My husband has been Type 1 since he was 16. I have to say he does take very good care of himself. He exercises and eats right but the diabetes is definitely taking over. I could safely say that most days his numbers at some point will be in the 20's. The pump has made him able to handle and recover from these lows more quickly. Some days he can have a semi normal conversation with you while his bs is in the 20's and other days not so much. Since he never had any recollection of these events once they were over I videotaped some episodes on my cell phone so he can see what really happens. He is going to try the CGM next so hopefully that helps. His endocrinologist is stumped. She has no real idea as to why this happens so often. I'll tell you...following us on a daily basis would make a heck of a reality show.
Now that is quite an idea! I try to explain to my husband how he acts in one of these events. He is blessed with no memory and I remind him that "You don't have to deal with you, I do!!" Talk about a reality show---I'm not too swift with my cell phone but we do have a camcorder. I tell him the most frightening thing during these episodes is that he, as I know him disappears and I don't know the stranger that appears. I hope you both get some relief with the CGM.
Aww your cat must have really missed you both!
I do work but because of the dog's issues with needing to go out, lately I have been working shorter hours. It must have been nice to retire at the same time, even though you did it for other reasons.
Mowing the lawn gets my husband every time. After he is ok, I ask if he checked his sugar before going outside and he almost always says no. Usually the only time he does is if I remind him. He always seems as if he wouldn't even think of it.
Wow you visited so many places, all in one trip! We haven't gone anywhere for about six years now. We make plans every year, but something else financially always ruins our plans. As I say every year, maybe next year.
Sometimes I feel like a nagging mother---"Have you checked your BG?, Did you suspend your pump?" etc. etc. etc. Before we head somewhere, it sounds like we're going through a pilot's check list before take off!
I retired a year before my husband. We had been advised to not do it at the same time----too much of an adjustment to go from both working long days to suddenly being together 24/7. Since we started a family so early, I never had time alone at home without kids. It was kinda fun and helped us gradually move into our new roles--and new economics.
Yes, when we make a trip overseas we make the most of it and see as much as we can. Even though it's stressful for me worrying about diabetic related issues, we can't spend the rest of our lives sitting at home being cautious. Instead of buying cars or remodeling our home, we travel. The only thing is I get tired of dealing with security in foreign countries as my husband's pump, CGM and all his supplies seem to confuse the security people. He practically has to undress in some countries!
Hope you had a good Memorial Day. It is always a special day for us as we remember my husband's grandfather who was a WW1 biplane pilot and died in a crash, my father-in-law who served in the Pacific in WW II and Korea, and honor my husband who served in Viet Nam. Such a shame that every generation has to have its war or wars, though neither of my sons-in-law have served in the military since they came along after the draft was done away with.
Maybe you can get away some this summer. I remember the number of years when due to having 2 young kids and living on one paycheck, our only trips were to visit the grandparents!
Steph,
Haven't heard from you in awhile. Hope things are going o.k. I couldn't remember if your husband was going to try the pump when you were on vacation in June or July. Just please don't get too discouraged if things are complicated at first.
Hope it's cooler up in NJ. It's in the mid 90's in Atlanta and we're staying inside in the air conditioning--no yard work or running!
Everything has been crazy over here. On top of the husband and the dog, my 2 year old nephew has been staying with us. We had training for the pump on Saturday, he will go live with it July 12 when we are on vacation. He will be practicing with saline this week at work.
How are things by you? It's been pretty hot here, no yard work for my husband either. Oh, I have a pump question. When swimming and disconnected from the pump, can any water or anything get into the infusion site? My husband has convinced himself chlorine will get into his body. I tried to tell him that wouldn't happen, but he doesn't believe me.
I called my husband in to look at your message. Swimming has been a bit of a frustration for him with the pump. I don't know what brand you all will be dealing with but he has a Mini-med pump and CGM. When the pump is disconnected, a plastic cap is snapped/screwed in place and no water will get in. His problem is that chlorine seems to affect the adhesive around the infusion site. It still doesn't let water in but he ends up having to replace the cannula with new adhesive after swimming. We have a pool in our neighborhood and he goes swimming when it's the day he is due to change the infusion site. When we go to the beach with family he sometimes just reverts back to injections instead of trying to deal with the pump and how to store it down on the beach. It's just easier to run back up to the condo when it's time for a shot or bolus.
Showering is no problem because you're not submerged or dealing with chlorine.
My husband also spends a lot of hours working on Habitat for Humanity builds. When the weather is warm he finds that sweating heavily during physical labor can dislodge the cannula. At the drug store he has found some large plastic (like saran wrap with adhesive ) that he can put over the site. Also he said to tell you that it is important to shave and use alcohol on the site before attaching the cannula. This really helps with adhesion.
I'll be thinking of you the week of the 12th and pray all goes well!
Thanks for asking your husband about that for me. He has the Animus pump, so we went to their website, and it does seem they have caps. For some reason they didn't come with our shipment.
I think my husband will have some issues with sweating. He works outside often. Last week he practiced wearing the pump, but did not this week. I think tomorrow he should put it back on since Monday he will be going live. He doesn't seem to like it so far, he said the infusion site is a bit painful. The trainer will be back on Saturday so I asked her to bring some different infusion sets.
I hope you had a great 4th of July. We went to a barbeque on Sunday, and took my nephew to the beach on Sunday. He had so much fun in the water!
Greetings from "Hotlanta." I imagine you all have had it just as bad up your way. We just returned from Virginia from a family reunion to celebrate my husband's mother's 90th birthday. She has survived way longer than any of our family and I sure hope my husband has inherited some of her genes---he needs all the help he can get after dealing with diabetes for so much of his life.
I shared with him your concern about the sweating and discomfort at the infusion site. He says the only time there is discomfort is when he puts in a new cannula. There shouldn't be discomfort if everything is in properly. He didn't understand why there was no cap with your shipment--how can someone take a shower without one?! These are things that you can discuss with your coach tomorrow--also ask about different adhesives and the issues about sweating.
Hope things go well with you next week!
If you want to contact me directly my email is ann.snead@earthlink.net. And yes, my name is Ann!
Hi, I just read all of your posts and it was nice to see that there are others who are going through the same thing as me. My husband has been a type 1 diabetic for 18 years. We've been married for 2 years and have been together for 9 years. I remember when we first starting dating how scary his lows were for me. The first low he had he was totally out of it and starting trying to hit me. I was sooo freaked out. After he came out of it he apologized numerous times and then he explained things more to me, which definitely helped. My husband takes pretty good care of himself but there have been a few times were he's had some really bad lows. A month or so ago I came home from work to find him passed out in bed. I tried to get him to drink juice and he kept choking and spitting it out. We didn't have a glucagon kit and I was about to call 911 when he finally started to drink the juice. It really scared me cause I just kept thinking about what would've happened if I had been working late. Diabetes is definitely not easy to deal with and watching my husband deal with it is so hard sometimes. Then 1 year ago, I started to not feel so good (achy, frequent urination, extreme thrist). My husband realized what was wrong with me and rushed me to the hospital where I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It's been a big adjustment but I think it was much easier for me because I had the experience with dealing with my husband's diabetes and I also had my husband to help me adjust. I'm also worried about having kids and the possibility of our children having diabetes. Before I was diagnosed this was a concern for me but I figured the chances were slim. After my diagnosis my fears have increased, since we both have diabetes there is a 25% chance that my kids could. I would just hate to have to see my children dealing with this disease. I talked to my husband about it and he told me that if our children ended up with diabetes that we would get through it and that they would have 2 parents that knew exactly what they were going through and could help them.
Hi Amy,
Since you read our previous posts, you can see what Steph and I've been dealing with, though you ARE the first person I've run into who has a diabetic spouse and is diabetic themselves! I'm sure you really understand each other. We had one child (we were 23) before by husband's diagnosis but were also told our kids had about a 20% chance and we went ahead and had another child with no problems. I realize pregnancy has is own situations for a diabetic but there is so much good information out now and certainly much fewer problems than in the past. Even though my husband and I are dealing with some issues now, the fact that he is 67 yrs old and has been type 1 for over 40 yrs and is still in amazingly good health, is a testimony to how full a life you can lead if you take care of your diabetes!
Yes, those lows are mighty scary and I'm so thankful for the glucagon kits. The doctor told me that if my husband was pretty much totally out of it to go ahead and give him the injection instead of trying to get juice down him. There is a danger of choking and getting the juice in the lungs. Of course we have had some episodes when he has totally lost consciousness and I know to immediately give the injection. The doctor has told me that if the injection doesn't bring him around within 12-15 min. to call 911. So far he has always come around but that is a long 12-15 min.!
Steph and I now communicate directly through email and you can see my email in one of the last posts if you want to contact me directly.
Good luck!
Ann
Low BS awareness takes a little training because I was actually involved in a study done at Joslin Diabetes in Boston that focused just on that....how to get in tune with low BS's. The program ran maybe 3 months and it you can learn to be aware of different things that go on or happen when you're going low. I for instance now can sense when I am taking too long to do things or even sometimes staring too long. All it takes is a "oh oh, I think I'm running a bit low." So you do a quick test and bingo! You find out.
I'd see if there is a program for Low BS awareness going on near you. They'll have him test his blood more and write down different things he's feeling before or while he's having the low BS. That way, in the future if he feels that way again it could trigger him to do something proactive about it rather than wait to go even lower.
I've had diabetes for 37 years and there were times when I did some pretty silly things. I did not like waking up with 5 EMT's in my bedroom telling me that I had a low blood sugar, then seeing the IV in the back of my hand!
That alone may have been enough for me to then decide...I need to get control of this....so far so good since the program I was in I took maybe 15 years ago and I haven't had a visit from any EMT's since. I've gone low, but I was able to recognize it and correct it.
Good luck,
Frank
Hello, everyone. Not only am I new to this site, but I am a new husband to a diabetic as well. We have been married a little over 9 months and even though she did her best to prepare me for what was to come you never know until you experience it. Now don't get me wrong, even knowing what I know now I would never trade a thing but it does take some getting used to. I love this woman more than life itself, and since I have waited 36 some years for her I am not letting something like this to get in the way.
I'm not panicking any more when she wakes me up at night or early morning with low blood sugar and luckily I have not had to find her unconscious yet, but I'm always worried that since I'm such a heavy sleeper that I might not. She just got a CGM and she should start wearing it within a few weeks after classes and what not and hopefully it helps. Luckily my job gives me some leeway during the day to take care of her, but at times I have to leave, (I'm Army and with Training and deployments) and I worry about her when I'm gone. It is nice to know there are other spouses out there who have problems and any advice is always welcome. Thanks!
Frank,
My husband has been type 1 for 40 yrs. and could always detect lows coming on until the last 2 years. His doctor says that is not unusual for someone who has been diabetic for so long. Fortunately we have found that a beta-blocker my husband was taking may have contributed to this also. Since he is no longer taking that med. he has had no further incidents since mid May. He is again feeling the lows, even waking up in the night (before passing out!) and able to treat the low. He has usually been able to sense lows also when he is having trouble concentrating. The only times EMTs have been called is when I'm not around. If it happens when I'm there I have the glucagon kit and have used it successfully. We have also found the CGM helpful but not as accurate as we would like.
Good luck to you too.
Al,
Welcome to "the club." Adjusting to being newlyweds is interesting enough without throwing in diabetes! Your wife is very fortunate that you are so in tune to what she is going through. My husband and I were married in 1965 two years before he was diagnosed. This has been a long road and it has really been interesting and encouraging to see all the advances that have been made over those years. In the years that you and your wife have before you, think of all the progress that can be made...even a cure may come about during your lifetime.
My husband does wear a CGM now when we are traveling or taking long driving trips. It has not been as accurate as we had hoped but it helps. I know how you feel about her being alone (my husband is a Marine, though not career--just long enough to go to Viet Nam plus 2 years) I worry about my husband being alone and we've come up with some ways to ease that stress. Cell phone contact has been a real help, having things set up with our neighbors and daughter and son-in-law who live close by also. Hopefully you can find something that works for you without driving your wife crazy! My husband hasn't always appreciated my "hovering" but after waking up to EMTs a few times he understands how I worry!
Thanks for serving our country. I think Americans now appreciate our troops in a way that they didn't in the Viet Nam era.