Out of the mouths of babes, support can come in so many forms

By Helen Edwards | January 15, 2014 | 6

I have been having a lot of trouble with my diabetes lately. It has not been playing fair, I think due to troublesome lumps in  my stomach from too many injections and the drip, drip, drip of my insulin pump, as well as a slow tummy from my Gastroparesis playing up with the way my food and insulin work together.

There are therefore, many moments of frustration and whinging as I change my pump site yet again when my blood glucose is staying stubbornly high.

I was having one of those afternoons yesterday and in the early evening, after a number of attempts to bring my levels down with a bolus of insulin, had one of those moments and stomped off, muttering, to change my site. Again.

“Stupid diabetes” I hear from my 5 year old Max as he followed me. “I hate it when your pump does that”. “Oh it’s not my pump darling, it’s my diabetes” I say, “my stupid diabetes”. “Yes” he said, “your diabetes is stupid, I wish you were just a Mummy who was like this but didn’t have diabetes”. Me too, I said….

“I know” he said, “just tell your diabetes you are not going to play with it anymore. You are not going to give any attention to it, unless something is wrong and you really need to do something, just tell it that”.

I stood there a bit gobsmacked. Amazed at this old head on tiny shoulders. Changed my pump. Told my diabetes to get back in its box and got on with my night.

He might be 5, but sometimes the best support comes from unexpected places of love.

Thanks Maxie

xx

Helen

Helen Edwards 

Founder and Director Diabetes Counselling Online, person with type 1 diabetes for 35 years,mum of 3 and blogger at www.recycledinteriors.org

 

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My Maxie

6 Comments

  1. Sally on January 15, 2014 at 7:29 am

    So beautiful – made me cry. What a boy!! xo



    • Helen-Edwards on January 15, 2014 at 1:12 pm

      thanks Sall, I know an amazing little person xx



      • Sandra Williams on January 18, 2014 at 10:03 pm

        That is beautiful Helen. I guess these little people who have lived with diabetes all their lives have much older and wiser heads on their little shoulders. Dealing with the diabetes must make them much more sensitive and compassionate too as they see the frustrations it brings to you.
        You are bringing compassion and understanding to more people than you realise. Well done.



  2. helwild on January 15, 2014 at 11:08 am

    I’m crying right now. So much thinking, ability with words & empathy in one little head..



    • Helen-Edwards on January 15, 2014 at 1:13 pm

      I know, he is a special person, lots to give the world xx



  3. David Barnes on January 15, 2014 at 4:15 pm

    They are special Our kids. My seven year old daughter frequently asks me, “have you checked your levels daddy?” we talk about my diabetes like it’s a member of the family!