42
42. If you're a baseball fan maybe you are thinking about Jackie Robinson. If you aren't a baseball fan, maybe you haven't a clue who Jackie Robinson is and if that is the case please close this blog, go figure out how you can educate yourself and at least maybe watch the movie 42 that will hopefully teach you about a snapshot in American history. Also, shame on you if you don't know who this baseball player was in American history.
Anyways, 42 was my blood sugar when I got to see my son for the first time. I know you read that right. Go back look at the number and please for the love of all things holy pick your jaw up off the floor.
So, I am telling you this to educate you on the lack of endocrine knowledge, in particular, in the OB world. Now if you work in the OB world and know so much about diabetes I commend you. In reality, ,many in nursing, in general, don't have a clue about the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. How do I know this? 1. I am a nurse 2. the questions I got while I was pregnant proves the lack of knowledge in nursing because I work with many nurses.
I don't want to disrespect nurses because I am a nurse myself but honestly the education we receive in nursing school is slim on type 1 diabetes. So most nurses make assumptions based on type 2 which is different. And some just think we all as a whole can't have sugar.
As I was waiting for the OR, to have my c-section, (breech stubborn baby) I was chatting with the nurses about getting a hold of my endocrinologist at 5pm on a Friday so that I knew what to do with my diabetes during this portion of the "pregnancy." If you are in healthcare you are laughing to yourself. So they get a hold of my endo. I am talking to her while being stuck for an IV. My mother is frantically writing what I am saying as she tells me what to do. (I should mention that we thought we had another week until my planned c-section and we had not gone into much more detail than what to do with an induction). Needless to say I wasn't induced. Hence the phone call.
So my blood sugar is already low at 5pm. I need to not eat anything until my c-section which is scheduled for 9:30pm. That's a problem since I don't yet have an IV and am currently sitting in the 60's. So I disconnect my pump. Basically I stop all forms of insulin entering my body. My doctor actually ordered me to set a temporary basal (lower the amount of baseline insulin I was receiving until 2 hours prior to the OR). I ended up eating a few fruit snacks....shhhh the anesthesiologist doesn't know that.
I believe I was in the 80's prior to walking to the OR but I just can't be sure (a lot has happened since then). I walk there with my nurse (she was amazing, Thank you Liz). I'm finally on the table dry heaving without any abdominal muscles. Yes, you read that correctly. That was a weird sensation. My husband finally joins me and we are waiting for them to pull out the miracle of life. He's a stubborn little bugger and is basically stuck in my ribs. I feel off. I mean yes, I am nauseous and emotional and about to deliver my first baby but I feel off. I am telling the anesthesiologist about this and he asks if I want him to check my blood sugar. Yes, that sounds like a brilliant idea. 42 they say. And then I see him. The most perfect little human that I have ever seen. The most amazing blessing that took me almost 9 months of challenges to grow. And my blood sugar is 42. Then they ask me if I want some sugar through my IV?
Yes, I originally thought DUH!? But since I have had time to reflect on the situation, I have become more grateful for the question. I have been in control of my diabetes for nearly 20 years at the time. I appreciate the control they gave me that day. Because I lost control when they told me my son was coming a week earlier than we planned. I lost control when the needle filled with medication was inserted into my back and I lost all sensation from my ribs down. I lost all control when they cut me open and started digging my son out. I didn't have much control when he asked if I wanted sugar. Yes, I was able to maintain some form of control of my diabetes.
So maybe they were panicked and didn't know what to do or maybe they knew what they wanted to do but they wanted me to maintain an ounce of control for me. I may never know the reason but I sure am happy that I got to tell them to "give me the sugar!"
Anyways, 42 was my blood sugar when I got to see my son for the first time. I know you read that right. Go back look at the number and please for the love of all things holy pick your jaw up off the floor.
So, I am telling you this to educate you on the lack of endocrine knowledge, in particular, in the OB world. Now if you work in the OB world and know so much about diabetes I commend you. In reality, ,many in nursing, in general, don't have a clue about the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. How do I know this? 1. I am a nurse 2. the questions I got while I was pregnant proves the lack of knowledge in nursing because I work with many nurses.
I don't want to disrespect nurses because I am a nurse myself but honestly the education we receive in nursing school is slim on type 1 diabetes. So most nurses make assumptions based on type 2 which is different. And some just think we all as a whole can't have sugar.
As I was waiting for the OR, to have my c-section, (breech stubborn baby) I was chatting with the nurses about getting a hold of my endocrinologist at 5pm on a Friday so that I knew what to do with my diabetes during this portion of the "pregnancy." If you are in healthcare you are laughing to yourself. So they get a hold of my endo. I am talking to her while being stuck for an IV. My mother is frantically writing what I am saying as she tells me what to do. (I should mention that we thought we had another week until my planned c-section and we had not gone into much more detail than what to do with an induction). Needless to say I wasn't induced. Hence the phone call.
So my blood sugar is already low at 5pm. I need to not eat anything until my c-section which is scheduled for 9:30pm. That's a problem since I don't yet have an IV and am currently sitting in the 60's. So I disconnect my pump. Basically I stop all forms of insulin entering my body. My doctor actually ordered me to set a temporary basal (lower the amount of baseline insulin I was receiving until 2 hours prior to the OR). I ended up eating a few fruit snacks....shhhh the anesthesiologist doesn't know that.
I believe I was in the 80's prior to walking to the OR but I just can't be sure (a lot has happened since then). I walk there with my nurse (she was amazing, Thank you Liz). I'm finally on the table dry heaving without any abdominal muscles. Yes, you read that correctly. That was a weird sensation. My husband finally joins me and we are waiting for them to pull out the miracle of life. He's a stubborn little bugger and is basically stuck in my ribs. I feel off. I mean yes, I am nauseous and emotional and about to deliver my first baby but I feel off. I am telling the anesthesiologist about this and he asks if I want him to check my blood sugar. Yes, that sounds like a brilliant idea. 42 they say. And then I see him. The most perfect little human that I have ever seen. The most amazing blessing that took me almost 9 months of challenges to grow. And my blood sugar is 42. Then they ask me if I want some sugar through my IV?
Yes, I originally thought DUH!? But since I have had time to reflect on the situation, I have become more grateful for the question. I have been in control of my diabetes for nearly 20 years at the time. I appreciate the control they gave me that day. Because I lost control when they told me my son was coming a week earlier than we planned. I lost control when the needle filled with medication was inserted into my back and I lost all sensation from my ribs down. I lost all control when they cut me open and started digging my son out. I didn't have much control when he asked if I wanted sugar. Yes, I was able to maintain some form of control of my diabetes.
So maybe they were panicked and didn't know what to do or maybe they knew what they wanted to do but they wanted me to maintain an ounce of control for me. I may never know the reason but I sure am happy that I got to tell them to "give me the sugar!"
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