience with this?
That's such a cool idea, Catie, though I've never done it. Unfortunately, what stinks is they have the knowledge that no matter how complicated it is for that week, it's up after 7 days. Sometimes I think it'd be cool if people knew when there was going to be a cure. Somehow it'd seem easier to go from day to day, marking off one more date on your calander or tearing off a link on a paper chain. "1 day closer...."
Hi Catie,
Saline shots are fine but I would talk to your nurse educator before your mom starts "being diabetic." Your clinic may have some good ideas or resources regarding this learning method. When I got married, my husband did some diabetes education and the nurse educator mentioned that he might consider "becoming diabetic" for a few days to get a better sense of what it's like to live/deal with diabetes. So, your mom isn't the first non-diabetic to want to support a family member with diabetes in this way. I think it's a great gesture and will be a wonderful learning experience for your mom.
Cheers,
Laura
Actually, we currently do not have a nurse educator. I asked her to do this because she has been so un-supportive of me being diabetic. (Long story) I am hoping this might help her realize some of the things I have to go to on a day to day basis.
I have not gone as far as your mom is planning. My son is almost 8, was diagnosed at 2, is my only child, and I am a stay at home dad still, so I am in a different situation. I would be willing to do different things, such as food recording, saline shots, and finger sticks, if I thought it would be helpful. At age 2 my son was dependent on my wife and I for everything. Although we don't have the disease, we understand it awfully well after many thousands of finger sticks, thousands of shots, and countless highs and lows, and one terrifying seizure. I will occasionally do finger sticks (to test for Type 2 diabetes) and have let my son test me or his mom. But, that's about the extent of it so far. I don't think my son would ask us to do something more than a finger stick but I would be willing to go along.
Having family members realize the frustration and angst that kids go through when they have diabetes is so important. Former Miss America Nicole Johnson had her fiancee wear an insulin pump with saline for one week before they were married so that he would have an idea what she goes through. Of course, the average person can't arrange to get an insulin pump and saline on loan.
You would probably have to get the saline from your doctor as I don't believe it is available otherwise.
i have always wondered about that type of thing. i kinda want to try it on my parents. so they know it's not easy and for once have me be the one to say, have you tested your blood sugar?
sounds like a great idea! if your mom goes through with it... let us know how it goes!
also i would like to suggest an idea... have your mom test her blood sugar whenever you do... but do what you need to do based on your blood sugar, since she really wouldn't have a high or low. Therefore if you are low... she would need to treat. Or if you are high... she would give a saline shot for the high, etc.
that's what i was thinking. then like when she exercises have her test before and after like we are supposed to do.
Yea you can use saline. It is so funny you mentioned this because I was just talking to my friend and we will be experimenting with this exact same project! He always asks me what it is like to have diabetes and I said to him want to wear my pump, check your blood, before after and during meals and write it all down and he said yes.
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Yea you can use saline. It is so funny you mentioned this because I was just talking to my friend and we will be experimenting with this exact same project! He always asks me what it is like to have diabetes and I said to him want to wear my pump, check your blood, before after and during meals and write it all down and he said yes.
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that's awesome Gina. too bad not everyone does this type of experiments. i wish that everyone who knows a diabetic or who ever wanted to fully understand granted they won't exactly know what a low feels like, but they will be able to understand that it's not that easy to just eat a simple snack. a friggin' SNACK.
Catie,
That's a great idea, and as for as I know, you can use saline. When I was diagnosed 16 years ago, the doctor wanted one of my parents to give me a shot while I was in the hospital just in case I was not able to at home (due to being sick, etc). Anyways, I wasn't really thrilled that my mom would be giving me a shot, so the nurse suggested that I give my mom a shot of saline so she would be able to see what it was like (and to make me more willing to have my mom give me a shot). I think that it helped my mom sort of realize what it was going to be like for me to take shots every day.
Christie
I don't know how parents can be un-supportive of a disease. My father is diabetic and has been for 20 years, he was diagnosed when I was 4 months old so he knows exactly what I'm currently going through. My mother on the other hand doesn't know, but she's seen it first hand with my father and I. She and my dad have been the best parents through this whole thing and I know that if my mother could take it instead of me she would.
I think if you are close with your mother and she sees you going through your daily routine she would understand better. I think it's a great idea for her to be in your shoes for a few days.
When nurses are trained they inject themselves with saline for a week, so I don't see why she couldn't do it.