I used to devote so much time and energy into providing interesting news and updates for my blog.

I wanted it to be a place where people could come and feel like they had taken away some helpful and positive information.

However, since Lance’s diagnosis of Peripheral Neuropathy, I ackowledge that even though I knew that his symptoms spelt trouble, hearing the diagnosis..twice..sent me back to the days when I was a newbie parent of a child with type 1 diabetes. I could function, cook and clean, do homework, wash the clothes, ensure that Lance’s blood sugar levels were in check, but I was  a pretty tragic person when after Lance went to sleep. Oh, yes I was.

I have had to FIGHT like a demon to get Lance’s specialists to ackowledge that this condition is real and present in my eight year old son. I have spoken to countless people about how there are similar conditions that mimic Peripheral Neuropathy. I know this, but I have ALSO taken him to two podiatrists, specialising in peripheral neuropathy, and the other, Diabetic conditions ralated to the feet. Basically, they both concurred with the diagnosis. They also expressed their disdain towards Lance’s Medical team for being so lax towards a child with a diabetic condition that needs specific attention so as not to deteriorate further!!

Our Diabetes Educators are on my hit list at the moment. The ones that I have dealt with look at me with such gross suspicion, as if I have created the symptoms to get more attention for Lance…(Did I just write that??) Other’s have said, “Get him involved in sport-that’ll get his pain levels down, that’s if he DOES have it, of course.(!) And the Kingpin…”Why do you know about Peripheral Neuropathy anyway? There is no point in stressing yourself out about a condition that a parent doesn’t need to know about.”

 (OR…IN THIS CASE I DID!!!!!)

 It never ceases to amaze me…you don’t know enough about type 1 diabetes and you get a grilling for not keeping yourself educated, yet you bother to investigate what COULD happen in the future, and you are considered a wack job.

So, it’s the beginning of 2009. No more feeling sorry for myself or Lance. I fight everyday to keep tight blood sugars, his little fingers are calloused and black from all of the finger pricks I make him endure. He follows a tight exercise program that endeavours to keep circulation flowing well, and he is also taking a B1 supplement. His paediatric endocrinologist wants him to commence taking Endep, an ancient tricylic antidepressant that is used to block nerve ending pain. Seems great in theory, but it has a nasty side effect. Even on low doses, fellow patients have told me that they were barely able  to move, they felt so “dopey” or “cloudy” and planted to their bed or chair. When I think of my eight year old medicated, or running around the block and following a lot GI diet, of course I am going to keep him of meds. However, if things digress, and it is necessary for Lance to be on medication for increased pain and uncomfortable sensations, well of course I am not going to deprive him from pain relief.

A lot of the wonderful treatments available in the United States simply aren’t heard of here.

It comes  down to a capsicum topical gel, Endep, exercise programs, tight control of blood sugar levels, or the dreaded word that strikes fear in the heart of every person with diabetes.. amputation.

Happy New Year everyone, I ask you to please keep an extra sharp eye on your child’s readings, so that you can continue having Happy New Years in the future, without extra specialists, medication, pain, discomfort….

I have loads of issues to post about, but I thought I should explain my absence first. I have many good days than bad now, and I spend a lot of time devoting myself to educating my family and local diabetes group that if Lance could get a complication at eight, then no one is immune. (In other words, it’s not just the “overweight, careless, long term type 2’s who don’t bother to take care of themselves.”)

My New Years Resolution is to continue educating and providing information about type 1 Diabetes, and assisting parents of newly diagnosed children. Let’s put it another way, the Health Minister will feel instant nausea when she sees my stationary in her mail pile. 🙂