I have a Diabetes Notebook (actually called a Care Guide : ) that I made Mary Claire's first year of preschool (at three years old, gah!), and I just keep updating every year. Now, Clay needs one too. Boo. And they'll be at two schools, TWO NEW nurses this year. Eeek!!
I took some pictures of the table of contents and the pages in the book (yes, she was into peace signs last year..):
First is the Table of Contents, and then there are tabs for each section. I just printed this on cardstock, then added stickers. Cause I like to p-a-r-t-y on paper. |
Second is our Emergency and Doctor Contacts. All our numbers, doctors' phone numbers, hospital numbers, family members, Minimed help line, pharmacy..goes on down the line. Hopefully, they can find SOMEONE to help them, ha! No, I resisted adding 9-1-1. And no..I didn't take a picture. I already have enough crazy people calling..I don't need any more! Well, I didn't mean you, of course. ; )
Symptoms to Watch is important..especially for substitute teachers AND nurses. Just in case. |
Page 2. Notice Call Mom. So I can freak the heck out with you too. |
Section Three is Quick Reference. This is the Morning Blood Sugar Check chart (like for Dummies.) If her blood sugar is this..do that. Makes it hard to mess up. |
Chart 2: Lunch Blood Sugar Check for Dummies. You'd think someone could use a regular font or something. I know..so boring though! |
Last Chart: Correction Ratios for a high. Find the time of day, then the BG, and use the correction required. |
**Note: you can also do the reverse if needed. If your child is under their blood sugar goal, you can reduce their basal to bring them back up to range. Example: if Mary Claire's bg is 90 at her lunch check, she's 10 BELOW her target range. I can reduce her basal to 90% (since she gets a 1.05 units/hour during lunch time) for an hour, and it'll reduce what she receives by a .1 unit. So..she'll rise in bg about 9.5 points over an hour, since her sensitivity (how she reacts to 1 unit of insulin..one unit brings her bg down 95 points) is 95. Make sense?
*Math Lovers: Just use their sensitivity rate to figure. If she was 80, I'd reduce to 80% for an hour, if she was 75, I'd reduce to 75% for an hour..etc. It works if she's getting around a unit per hour. If not..keep reading.
*More Math Fun: If your child's sensitivity is 200, they get a .1 correction for every 20 they are over their goal (usually 100). If their bg is 140, they get a .2 correction, if they are 220, they get a .6 correction.
IF they are LOW, and their bg is 80 (20 under goal), you could reduce their basal by .1 unit/hour to raise them without food (so take their basal rate per hour, subtract .1, and figure the percent you need to adjust to.. If their basal is .65/hr, you'd reduce to 85% for an hour since 55/65 equals .85).
*Feel like eighth grade algebra? I know..FUN!! Ask if you have questions of if it's plain as mud.
Then I have a section (you know..just in case) on checking blood. Assuming she's passed out? Acting hyper and won't obey? Substitute when she was four? |
Informing them..in case they didn't use the Quick Reference Chart. |
What the heck..I added pictures for how to check her blood too! It's a big fold-out poster of instructions. Pin the blood on the finger! : ) |
I will say there are some times that a phone call to mom is the only solution, so I tell them to call for ANY LiTTLE THiNG. Sometimes I need the school nurse to know that my child has a new site and new insulin (be gentle with them!) or that they are stressed (be aggressive with the insulin!)..or that they might be coming down with illness (ditto..aggressive! Raise the basal rate by 160%!). Sometimes I just have insight from home that they need to form an action plan for the day.
I'm not a doctor. I just pretend to be a pancreas..and try to mimic it's every move. And pin those moves into charts. Because control (and a chart!) makes me happy. And everyone knows if Momma's happy..
Are you still awake? Did you get Math Brain Fog? WooHoo! Class dismissed! Go forth and color with new crayons!! : )
Or run around in your robe with a naked chest! |
Or eat Cheerios on my new chair! |
Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness,
knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control,
perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual
affection; and to mutual affection, love.
2 Peter 1:5-7