The winds of change are blowing here at our house, and Momma is not happy about it. It's looking like Elise might be on the verge of dropping her nap, which is troublesome on a few fronts.
Right now (since the stupid time change) she naps from about 3 pm - 5 pm. I actually put her down around 2-2:30, but it takes he awhile to settle down and fall asleep. These days she's falling asleep closer to 3:30-4:00. This presents a problem because the later she naps, the longer she's up that night. When she naps until 5:00, she's up until about 11:00 pm. We put her to bed at 9:00, but she tosses and turns for almost two hours!
The days she doesn't nap at all, she becomes a quivering puddle of Elise-goo at about 7:00 pm. It's enough to make you want to run and hide. Any other child you would say, great! Put her to bed at 7:00 and be done with it!
Except Elise isn't any other child, and because of when she eats dinner, it is impossible to put her to bed any earlier than 8:00.
We eat dinner at 5:00 (which in my opinion is sooooo early). Elise takes about an hour to finish everything, so she's done by 6:00. There is no way we can test her an hour later and get an accurate bedtime BG number. Not to mention giving her a bedtime snack and her insulin. It's too soon after her dinner.
We've also discovered that we have a very slooooow absorption rate with Elise's diluted Humalog. We find it peaks closer to about 3 hours after she gets it. I know, weird. But it's true. It's just not safe to give Elise her bedtime NPH that close to her dinnertime DH because it will drop her low while she sleeps, even with her snack.
So what is a mother to do? Drop the nap and just fight to keep her up until 8:30 (I get ulcers just thinking about it), or let her nap late and go to sleep late? I'm stumped.
Stupid diabetes... why do you have to make EVERYTHING so bloody hard?
ETA: Oh for the love of all that is good and holy, I went to get Elise up at 4:00 because it sounded like we had another failnap, and when I tried to open her door, I couldn't. She had fallen asleep right in front of it. I usually check her BG at 4:30, but I can't even get in her room. Unless of course I wake her up. I give up.
Oh that's hard. We have never had this problem so I'm not sure what I can offer. For us, it doesn't matter what time Tristan eats and goes to bed. Even if for some reason he goes to bed soon after dinner we just don't check him before he goes to bed. We go in later and check him. When and if he needs a snack then we wake him up and give it to him. Most of the time, he's awake enough to chew (if need be) and that's about it. He doesn't even remember in the morning... Do you think that you could try that?
ReplyDeleteAh... the nap. We loved Avery's super long naps. Then we realized that she was really sick. Enter diabetes. Exit naps. Grrr. Yet another blasted thing this disease has taken from us! We're in a similar boat - except for the insulin part. If she naps - which won't happen until at least 4:30 or 5 - then she's a super grouch when she wakes up and won't go to bed until really late. If she does not nap, she gets grouchy later. No nap is better than nap but she's just so tired.... At least with the pump we don't have to worry about timing dinner and insulin and things. I feel for you, Jo. Giving up naps should be outlawed until Mommy is ready!
ReplyDeleteOh...I remember the nap obstacle well.
ReplyDeleteThe pump would help...just sayin' :)
Wendy (or any pump people) - If she doesn't finish her dinner until 6:00, then how can I give her a bedtime snack at 7:00? Or how would I know how accurate that bedtime BG is? Wouldn't we still be seeing a higher BG because the insulin really started to work?
ReplyDeleteWe are seriously thinking about a pump... I liked that Solo one that you (Wendy) sent out the email about. We also like the omnipod. We're still trying to sort out exactly what we're looking for (plus I don't know if I'm ready to take all the pump stuff on at this point in the pregnancy).
Thanks anyone and everyone for all your insights!
that should have said "Wouldn't we still be seeing a higher BG because the insulin hadn't really started to work?
ReplyDeleteOh yeah I remember the nap or no nap thing I dont envy any of you dear ladys going through it . I hope you figure it out soon Joanne .
ReplyDeleteJoanne, I agree with Wendy. The pump would help! The Minimed pump (the one my nearly-3-year-old daughter and I both have) has a Bolus Wizard option on it that will keep track of how much insulin is in her system and how much that insulin will drop her blood sugar. So, if you test her at bedtime, give her a snack, tell the pump what her blood sugar is and how many carbs she's eating for her snack, it'll tell you how much insulin she needs, minus how much insulin is still in her system! It's fantastic!
ReplyDeleteCindy - Do you know if any other pumps have this function or is Minimed the only one?
ReplyDeleteAlivia eats dinner at 5 and gets her shot by 5:30. We check her at 6:45 and give her a bedtime snack even though she's in the 200's from dinner. Then she's into bed by 7. I usually check her before I go to bed around 9 or 10 to make sure the snack was enough then Tony checks her at 1am when he gets home. It took us a while to find the perfect amount of carbs but once we did it hasn't really changed, there are a few times when shes had an active day and has needed a cup of milk but I'd say it's only about once a month...But then again she's on Lantus so that probably a big factor.
ReplyDeleteBut if you're really thinking about the pump you really should jump on the boat before baby gets here and not wait until 6 days before the baby comes to get started on it like me!!!
Oh the ping has that feature too (that’s the pump we picked).
ReplyDeleteI was told the OmniPod did not, but I believe Laura said it has something similar??? Not sure, you'd have to check with her on that.
You know me...I've gotta put in my minimed pitch. :) Just found out that minimed just started shipping their new pump that you can give super tiny amounts of insulin as basal (The insulin going into her body as her long acting) and ALSO for her Boluses (What you give for meals and blood sugar corrections.) Even smaller than the animas amounts now. This would help with the teeny tiny boluses she may need. ALSO, minimed has a tubless pump coming down the pike...smaller then omnipod with some awesome features.
ReplyDeleteThe pump will change everything...you won't have the same issues...you will be able to control the amounts of insulin her body gets for her Basals...different amounts for different times of day. The control will be easier. Not perfect, nothings perfect with diabetes, but better and easier.
I know you guys are not making this decision lightly. I'm so glad you are considering it!
My DD uses the omnipod she loves it we tried minimed for 8months but the tubing kept getting yanked on or out :( and my DD is 10. and I think the Solo is only for 18yr and older.....
ReplyDeleteWow... thanks for all the great info, everyone! I have to say we're really leaning towards a tubeless pump, so that's exciting about minimed coming out with one. I wonder when it will be?
ReplyDeleteAnd I didn't know that you had to be 18 to use the Solo pump. Anyone know why?
I just came across your blog and found your carb factor explanation very helpful. THank you for that.
ReplyDeleteMy little guy just turned 3, was diagnosed at 15 months...I can truly relate to some of your stories. I do feel all alone here in Florida in our situation...but I wanted to share with you about the Freestyle Navigator Continuous Glucose Monitor by manufactored by Abbot. We have been using one with my little one for almost a year now and it has made life a lot less scary. Here's a link that will tell you a little more about the device.
http://www.nemours.org/mediaroom/news/2009/diabeticstudy.html
Perhaps this could make life a little less stressful. And if you have any questions please contact me. tereseyoga@yahoo.com