Diabetes and Other Stuff

Aaron's A1C

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:21:00 +0000

Just a quick note to post that Aaron's A1C today is 7.7 again. Last time it was 7.6, and the time before that it was 7.7. I gather from our pediatric endocrinologist (who, by the way, is retiring in January) that this is a very good A1C compared to other kids. We would love to get it under 7, but not at the risk of severe lows, so we are VERY happy with 7.7. Aaron is right on the 50th percentile as far as height and weight. Although I would like to see him put on a few pounds, I'd rather him be thin than fat. I will post more after the new year. Happy holidays everyone!

Walk to Cure Diabetes 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Aaron's A1C

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:02:00 +0000

Aaron's doctor appointment was today, his A1C is 7.7! Yes! We try to keep his A1C under 8.0, so this is a great number. We briefly discussed getting a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) http://forums.childrenwithdiabetes.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18 with the pediatric endo. His feeling (and we agree) is that the con's right now outweigh the pro's. Aaron's control is fairly good, and he is very good about recognizing lows and telling us when he feels low. He has never had a severe low in ten years of dealing with this disease. The additional site on his body is not something that he or us want to deal with. And the fact that CGM technology is less than perfect is a factor. The doctor suggested that it would be great if the CGM companies rented the CGM stuff to try out. We may contact Medtronic about this. Our thoughts on this will probably change in the future, especially when he starts puberty and his numbers are more irregular. But for now, we're going to keep on keeping on and continue as we are doing. Until a cure!

Class Trip to Mackinac

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:28:00 +0000

Aaron and I (just us two) went on his 4th grade class trip last Wednesday and Thursday. We had a great time, and his blood sugars were fairly good the whole trip. That's one reason I quit smoking, the teacher made it very clear that there would be no smoking allowed. I really had only planned to not smoke for the duration of the trip, but I found that it wasn't too hard to not smoke, so I kept going!

UPDATE: It has now been 4 weeks since I have smoked!

"Other Stuff"

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Sun, 24 May 2009 23:44:00 +0000

This falls under "other stuff" in my blog title: It is now day 5 of quitting smoking! I'm chewing Nicorette gum quite often, but truthfully, it has been quite easy so far! I really don't know why that's so, after smoking close to 2 packs a day for about 32 years. I just try not to think about it, which seems to be working well. Granted, it's still early and I have a long way to go, but I do believe I'm over the "hump"! Wish me luck!

Proud Parents of a College Graduate!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:27:00 +0000

Just a short post to brag a little bit. We are now the parents of a college graduate! Our oldest Son, Matt, graduated from Ferris State University today!

Aaron's Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:45:00 +0000

Today is the ninth anniversary of Aaron's diagnosis with diabetes. To be honest, I wouldn't have even remembered had Gloria not reminded me a couple of days ago. I think this is the first time that the anniversary and Easter fell on the same day. And if I'm being totally honest, it really is just another day. My feeling is that there is nothing we can do about him having diabetes, and of course there is no reason to celebrate. We can pray for a cure, and do everything we can to help find that cure, but other than trying to remember what we were doing through those nine years is about it. Nine years is a long time...I remember giving Aaron his bottle with cornstarch at night. I remember feeding him "Gerber Graduates" meals. But other than stuff like that, life goes on!

Aaron was breastfed up until 6 months. He is the only one of our four children who we (I say we metaphorically) breastfed. I'm not a person who normally wonders "what if?", but I do wonder if that had anything to do with him being our only child with diabetes. Even if it were true, there is no going back, and of course, like I said in my last post, I totally don't blame anyone, including ourselves, in Aaron getting diabetes. I've heard theories that cow's milk has a cause in getting type 1 diabetes. I don't really believe that, but who knows? I have often wondered why there isn't some kind of nationwide, or worldwide database or something with the circumstances of each child who gets diabetes, maybe there is a common link or something.

Just some random thoughts on this anniversary day! Until there's a cure!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:13:00 +0000

As a father of a type 1 son, I find that there aren't too many bloggers out there with similar circumstances. When I read blogs about diabetes, they're usually someone that actually has diabetes, or the mother of someone with diabetes. And there are some really good ones out there! And as a fairly typical male, I find it really hard to share my feelings. But here goes anyway...

When our Son, Aaron, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 11 months of age, my Wife, Gloria, and I knew nothing about this disease. The only thing I really knew was that when I was in high school, a friend had it, and she passed away at a very young age from complications. In fact, me and a couple of other high school friends had gone to visit her after I had been discharged from the Air Force in 1981, and she was blind and could barely walk. Needless to say, it was a very moving visit, and when she passed away soon after our visit, it was heartbreaking. When I had enlisted in the Air Force but prior to actually going on active duty, this friend had made me a photo album with the title "Man of the Hour". Little did I know then how diabetes would touch my life. Of course, things have changed tremendously since then, with the advent of simple blood testing meters, insulin pumps, and such. I can't imagine what my friend and her family went through.

Back in 2000, Aaron was a typical 11 month old, on the verge of walking and discovering the world. He had the typical illnesses, ear infections, colds, etc. But the ear infections he had this time were different in some way. I can't really explain it, but he was acting like there was something else wrong. Of course, we took him to the doctor, who prescribed antibiotics. But Aaron wasn't getting better. I remember we went to get a family picture taken, but there was nothing anybody could do to make Aaron smile. He was a happy, fun-loving baby before this. Looking at that picture now, I can kind of tell that Aaron was sick with more than an ear infection. We took Aaron back to the doctor, and the doctor said that sometimes ear infections are like that, that it sometimes takes a while to recover. But Aaron is our 3rd born, and we had been through many ear infections. We left the doctor and trusted what he told us. I know that we couldn't have prevented Aaron from getting diabetes, and I certainly don't blame the doctors or myself. If I remember right, Gloria had gone to a candle party one evening, and that's when I knew something definitely wasn't right. Aaron kept drinking water but he couldn't hold it down. His diaper was soaked every couple of hours. For some reason, diabetes didn't even cross my mind, even with having a friend with it, and I knew the symptoms. I called Gloria and told her that she needed to come home right away. She did. We waited a night, trusting what the doctor had said about ear infections. I don't remember if she took Aaron to the doctor or just called him the next day, but I do remember getting a call at work from her saying to meet her at the hospital, Aaron was being admitted. I had no idea what was wrong, and I don't remember the drive from work to the hospital. I do remember going up to the pediatric ward and she and Aaron were just walking in at the same time. We gave our baby to the doctors and waited. I have no recollection of how long we waited, but I do remember the doctor coming in and telling us the diagnosis. The only thing that I could ask was "what's the prognosis?" I remember the doctor telling us that there was no cure, that Aaron would have this for the rest of his life. I remember the doctors telling us that it was very, very hard to get a needle in to Aaron's tiny veins. We then went on a comrehensive 3-day training session about diabetes, which is now all a blur to me. I do remember that Aaron was in the pediatric intensive care unit for 3 days. Either Gloria or myself stayed with him the whole time, sleeping in an uncomfortable (for sleeping) recliner at night. Aaron got better, and I remember having to get all the diabetes supplies and having to show them to the doctors and nurses at the hospital before they would release Aaron. Needless to say, it was a very scary time in our lives.

Well, in proofreading this, I see that I really still haven't shared my feelings with you! More or less just a story about Aaron's diagnosis. Going to have to work on that still...

3rd Place in the JDRF Walk T-shirt Design Contest for the 3rd Year in a Row!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Aaron's A1C

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:36:00 +0000

Aaron's 3-month pediatric endocrinologist appointment was today. Good news...his A1C was 7.6! That's the lowest it's ever been! Way to go!! (Patting ourselves on the back).

A Major Milestone!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:09:00 +0000

Yesterday, 11-20-2008, Aaron checked his own blood sugar for the first time! For me, this may be a bigger milestone than taking his first steps or being potty-trained! Some of you may be thinking that your son or daughter was checking their blood sugar years before they were 9. Well, we have never really pushed Aaron (encouraged, yes, pushed, no) to do this, feeling that when he was ready he would do it. Well, that day has arrived! In fact, he wanted to do it 3 times. I teased him that now he'll have to learn how to do his own site changes...he didn't think that was too funny. He can already give himself his boluses (with supervision, of course). I think this is the beginning of the end of his dependence on Mom and Dad!

"Jay Cutler was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes" Rick Reilly: Jay Cutler didn't plan on being a role model - ESPN The Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:25:00 +0000

Rick Reilly: Jay Cutler didn't plan on being a role model - ESPN The Magazine

This Years JDRF Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:59:00 +0000

Just got an e-mail stating the results of this year's JDRF walk to cure diabetes. Our team, Pop and Aaron's Aces, raised $1200! Thank you, thank you, thank you! In total, the two walks raised over $1.7 million!! Great result considering the weather that weekend!

D-Blog Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:06:00 +0000

Happy D-Blogger Day! Since this is officially D-blogger day, (click on title to find out more about Gina Capone, who started this annual tradition), I thought it would be appropriate to update my blog (finally). Not to mention an opportunity to tell you a little more about myself. Because my Wife, Gloria, does the bulk of the diabetes stuff for our Son, Aaron, it's a little difficult to write about caring for his diabetes (although I do everything on Sundays and Mondays while she works, and we also share changing Aaron's site changes and discuss strategies regarding diabetes). Gloria is not a blogger, and is not the writer in the family (that would be me). I do the internet stuff, including blogs and forums and such.

We are in the process of deciding whether to change health insurance again. I am a postal worker, and have the Federal Employee's health insurance choices, which offers many choices in health care. Last year we switched from Health Alliance Plan (or HAP, a Michigan only health plan) to Blue Care Network (Blue Cross's HMO). While not entirely unhappy with the switch, we are more than likely going to switch back to HAP, mainly because we can get all of Aaron's diabetes supplies (he is pumping with the minimed 522) through one company. We were very happy with this when we were covered by HAP previously.

We continuously are trying to get Aaron's A1C down. He has had type 1 d since he was 11 months old (he's 9 now), and, knock on wood, we have never had to use glucagon, nor has he ever had a low where he had a seizure. But his A1C hovers right around 8.0, which is too high in my book. To that end, we are hopefully gonna try a continous glucose monitor this coming year. We hate the thought of adding another thing attached to his thin body, but the A1C has got to come down one way or another.

As I write this, I'm IM'ing my 22 year old Son, Matt, who is away at Ferris State University. Happy birthday, Matt! Matt and Aaron are buddies, which is a genuinly beautiful thing. Matt calls every night to say goodnight to us and Aaron and Emily (our 6 year old daughter) (sorry if this embarasses you, Matt!), and they are fellow gamers and exchange tips and tricks frequently.

That's it for now, please feel free to comment! Hope you have a great week!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:08:00 +0000

Just a quick update; we raised over $1000 for our JDRF walk in September! Thank you, one and all, for helping us to help find a cure for diabetes! Promise I will update my blog further after the elections.

More Diabetes Walk Pictures (Pictures by Millie)

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:07:00 +0000

Walk to Cure Diabetes 2008 (More Pictures to Come)

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:03:00 +0000

Diabetes Walk This Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:40:00 +0000

Our JDRF diabetes walk is this Sunday, 9-14-08. Please help us out! Donate here: http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=87034247

School and Diabetes and 3 Day Weekends and Other Family Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:20:00 +0000

I love 3 day weekends! School tomorrow...I have mixed feelings on this. Allow me to explain...of course I will miss the little nippers on my Mondays off, but it'll be nice to have the house to myself. It's a drag that I have to go to the school to check Aaron's blood sugar and give him his insulin, but we still would rather do this than to trust someone at the school with this task. Aaron and Emily will have different lunch periods, would have been nice to have them at the same time. We got good news the other day, Emily has the same teacher that Aaron had for 1st grade, whom we loved! It's so nice when your kids get a teacher that you like.

Matt seems to have settled in at Ferris, and Jessie is taking classes at Macomb Community College. She still has no idea what she wants to do with her life, but that's O.K., at least she is preparing for the future.

Oh, did I mention that I love 3 day weekends?

Walk to Cure Diabetes 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:49:00 +0000

We can't believe that a whole year has passed since we last walked in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes. Seems like yesterday!
Once again, we write on behalf of our Son, Aaron, who has type 1 diabetes. This year we are also walking for Gloria's Father (who goes by the name of Pop), who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a couple of years ago.
As most of you know, at the age of 11 months, Aaron was diagnosed with juvenile (type 1) diabetes. He is required to check his blood sugar levels by pricking his fingers about 6 times a day. Aaron is on an insulin pump, which replaces injections, but we have to change his infusion sight every 2-3 days, which involves poking him with a long needle. Aaron wears this insulin pump 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have to count all the carbohydrates that Aaron ingests, and account for them with insulin from his insulin pump. We have to account for the exercise that Aaron does, because blood sugars normally drop when a person is physically active. When he is sick, there is no way to predict how that will affect his blood sugars. In short, Aaron and us have to always think how will this affect my blood sugars? This is something that Aaron will deal with for the rest of his life, unless a cure is found. Worst of all, this disease carries with it the risk of life-threatening complications. At age 9 diabetes is part of Aaron's everyday life. To this point, he has endured 17,520 finger pricks in his young life. But as you probably know, insulin is not a cure for diabetes-it's merely life support.
As parents, we try from the moment our children are born to protect them from harm. For our family, that means doing our part to help find a cure for diabetes by supporting the work of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). JDRF's mission is constant-to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Since 1970, JDRF has provided over $1.1 billion to diabetes research-more than any other non-profit, non-governmental agency in the world!
On Sunday, September 14, 2008, we will participate in JDRF's annual Walk to Cure Diabetes. Please help us make a difference for Aaron (and Pop) and the millions of other people living with diabetes. There are 3 ways you can join us in the fight against this disease:
1.Join our Family Team, which consists of family, friends, neighbors and co-workers who collect pledges and walk with us on September 14. To register, visit http://www.jdrf.org/ , then click on the green sneaker. When registering, please be sure to select Pop and Aaron's Aces as your team name from the pull-down menu.
2.Send a tax-deductible donation, made payable to the JDRF, to us.
3.Make an online credit card donation in support of our team. Go to http://www.jdrf.org/, click on the green sneaker, and then donate to our team by searching for Aaron Feuer under the heading Support a Walker.

You can also check out the local JDRF website at jdrfdetroit.org.

Our goal this year is to raise $2000 for diabetes research. Every dollar will help bring us one step closer the the cure. Thank you in advance for your support and we hope to see you at the Walk on September 14, 2008 between 9 and 10 A.M., at the General Motors Tech Center in Warren, Michigan.

With Thanks,
Gloria and Jeff Feuer and Family

Bayer Diabetes Care Partners with Nick Jonas to Encourage Young People to Proactively Manage Their Diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:23:00 +0000

If your son or daughter (or you!) is a fan of Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, this is an interesting story:

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2482906~title_Bayer-Diabetes-Care.html

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:44:00 +0000

This is from the American Diabetes Association newsletter I get, pertaining to the Friends for Life Conference:

American Diabetes Association at Children With Diabetes (CWD) Conference
What began as a vacation for a few families of children with type 1 diabetes is now an annual conference with more than 3,000 attendees from around the world. The 9th Annual Children with Diabetes Friends for Life Conference in Orlando, Fla., was a major success this year.

"Each year, the team from the American Diabetes Association looks forward to interacting with families with type 1 diabetes face-to-face at this inspiring event. It is one way we introduce them to the many resources the Association has to support children with type 1 diabetes," said Cathy Harvey, Dr.PH, RN, Executive Vice President of Community Programs and Publications at the American Diabetes Association.

The American Diabetes Association's booth showcased Diabetes Camp, Family Resource Network, Planet D, the National Call Center as well as Safe at School Workshops.

Thanks to the Association's volunteers who spent time answering questions and chatting with parents at the booth including: Barbara Anderson, PhD, Larry Deeb, MD, Bill Clarke, MD, Fran Kaufman, MD and Ann Albright, PhD, RD.

First time attendee and American Diabetes Association National Youth Advocate, Tesch West, blogged about her experience at the conference on Planet D.

Check out Tesch's Blog.

Learn more about Children with Diabetes.

Getting Type 1 and Type 2 Confused

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:26:00 +0000

This is a great article from Australia, nothing irks me more than when someone gets type 1 and type 2 confused. Very different diseases and causes!

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24131336-1702,00.html

Friends For Life Conference 2008 Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:36:00 +0000

Jeff Hitchcock has posted the report on the Friends for Life Conference at the following link:
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/activities/orlando2008/report.htm
(See post below)

Short Report on FFL Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:45:00 +0000

We had a wonderful time at the Children With Diabetes/Friends for Life Conference in Orlando, Florida, which we just returned from. (See slide shows below). If anyone has a child (or a teen) with diabetes, this is definitely the place to be! The CWD people have this every year, and it's always some place in Florida. Not a bad place to have it. Next year it will be at Disney's Coronado Resort. Even though Aaron has had type 1 diabetes for over 8 years, there is always something to learn. And the People!! Everyone we met was very nice, we made some life-long friends. Everything, and I do mean everything, was top-notch. And we got to go to Universal Studios/Orlando!!! If you want to check it out further, the website is childrenwithdiabetes.com. I'm sure Jeff Hitchcock (the creator and CEO of childrenwithdiabetes.com) will have a full report with pictures on that website within a couple of weeks. If finances are a problem, the website also has info on scholarships and financial help to go next year.