Every day, she has math homework. It involves using an app on the Ipad, and on each day of the week she's supposed to use a specific app. Last Wednesday was the first day using one of these apps for her homework. The app was a timed game that she had to pick two numbers; the sum of which was ten. The game operated like Tetris... there were tiles along the bottom with numbers, and a tile with a number would appear at the top. If you correctly matched the number, the two tiles would disappear. If you didn't, it added to the pile; which added a line every 15 seconds or so.
Elise started playing and quickly became unraveled. I knew that SHE knew this stuff, so I made her put down the Ipad and I quizzed her on which numbers went together to make 10. She aced it when I questioned her. Back to the game she went and what followed was a meltdown of epic proportions.
She wailed and flailed; saying she couldn't do it and she didn't know anything... everyone could do it but her. Again, I made her put the Ipad down until she could cool off.
Then I went to look at her CGM. She had been in the upper 100s when she started, but was now double arrows down. I checked her BG and she came in at 71. We treated and decided to work on her reading homework instead.
Fast forward to this week. Wednesday and the same offending app was her homework. She was sitting at a nice flat 103, and I explained that I didn't want to see any behavior like that from last week. She went on to not only breeze through the stuff that gave her so much trouble last week, but several higher levels as well (sum of 15, sum of 20, etc.).
The reason I write about this is so people will understand what a huge influence BG can be on how Elise acts. Highs, lows and big fluctuations can cause her to become unglued, and it's why we have provisions in her 504 that states no testing when her BG is out of range. This always surprises people; even people who have kids with Type 1. I'm not sure why, but nobody ever gave them this information.
Elise is about to test for the Gifted and Talented Program at her school, and I'm hoping that her BG will play nice. Either way, I am so proud of how hard she works and doesn't let diabetes stop her.
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| nothing to do with the above story, I just love the fact they are wearing mixing bowls on their heads as construction hats |
The opposite is true for us...the higher the number is when we experience this exact behavior with the tablet and I have to admit sometimes I do forget it's all about the number that affects the behavior! My motto is test before discipline these days. Keeping my fingers crossed that Elise's numbers are steady for her testing...what a fabulous gift she already is! Love the mixing bowls so precious! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThis is such a key to understanding diabetes. I know my sister in law has been shocked at the huge differences in Isaac's behavior when he's high - least to say I believe she is finally getting that yes he can have everything but it is very difficult to handle a 28 carb juice box, cupcake and candy with t1d in terms of it not only causing a rise in BG but a horrible change in behavior, too. We, like you, have that provision in his 504 and I remember one of the teacher saying there wasn't any major testing in K and I told them that anything that would be part of his permanent record would need to be treated under these guidelines. So far so good. Glad she got another chance at that game :)
ReplyDeleteJ just told me today about his Algebra 2 class. He said he blew everyone away getting his work done, "Even though my brain was completely mudded up from a low." He's never acknowledged how lows affect his thinking before. It's amazing watching him grow, seeing how he's now able to articulate more clearly how his diabetes affects his life. Also I'm super thankful he's awesome at math. He got that from his father, not from me!.
ReplyDeleteAnother adult with diabetes was questioning me why someone would need accommodations in college. I had read your post this morning and used E as an example. Kids... college... same thing! :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I agree with this 100%. And that muddled brain thing with a low STILL happens to me. I've been known to have a hard time with the simplest things and meltdown. Not always, but once in a while.
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