Friday, December 12, 2008

Tip O' the Week

If your child is on MDI (Multiple Daily Injections) and gets more than one insulin, colour code your insulin vials so you don't accidentally give the wrong insulin. Twice. In the span of three days. Not saying I did that. But I'm not saying I didn't do it either.

For example, Elise gets Humilin (N) and diluted Humalog (DH) in the morning, DH at dinner, and N at night. On a white label, we write a big N or DH with a Sharpie, the expiration date, and we colour the label with a highlighter. N is pink, and DH is blue. I'm a very visual person, so when I'm looking up the doses on our refrigerator cheat sheet (yes, I still look at the cheat sheet because her insulin doses change on a weekly basis - YOU try to keep up with all those numbers), the doses are also highlighted with the correlating colour. I know at dinnertime, I need to grab the blue vial.

And if I'm unsure that I gave her the right type of insulin, all I have to do is remember the colour of the vial I grabbed, instead of trying to remember if it had an N or DH on it.

Just one way to make this exhausting disease a wee bit less exhausting.

3 comments:

  1. Dear friend,
    I came across your blog from a comment you left on Emily's (Wright 5) blog. I have two siblings who are JD's-sister at age 7, now 27, brother at age 11, now 33. I have seen the struggle they have lived with over the past 20+ years. Since having kids myself, I have so many times thought, how could I handle that as a mom. My husband and 2 of my kids walked in our local JDRF walk this year. It was very moving to see so many little ones who live with JD day after day after day with no breaks.
    I just want you to give a big pat on the back. I know your road is not easy and there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of your tunnel. I send prayers for you and your family.
    Love,
    Maria in IN

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know you probably already have fantastic doctors and know about this. And I know this is a big longshot, but I had read a couple years ago about drug trials WITH SUCCESS in HUMANS in reversing the JD if the child begins the treatment early in diagnosis. I don't know who qualifies and much more than that. I can't find a good article on it right now except this:
    http://www.diabetes-mellitus.org/rejexn_rx.htm
    But I did want to throw it out there. I am sorry if I am getting too personal! I just have been thinking about your little girl all night. You are right, no better way to say it, JUV. DIABETES SUCKS.
    Keep the hope!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Umm... Your insulin vials were color coded from the factory... Your Humilin (N) has an *ORANGE* cap, and your Dilluted Humalog (DH) has a *SILVER* cap...

    ReplyDelete

Comment moderation now in effect because of jerky comment spammers.

Now please leave your message after the beep.

Beep.