I just finished reading a newletter sent out from the American Diabetes Association where they suggested offering your child pumpkin seeds, stickers, and wax lips instead of candy for trick or treating.
Um...RIGHT. Pumkin seeds taste EXACTLY like Reeses Pieces. She won't notice a difference. No problem.
Okay - truth of the matter is I am really concerned about L's first Halloween since her diagnosis. We have always made a big deal about this holiday. I love it. I am a candy FREAK. It has always been my favorite holiday, hands down. Costumes and free candy. What could be better!
So now what. I have had lots of suggestions. Trade in candy for cash. I think they had a similar program with hand guns a few years ago. Tell her to leave the candy on the porch for the Great Pumpkin or the Tooth Fairy and they will bring her a present... I don't know. How many times a year does a fairy or magical creature need to be invited in?
This is turning into a rant - but in a way, it is. I can't handle negotiating this holiday. I also read that some families bolus or give extra insulin so their kids can eat one piece of candy a night. Well - I DON"T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. So it is not an option.
L is going to be a devil this Halloween. She designed her costume and I made it. When she tried it on she said, "Mom, I don't want to hurt your feelings or anything, but I like this costume better than last year!" I felt so proud.
We agreed to trade in all her candy but 10 pieces for a new outfit for her American Girl doll. She is fine with this, but I wonder, really? Wish me luck - I don't think she is the one who will need it - to make it through this holiday sane.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Going Out and Pumpkin Bread
One of the most misunderstood concepts about type 1 diabetes is that you don't have to give up eating sugar. Most adults need this explained to them (I did) and most kids seem to have some information that diabetes "is when kids can't eat sugar."
L did a cooking project in her class today. Her teacher found a recipe for pumpkin bread that used Stevia (a natural sugar subsitute) I tried to explain it was okay for L to just have a small portion of the bread made with regular sugar, but she had gone through so much trouble to accomodate her I decided to let it go.
Part of the lesson was a "going out." This is something in the montessori curriculum that happens in the elementary classroom and this was L's first. This means they contact a chaperone (not their own parent) to accompany them on a journey - in this case on the street car to a market.
It was important to me that L have this experience, although I was worried about all the usual things that can happen (going low, or worse, having a low emergency) but again, I wanted her to have to confidence to plan and execute her going out, so I didn't express any of these concerns to her.
I knew the parent well who they contacted and she knew about L's condition. She didn't express any concerns to me (perhaps she didn't know what to be concerned about?) nor did the teacher, so I place my trust in them.
The going out was a success. The children had to figure out the calulation with the Stevia to Sugar ratio (we are talking about 7-year-olds here...) and how to fit it into their budget (apparently it was a lot more expensive than sugar!)
The parent chaperone had a great time - told me L was very responsible and kept watch on the time so she wouldn't miss her 10:30 snack, and even did a blood test while they were out.
I am happy for L that this was so easy and successful for her.
L did a cooking project in her class today. Her teacher found a recipe for pumpkin bread that used Stevia (a natural sugar subsitute) I tried to explain it was okay for L to just have a small portion of the bread made with regular sugar, but she had gone through so much trouble to accomodate her I decided to let it go.
Part of the lesson was a "going out." This is something in the montessori curriculum that happens in the elementary classroom and this was L's first. This means they contact a chaperone (not their own parent) to accompany them on a journey - in this case on the street car to a market.
It was important to me that L have this experience, although I was worried about all the usual things that can happen (going low, or worse, having a low emergency) but again, I wanted her to have to confidence to plan and execute her going out, so I didn't express any of these concerns to her.
I knew the parent well who they contacted and she knew about L's condition. She didn't express any concerns to me (perhaps she didn't know what to be concerned about?) nor did the teacher, so I place my trust in them.
The going out was a success. The children had to figure out the calulation with the Stevia to Sugar ratio (we are talking about 7-year-olds here...) and how to fit it into their budget (apparently it was a lot more expensive than sugar!)
The parent chaperone had a great time - told me L was very responsible and kept watch on the time so she wouldn't miss her 10:30 snack, and even did a blood test while they were out.
I am happy for L that this was so easy and successful for her.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Diabetes Support Groups for Kids and Adults
My friend recently opened this really cool community art studio and therapy center. She is offering some Diabetes support groups. Please spread the word if you know of someone who would be interested in coming to this!
http://www.the100thmonkeystudio.com/page4.html
Current Group Offerrings
1. Diabetes Art Therapy Support Group for Kids
10/5, 10/19, 11/2, 11/16 & 11/30
from 6:30-7:45pm
Members:$80.00 Non-members:$100.00
2. Diabetes Support Group for Adults
10/12, 10/26 & 11/9
Members:$80.00 Non-members:$100.00
http://www.the100thmonkeystudio.com/page4.html
Current Group Offerrings
1. Diabetes Art Therapy Support Group for Kids
10/5, 10/19, 11/2, 11/16 & 11/30
from 6:30-7:45pm
Members:$80.00 Non-members:$100.00
2. Diabetes Support Group for Adults
10/12, 10/26 & 11/9
Members:$80.00 Non-members:$100.00
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Dessert
Imagine you are seven. Your parents take you to a German Restraunt in town that serves authentic food - meaning no PB&J or Grilled Cheese sandwiches on the menu. So you order "Snitzel with noodles" until your mom explains that is sausage -- (Yuck...) and settle for the other thing that sounds "normal" on the kids menu ("It's the German Mac-N-Cheese" the server explains.)
Now imagine you are seven and you are type 1 diabetic. While you wait for your food, your dad draws up your insulin at the table. Your mom gives you the shot - which hurts, but you don't want to complain because it is at a restraunt and your mom will get mad. They bring salads first (which you hate and are not eating) and you have to wait forever to get your food. You drink a glass of apple juice to tide you over, and your parents argue over how many carbs are in the small slices of bread that were brought with the cheese fondue. They tell you you can have 5 pieces for 10 carbs.
Then you get your food. It looks like worms. It tastes like worms. Worms are disgusting. You refuse to eat it. Your mom butters a hard sourdough roll and orders another juice. Your parents are still counting the carbs and dissagreeing.
Not much of a dinner. Then the server brings the dessert tray. It has the most delicious looking desserts you've ever seen. Three layer chocolate cake, rasberry cheese cake, brownies and whip cream, mounds of sweet desserts that are waiting to be devoured.
Imagine you could only eat 70g of carbs for dinner and you used them up with apple juice and stale bread.
Diabetes Sucks.
Now imagine you are seven and you are type 1 diabetic. While you wait for your food, your dad draws up your insulin at the table. Your mom gives you the shot - which hurts, but you don't want to complain because it is at a restraunt and your mom will get mad. They bring salads first (which you hate and are not eating) and you have to wait forever to get your food. You drink a glass of apple juice to tide you over, and your parents argue over how many carbs are in the small slices of bread that were brought with the cheese fondue. They tell you you can have 5 pieces for 10 carbs.
Then you get your food. It looks like worms. It tastes like worms. Worms are disgusting. You refuse to eat it. Your mom butters a hard sourdough roll and orders another juice. Your parents are still counting the carbs and dissagreeing.
Not much of a dinner. Then the server brings the dessert tray. It has the most delicious looking desserts you've ever seen. Three layer chocolate cake, rasberry cheese cake, brownies and whip cream, mounds of sweet desserts that are waiting to be devoured.
Imagine you could only eat 70g of carbs for dinner and you used them up with apple juice and stale bread.
Diabetes Sucks.
Monday, October 02, 2006
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