Like a G6
My son is now two weeks into month 2 of living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). He’s made huge strides and is settling in to his new normal. He turned 17. And, he received his Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM). This means finger pricking is no longer the sole means for determining his blood sugar levels. Hallelujah. The future is here. Long before it arrived my son tracked down the right personnel at school to ensure his phone could get through the firewall to access WiFi at all times. I knew there was an advocate in there somewhere.
But now the three of us — as well as his team of doctors — have access to his CGM data. A blessing and a curse. We know his blood sugar levels at all times of the day and can course correct as needed. But, we also know his blood sugar levels at all times of the day. It can be hard not to check. It can be hard to let it go — What did he eat and when? Did we miscalculate the carbs? Did he take too much insulin? Too little? It can lead one to the brink of insanity. Right now, we’re tightly controlling his meals. “Live a little,” said his doctor. So, we tried to do just that on recent trips to Philadelphia and New York. While fun, they were stressful with a capital S. Suddenly every meal — every excursion — feels like a ride on the hyper/hypoglycemia rollercoaster.
And sleep? Forget it. Between the regular 2am checks and sneak peaks at Dexcom all night it’s like having a newborn again.
But, as an old friend with a T1D child recently shared with me, “Look for the gifts even a bad situation can bring.” She wrote this to me as she checked her son at 2 am, as I was checking my son, and right at our one month “diaversary.” It was the exact right thing I needed to hear at the exact right moment. I’ve met some incredible, selfless people. We have a team of supportive health care providers. I’ve reconnected with long lost friends from different phases of my life. And, importantly, my son is taking responsibility and rising to the challenges of this disease.
Also, in my line of work, there were certainly some gifts. Democrats kicked off “Health Care Congress” this week with hearings on protections for pre-existing conditions and reining in the high cost of prescription drugs. The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the everyday reality of diabetes and the devastating impact of unaffordable insulin for countless Americans. And, new research released shows Americans overwhelmingly back a common sense agenda to reducing health care costs, strengthening consumer protections, and increasing coverage.
Let’s not forget that health care was the top issue for voters in the 2018 midterm election — thirty four Republican members of Congress who voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act lost their seats or retired. Voters across party lines want Congress to make health care a top priority in 2019.
The House of Representatives is already poised to cook up some real changes. These include protecting coverage for pre-existing conditions, making health care more affordable, and holding drug companies and insurance companies accountable for dubious practices that increase costs and reduce people’s access to needed care.
Another gift? My 17 year old will be old enough to be a #healthcarevoter in 2020. He’s learning that health care is a right and not a privilege — that everyone should have access to quality, affordable health care. And, that there are many great names for his Dexcom G6….. Like a G6…..Dex Comedy Jam….and a host of others too inappropriate to share.
Look for the gifts even a bad situation can bring. Indeed.
