An Intruder in Your Home

Who You Cannot Protect Your Kids From!

You do everything you possibly can to ensure your kids are safe. It starts from the moment they are born, when they open those big eyes and stare up at you, knowing you are the one in charge of keeping them safe.  You change their diaper frequently and provide ointment if needed to keep them from a painful diaper rash. Feeding them becomes a job of safety as well. You try to make sure you burp them after every few ounces of breast milk or formula so that they don’t end up aspirating or spitting up everywhere. As they begin to become more mobile you purchase bright, large toys so they can have fun, but stay safe without any choking hazards.

You make sure every outlet in your home is plugged so they cannot accidentally toddle over and hurt themselves. Safety latches are placed on doors, handles, cabinets, the bathroom and so much more to protect their little fingers and toes. You may have even had to stop them from choking when they first started on table food. You zipper them tightly into a coat, putting on a hat and gloves when the weather is a little chilly to protect their sensitive skin from the wind.

You make them hold tight onto your hand while walking through the grocery store. You keep a close eye on them while they are outside playing in the backyard. When they go to school you feel confident knowing that the school has the proper safety features to keep them safe and sound throughout the day.

When you pick them up from school, you buckle them in tight into their car seat or in the car, to keep them safe in case of an unexpected accident. You remind them to wear their helmet when riding their bikes, you know for safety. Helmets and pads are a necessity if they play sports to ensure their safety on the field. As they reach the teenage years, a cell phone becomes the new tool of safety so that you can stay in contact with them frequently.

At home, you lock the doors and windows at night to make sure they are safely tucked in their beds for the evening. You think surely you have done everything you possibly can as a parent to keep these precious growing humans safe. But what happens when an intruder invades your home that you cannot protect them from? What happens when this intruder takes over their body, taking away all control from both you and your child?

How do you protect them from something you cannot see or touch?

·         You can’t stop this intruder from entering your home.

·         You can’t keep them from invading your child’s body.

·         You can’t keep them from controlling every aspect of their life.

·         You can’t stop them from ruining your child’s birthday party at the drop of a hat.

·         You can’t even prevent this intruder from potentially taking your child’s life.

What happens when all control, all ability to keep your child fully safe is taken from you? This terrorist in your home cannot be negotiated with. They don’t listen to rhyme or reason, they always get their way and they cannot under any circumstances be stopped. You can’t lock them away for their crimes against your child, no matter how much it is warranted. Justice never seems to have the ability to be served. This intruder can come into your home without warning, silently sneaking in any time of the day. They are a ninja going undetected for quite some time, until one day your child ends up in the hospital, clinging to life.

Who is this intruder that you have no power to protect your children from?

Type 1 Diabetes.

Knowing the signs could very well save their life

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes typically happen quickly in a matter of weeks or days. They include:

• Increased Hunger
• Fatigue
• Muscle Weakness
• Difficulty Waking
• Frequent Stomach Pain or Stomach Aches
• Increased Urination
• Increased and Excessive Thirst
• Dry Mouth
• Itchy Skin
• Blurry Vision
• Fruity Smelling Breath
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Leg Pain
• Frequent Headaches
• Attention Trouble
• Memory Recollection Issues
• Trouble Focusing
• Trouble Concentrating
• Slow Healing Cuts or Wounds
• Frequent Yeast Infections
• Numbness or Tingling in Arms and Legs
• Difficulty Breathing
• Fast, Rapid Breaths
• Weight Loss

Type 1 diabetes can be mistaken for the flu or another illness which is fatal when left untreated. Let me repeat that one more time just so it sinks in. When left untreated Type 1 diabetes is FATAL!

It's important to seek medical treatment immediately if you feel any of the signs and symptoms your child is exhibiting could be Type 1 diabetes. A simple finger poke or urine test could reveal the results. It is always better to be WRONG than sorry when it comes to Type 1.

Early Detection of Type 1 Diabetes

That title may SHOCK some of you. You may be unfamiliar that Type 1 has the potential to be detected early. But we've experienced how remarkable the early detection of Type 1 diabetes can be. In fact, if you are reading this, chances are you have a family member who is touched with Type 1. For siblings, parents, and other family members with Type 1, you may be eligible for TrialNet Pathway to Prevention. This program/ study has meant the world to our family.

Maggie was originally involved starting at the age of 1 in the Pathway to Prevention Study. When she was 4 years old she tested positive for 5 out of 5 autoantibodies that are commonly seen in those that develop Type 1. Now this didn't mean she would 100% develop it, it meant she was at a much greater risk.

After this news, she then was given the OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) to see how her body (pancreas) was working currently. Her tests results were abnormal at the time. Shortly after she was diagnosed.

But if you've been following my blog you are familiar with her diagnosis story over her brothers. The difference was a child in DKA unresponsive, to a child, full of smiles, giggles and aware of what was going on.

It’s been a wild ride since Maggie’s diagnosis, just shy of two years ago. She has increased her insulin need from time to time, I say that because there are periods where her blood sugar just won’t stay up, her little pancreas is still fighting and still producing insulin. It’s a rare occasion to get a look into diabetes “BEFORE” the big killer of all beta cells.

Because Maggie was diagnosed through the Pathway to Prevention Study, she became eligible to participate in the LIFT study. (Long-Term Investigative Follow-up in TrialNet Study) LIFT helps to monitor Maggie's disease progression, insulin requirements, long-term effects, etc.

It's interesting to see how Type 1 develops, having never had any experience with it before Clifford's diagnosis. I never got the chance to mourn the loss of his pancreas slowly and become accustomed to the new life, instead, I was thrown into it. This time, even though we're more experienced we're getting an inside look at the disease progression. At this point, typically, Maggie may not have been technically diagnosed seeing her insulin need is so low. But this means we are able to take stress off of her pancreas NOW and extend the life of it. To me, I find it absolutely amazing. But let’s talk about the second diagnosis in my family for a second and how we took the news.

I used to scroll through countless Facebook posts of online friends announcing they had another child diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I'd stop, read through their posts, offer well wishes, support, virtual hugs, prayers, anything I could. My heart broke in two for them, I imagined what they were going through having yet another child diagnosed. For that brief moment I couldn't even fathom having that bomb dropped on our family. Until it did.......

The reality of diabetes entering our lives again has hit! She was officially diagnosed on Wednesday, March 25th, 2015. Only 5 short years, 1 month and 2 days after her brother was diagnosed.

When Clifford was diagnosed I was currently carrying her and her twin sister, they were 8 months away from entering the world. She hasn't really known a life without 'Diabetes' so to say. It's always been there in the background. When she could talk, walk, understand the things around her it was there. Her brother always testing, always giving insulin, and always counting carbs.

Each taken at diagnosis in the same location

Her diagnosis story is one that I would take a million times over her brothers and so many others that I hear about. She wasn't unconscious like he was, she wasn't so sick she could barely move, and she wasn't on the verge of us losing her. Instead, she was smiles, giggles and laughs throughout the entire process. With our 'heads up' in February we were able to monitor her more closely than we would have prior to knowing. I mean, yes, because we already have a Type 1 in the house we knew the symptoms, and believe me when anyone started peeing or drinking more, I was on it. But this was more of a heads up than just knowing the symptoms. I knew it would happen, and I knew when to look for any unusual things in her.

On Monday, March 23, she woke up complaining that her stomach, and legs hurt so much so she asked me to carry her downstairs. She had some breakfast, peaches, but she continued to lay there for over an hour not moving, not wanting to play, nothing. So I thought to test her, just to see you know? She couldn't pee just yet so she said, so I tested her ketones with our blood ketone meter. Her blood sugar was pretty good for just having ate breakfast, 124, but that little sigh of relief soon changed when I saw the ketone meter, 3.0.  This is not when I got entirely worried, but I did start making calls, just to give a 'heads up' to others that we may be heading to the hospital.

After the calls were made, 10 minutes later I checked again she was complaining even more now. 130 (Great number), but ketones jumped to 3.5.  It was at this point when I got a call back from our TrialNet nurse, and the doctor had asked that I get a pee stick tested to see if she was spilling glucose in her urine. Finally, a short while later I was able to do this, she was in fact spilling 1/2 glucose and the ketones turned dark immediately.

We tested a short while again, after she ate an apple, as she was hungry. This time the meter read 216. Not something I'd typically like to see, but still I know not unusual, for someone pre 2-hour mark after eating. It wasn't until an hour later while waiting to hear from the doctors that I tested once more, our little table beside the couch was beginning to look like a crime scene from all the testing. This time her blood sugar was well over 300, 368 to be exact. I tested again for good measure just hoping, praying it was a fluke, that somehow, even though I cleaned her finger something was on it to mess up the number, but unfortunately it was 364. I spoke with the TrialNet once more, this time breaking down on the phone and apologizing for crying, but she directed us to take her into the ER.

By the time we were finally seen, her blood sugar had gone down to 178. Her cute little pancreas was still working! Thank god! Still I was hoping, praying that somehow I just messed up, that the meter was wrong, that she didn't have ketones that she didn't spill glucose. But we were admitted for 'monitoring' to watch her blood sugar overnight to see how it does. She spiked during the night over 200 to 211, without food, and her fasting number in the morning was 121, for 'technical' purposes, diabetes is considered a fasting of 126 or higher, but she already exhibited numbers over 200 which also meant 'diabetes'. She is in the honeymoon phase, we caught it super early, she still has functioning beta cells, god love them. So she is only on one injection a day of Lantus, the long acting insulin, to try to take some stress off of her pancreas and those beta cells, to get a little more life out of them, extend her honeymoon. We don't know when but eventually they too will die off, and she will be reliant solely on insulin, both long acting and short acting to survive. We are blessed for the 'warning' that it would hit, for the heads up. I tried so hard to soak in all the 'pre diabetes' moments of no testing, no bolusing, no shots, no concern with counting carbs, as short as it was, I enjoyed it all.

But now, we monitor and test with every meal, her once clear little fingers are now starting to fill up with small marks from frequent tests, her little legs dotted from her shots. While my mind has accepted her new normal, and while I know deep down this was truly a blessing to receive this warning, to catch it so early, my heart is having a hard time following suit. I never wanted diabetes to enter our lives, let alone the lives of two of my children.

She is so brave, and strong, and is taking it all like a champ. I've already heard the infamous, but at least she's so young she will never remember anything else. My heart will heal, it did with her brother, but the feeling is still all too raw. She's younger than he was by 2 years, she's the baby, and now the baby is being forced to grow up way too fast because of this disease.

It was truly a blessing to find out so soon, we can still enjoy some 'before' diabetes moments like the lack of multiple daily injections. For now, we will help her to understand the new normal, and take on the brunt of her care to ensure she stays as healthy as possible.

The statistics on Type 1 in siblings is this:

• If one child in a family has type 1 diabetes, their siblings have about a 1 in 10 risk of developing it by the age of 50.

I knew these statistics shortly after Clifford was diagnosed 1 in 10, didn't seem that great then. We've talked about it in the past and we thought we may at some time have another child diagnosed with the disease, but still there was that 1 in 10 chance, right? 

I knew going forward with the TrialNet research meant that sometime in the near future I may receive word that one of my other children would be positive for the autoantibodies associated with Type 1. At the same time, I couldn't see risking the 'what if', they were already at a much higher chance of developing the disease. Why wouldn't I take advantage of this research offered to me? The chance to be given a 'warning' so to say of Type 1's attack. It was a difficult decision to make, but I'm very glad I made it, and would recommend it 10 times over to anyone who asks. I do not have to go on about the benefits that the 'warning' signal has offered our family with our 2nd diagnosis in our youngest (by 4 minutes her sister will tell you). What I can offer you is the point of view of having Type 1 diabetes from a 4-year-old. 

She's happy, healthy and isn't afraid of the future. She's unaware of what this disease is capable of, in time she will learn. Right now, in the present, she's happy about having diabetes because her diagnosis story has been much different than many others. Best decision I've ever made, aside from choosing this little girl's Daddy!

If you've been on the fence about whether or not to participate, I encourage you to read Maggie's diagnosis story and even scan through her brothers. You will definitely see how beneficial this program has been and how it's changed Maggie's life for the better!

For more information and to find your Local TrialNet location. Please see their website here.

https://www.diabetestrialnet.org/

When a Decision Can Cost a Life

Diabetes is one disease that making the wrong decision could end up costing someone their life. Those with Type 1 diabetes rely on insulin to remain alive and healthy every single day. This insulin can be given through multiple daily injections or an insulin pump. All of which also require the proper supplies to administer. They require constant monitoring and checking of their blood sugar levels.

What happens when access to these supplies is denied? What happens when a decision by one party affects the lives of young children they don't even know?

Let's face it when access to these supplies are denied, this can be fatal!

Why am I writing about this? Because this is the very circumstances our family is facing. I haven't talked much about what is going on behind the scenes in the Montgomery household other than to close friends and family members, but when my children's lives are hanging in the balance, I will put all pride aside and ask for help.

In August of 2016, my husband, who is a corrections officer at a state prison was assaulted by an inmate. This resulted in a sprained finger and a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) which has required consistent medical attention by many, many doctors and specialists.

Because of this assault, he has been unable to work while he heals and recovers. Unfortunately, a decision was made to deny his claim for workmen's compensation. While the process of an appeal was occurring, my husband used his leave from work to cover the time he was off, so that he would still receive his income and of course be able to pay for our health insurance premium since it comes out of his employment.

Of course, it's now January, and we thought by this time he'd of had a decision in the matter of his workmen's compensation appeal and he would continue to be paid. HOWEVER, that is not the case, he ran out of leave, which means he is no longer receiving any pay.  This also means we are on the verge of very soon of losing our health insurance.

What does this mean for us? This means that access to the life-saving medical treatments and supplies for 2 of our children with Type 1 diabetes may be denied.

So where does this leave us? It leaves us without an income from my husband who is the main income earner in the household. It leaves us having to go through the process of applying for assistance for food and medical, which still has yet to be approved. It leaves us with the possibility of having NO coverage for life-saving medicine and treatments. It leaves us struggling to keep the electricity on, to keep our house warm, to keep a roof over our heads.

We're not new to struggle and we know that with this struggle we will overcome so many things. But when your children's life is in the balance, what is a mom to do?

I mentioned about needing help. I need help making my voice heard, I need help speaking for our family to let our representatives know what is happening and how the lives of children are at stake because of a 'decision' of one party to deny something that happened in their very institution by one of their inmates. My husband didn't ask to be assaulted, he went to work that morning hoping to have an uneventful workday and come home safe to his family. Instead, however, he had to endure an assault at the hands of a criminal, who already has hurt other officers before. Please see here: http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/inmate-sentenced-for-spitting-on-corrections-officer,1470601/ The August 10th incident is in reference to my husband.

That is where I need your help. I ask, beg, each and every one of you reading this to help  me by contacting my representatives. Make the voice of our family heard, shout it to the mountain tops and help me keep my children alive!

Maggie age 6

Clifford Age 13

Representative Glenn GT Thompson

3555 Benner Pike ,Suite 101 

Bellefonte, PA 16823

Phone 814-353-0215

Representative Bill Shuster

310 Penn St #200

Hollidaysburg, PA 16648

814-696-6318

The Death of a Pancreas

We are only 18 months into my daughter, Maggie’s Type 1 diabetes Diagnosis. At this point in my son Clifford's diagnosis, I remember being angry and confused. I really did not understand the full picture of what had come into our lives. This time around however, I'm in a much better place. I am no longer harboring feelings of anger, and there is no confusion. Instead, I understand what we're dealing with, and what is to come.

If I had to describe where I am exactly, I'm getting over a bad break up, before the breakup officially happens. Her pancreas hasn't quite kicked us to the curb, it hasn't put all pancreatic responsibilities on me just yet, it's still working, reluctantly, still fighting against the attack from her body. There are signs it's giving me from time to time that we will eventually 'break up' officially, those rare 200 numbers are when it lets me know it's getting tired.  But for now, I at least got the opportunity to grieve before we've officially said goodbye to her functioning organ. 

It reminds me in a way of when my Grandma first told me she was diagnosed with cancer. I didn't know how long we had together, I knew she told me she was a fighter and would do everything she possibly could to kick its butt, and I believed her. She was a strong Irish woman, stubborn and tough, and if anyone could do it, she could. Someone reading this that might not understand Type 1 diabetes, may ask, "Are you really comparing her pancreas to your grandmother"?  Yes, Yes I am. If I could go in and rescue my little girl’s organ from this attack, knowing full well it would literally save her life, give her a life free of multiple injections, 10-15 finger pricks daily, and constant worry and fear that she may drop low and we may not catch it, you better believe I'd do that in a heartbeat. Just like when my grandma told me, I wished so hard there was something I could do to take this cancer away from her, to kick it out of her body. 

Until you've lived this life, and have a child who has to live with a chronic illness that has no consistency, doesn't sleep, and never needs a break like we all do, you won't truly understand the connection between the two.  So like the moment I will never forget, when Grandma called me, Maggie's pancreas is letting me down easy, much easier than her brother's did thank goodness. I do not know when it's officially going to kick the bucket, that is an another blog post for another time, processing those feelings of 'not knowing'. But for now, we can enjoy our time together while we still have it. Enjoy that she can sit down to eat without an additional injection for now. I'm doing my best to soak in all these precious moments before we have to say good bye to this organ that many may not realize just how vital it is. Yes, you can live without it working, millions do daily with Type 1, but insulin injections, and an insulin pump are not a cure, they are just life support to keep these awesome people alive daily. But honestly, they are no substitute when compared to fully functioning pancreas.

If you are reading this and you are new to the Diabetes community, I encourage you to Check out Trial Net. Get others in your life affected with Diabetes tested for antibodies that are seen in type 1 diabetes. It could very well save their life. No matter how prepared we believe we are, how much we convince ourselves we'll recognize the symptoms in other children of ours, we also get busy living life, and tend to overlook things. If you could have a heads up that it might happen, isn't that priceless?

It has definitely been a lifesaver in our household with Maggie.

Back to School with Diabetes

It's almost that time of year again. The kiddos are getting ready to head back to school and start a new year. It's always a busy time with two kids Type 1 diabetes. There are supplies to be gathered, bags to be put together, documents to be prepared and meetings to schedule.

With so much on your plate as a parent of a child(ren) with Type 1 you may be overwhelmed with where to start. But I want to let you know you are not alone. In fact, the website I'm working for has put together a great article on everything you need to know to get ready for school this year.

If you are newly diagnosed this is a great starting point. Please check it out here at The Diabetes Council and let me know what you think. If we forgot anything, let me know.

CDE Interview with Janet Howard-Ducsay

I'm very much enjoying my new position with The Diabetes Council. In case you haven't had the chance to check it out, I recommend you take a look over there. It's a new site, and we're getting more information up frequently, but there is still a TON of great stuff.

I conducted my 2nd CDE interview recently with Janet Howard- Ducsay from Redlands Community Hospital. The CDE's I've known since my kids have been diagnosed have always been hard-working and patient dedicated. You can tell that each and every CDE I talk to always wants the best for their patients, and it shows here with Janice. Take a look over our interview and share with friends and family that may be interested in a Diabetes perspective from a CDE's point of view.

http://www.thediabetescouncil.com/cde-interview-janet-howard-ducsay/

Growing Up with Diabetes

What's the saying they always say, "Kids grow up so fast"? Boy, is that true, but you know what? Kids with Diabetes grow up even faster! Like light speed faster. I mean it was only yesterday that my little girl was learning to walk and talk. After her diabetes diagnosis, she was ready to take on the world, always wanting to learn more, do more and manage more. And here's the kicker, she's only 5 years old.

So as I'm working earlier today, Hayleigh was helping me get lunch ready. I hear a clicking sound and look over and what do I see?

I ask "What are you doing Mags?" and she responds nonchalantly with, "Oh, nothing, just testing myself for lunch".... 

Wait a second, when did I blink and this tiny little lady become independent and wanting to test herself, at 5! 

SO yes folks, kids with Diabetes do grow up even faster! We joked last week when she asked about testing herself and she asked when her brother first tested himself, well, I told her "He was 7"... She grinned and was like "Okay then".... I guess this is what set this in motion, it's always a competition, however, little did she know he didn't get diagnosed until he was 6, so she had him beat there by 2 years, but that's something' we'll keep as our little secret, since she thinks she's winning.