| Living with Diabetes... A Day in the life of Elisabeth |

Camp Angels - Funding Camps for Kids with Diabetes

My name is Elisabeth. I am ten years old.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I was 5 years old. When I was seven my parents and doctor switched me from two shots a day to an insulin pump, I wear my pump 24/7. With my pump, my blood sugars are better, and I can eat when I want. I like to read, listen to music, play tennis, play catch with my brother and play with my cat. I'm in fourth grade and I am on the honor roll at school. My parents tell me I'm just like everybody else, but I am the only kid with diabetes in my class, so there are times I don't feel like everybody else. When I go to diabetes camp, everyone has diabetes. At camp, it is normal to check your blood sugar and count carbs. There I am just like everybody else - I have fun, learn a lot, and feel better about myself after camp.

7:15: My dad turns the TV on.

7:30: I wake up to the sound of the TV and my dad pokes my finger to check my blood sugar.

7:45: Breakfast - I calculate my carbs, bolus, and eat so that I can finish getting ready for school.

8:00: Grab my backback and my bag with my diabetic suppiles, make sure that my little brother has his backpack, and out the door we go so that my dad can drive us to school.

9:25: Time for PE. I do a quick blood sugar test, and then out to the field. I have to remember to take my "purse" with my diabetic supplies.

10:15: PE is over. I don't feel well. I feel "low" I poke my finger for a blood sugar check. I'm low. I have a juice and then recheck in 15 minutes to be sure that I am OK.

12:00: Lunch. I check my blood sugar, and then go to the cafeteria with my class. I sit down with my friends, calculate my carbs, bolus and then eat.

12:25: I have to go to the school clinic to tell the nurse my blood sugar, my carbs eaten, and my insulin bolus. I catch up with my friends at recess.

2:00: It is Nicky's birthday. She brings cupcakes and punch to celebrate. I bolus for the cupcake, but pass on the punch so I
hopefully don't go so high that I feel sick.

3:30: Home from school. I check my blood sugar and it is high. I tell my mom about the cupcake - she says I have enough "active insulin" and that I should drink water to help flush the sugar out of my body. It is time to start my homework.

4:45: Homework is done. My brother, dad and I head to the park. I started tennis a few weeks ago and it is time for practice. My "purse" has my meter, juice, glucose tabs, and glucagon In it in case I need it.

5:00: Check my blood sugar to make sure that it is "good" before I start practice.

6:30: Home and time for dinner. Check my blood sugar, calculate carbs and bolus. Now we can all sit down to eat.

8:00: Shower time. Disconnect my pump and shower.

8:15: Reconnect my pump and bolus for the time that it was not attached.

9:00: Blood test, insulin if I am high and to cover my bedtime snack.

9:30: It is time to go to bed.

1:00 AM: Mom or Dad check my blood sugar to make sure that I'm OK. Sometimes they have to bolus me with extra insulin if I am high, and sometimes they have to wake me up and give me juice if I am low.

7:15: The TV gets turned on... we start all over again.

Sometimes I just want to be ten years old.


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