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Sunday, March 7, 2010

IDDM

If you were to see the letters IDDM, would you know what they mean?  While I myself know what they mean, it just really hit me today, how many people really know?  And why did I come to this realization?

When Colton was dx'd with his diabetes in 2000, one of the first things that we did, was to get him an I.D.
bracelet.  Why?  Because we thought it was important for everyone to know that he had a serious health condition.  I found a website and ordered one immediately.  My folks bought his first bracelet.   It was blue, and engraved on it:
Colton Otwell
Diabetes
It also had the little medical emblem on it.  He wore it daily, either on his wrist or around his ankle.  The only time we ever really had anyone 'notice' it, was when he was getting his picture taken, later in the year, after he was dx'd.

It was October, 2000.  We'd gotten his diabetes under control enough that he was starting to put a little of the weight he'd lost, back on.  His little face was just as cute as could be all chubby.  He was a cheese ball when he was getting his picture taken.  The photographer said something about hiding the bracelet.  My reaction: "Why?  Its part of his life, and Im not hiding it."

Rewind back to June when he was newly dx'd, had I actually seen/heard this situation, you can bet I'd have said something.  We hadnt known very long about the D, in fact, it had only been a few weeks.  Kyle's parents had came down from Tulsa for the weekend, so we all decided to go to the mall for a while. 

First thing we did when we got there was to hunt down the bathroom.  My mother in law and I took Colton in the womens bathroom with us--we needed to wash his hands to check his blood sugar.  I proceeded to hold him up at the sink and help him wash his hands.  Sat him down, got everything all ready, and poked his little finger, checked his blood, put his stuff away, and went back out to find Kyle.  A few minutes later, my MIL came out of the bathroom, and asked if I'd heard the two older women who were in the bathroom---they were oh, about 70-75.  Apparently, they watched as I checked Colton's sugars.  And as I left the bathroom my MIL heard one of them say: "Now why couldnt they have done that at home??!!"

UM, HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He's 3, and he's got diabetes!!! Can't check it at home, leave to go to the mall and then wait till we get home to check it again!!!!!!!!   And let me tell ya, I have never forgotten that.  And to this day, when I go to that mall, and I go into that same bathroom--thats what I always think of!! Geez!!!!!!

Here's one I hate to this day: Scenario--We are out eating after church on Sunday.  We sit down, check out the menu, settle on our food, order, and wait.  While waiting for it to be served, its time to check Colton's bs again.  So, I pull out his little bag, get his meter all ready, and grab an alchol swab, poke his finger, and check his blood.  DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE STARE!!!??? Seriously!!  Its rather annoying!

I was thinking today about different situations like that today, that we've experienced since he was dx'd.  Its amazing--people are dx'd with this disease every single day.  Adults, children, teens, and adults--yes I said it twice.  It doesnt care what your age is.  You can be 30 and still be dx'd with Typle 1 Diabetes. 

Anyway, how many people do you actually SEE when you are out and about everyday, and its apparent that they have D?  Now stop and think, seriously?  Think REALLY REALLY HARD.
Ive made it a point to look really hard.  And as common as this disease is coming, you just really don't see it.  And if you do, those ppl are type 2.  There IS a difference.

I remember the first time we participated in the JDRF Walk To Cure Diabetes.  It was in 2001, the one year anniversary of Colton's Dx's.  Talk about seeing  A LOT of ppl with D--WOW.
I found myself checking out all of these ppl.  There were tons of ppl there.  And it was not just kids--there were as many adults as kids.  Next thing I know I find myself looking to see just how many ppl were wearing I.D bracelets.  What I found?: Hardly anyone was wearing a bracelet.

Colton's always had an ID bracelet, since he was dx'd.  Up until about 2 or 3 years ago.  He had one, and the engraved piece came off and that was it.  I'd just spent $30 on a sport i.d bracelet and I was not going to pay that much for another one.

There are TONS out there to choose from.  Im not exactly sure why I decided it was time to get him another one.  All I know, is that Im glad I did.  Its something thats just as important for him to have with him, as it is for him to have all of his testing supplies.  He can't walk out of the house without his glucose meter, finger poker, lancets, test strips, and his insulin.  He has to make sure he's got infusions and resevoirs for his pump.  And now, he'll need to make sure he's got that ID tag with him.   WHY??  Because, IF he goes somewhere, and he's not going to be around ppl who are aware of his health--then at least his necklace will alert ppl to his diabetes.

So, I must ask again.  Do you know what IDDM means? What would you do, if you were out and about at the grocery store or mall, and you saw someone just collapse in front of you?  Would you just keep going, and walk around them?  Would you freak out and start yelling for help?  Or would you see what you could do to help them out?  What would you do if you saw IDDM?
Would you know that it means Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

I want my son wearing an ID, so that IF something happens and his dad or I am not around, hopefully, people will be smart enough to see his ID tag.  Its a matter of life/death.  I can not say
that enough.  EDUCATE yourself on Diabetes---TYPE 1 and TYPE 2 are DIFFERENT. 
And to KNOW that, you must educate yourself.  You never know what information you may learn, that may just help someone else.

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