Conquering the Slopes

When I attended Appalachian State University, I decided to take advantage of being so close to ski resorts and chose skiing for my PE credits.  I had never skied before but really wanted to learn and more importantly, I wanted to be good. 

In anticipation of my newest hobby, I bought beautiful turquoise Blizzard racing skis measuring in at a whopping 185 centimeters (not ideal for a beginner).  And I got myself some really fine looking white stretch ski pants along with an entire matching ensemble.  I sure looked like a skier.  Until I buckled in and attempted to move, that is.  Grin.

Week after week, I went to class on the mountain.  It did not take long before I was skiing fairly well down the green and even most blue slopes. 

All of my friends were better skiers than I was so I really had to struggle to keep up!  My boyfriend at the time had learned to ski as a young child while living in Europe and had spent a lot of time in the Alps! 

His entire family loved the sport and ventured out west several times a year.  They very generously took me along.

Skiing out west was MUCH different than skiing in the mountains of NC.  I will never forget arriving in Colorado for the first time and being completely overwhelmed by the vastness of the majestic snow covered mountains.  I was captivated by the beauty and albeit a bit apprehensive, was so happy to be there in the midst of it.

Unfortunately, it was very difficult for me to relax and simply enjoy the beauty of my surroundings while I skied.  I had to focus on skiing and work very hard both physically and mentally. 

I remember the struggle to maintain control of my very long skis as I ventured over moguls, trying desperately to keep up with my boyfriend.  My legs burned and my arms ached as I kept my muscles tightly flexed in an attempt to navigate the terrain.   He made it look effortless but for me, it was brutal.

Anytime I tried to relax and put myself on “auto pilot,” I would either slip on an icy spot or I would find myself entangled with someone skiing out of control who would inevitably take me out!  Both scenarios would result with my face on the ground and my body covered in snow.

I learned that in order for me to ski, I had to pay strict attention to every detail and be alert if I wanted to make it down to the lift line without looking like I skied through an avalanche (i.e., completely covered in snow).

What an analogy for the life of my daughter who lives with both type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. 

Though I would never pretend to know exactly what it feels like to be her, I can tell you that behind her cute trendy clothes, beautiful blonde hair and smiling face is a world that resembles mine when I hit the slopes.  It is world  where you have to pay attention to every detail….a world where rules and boundaries dictate every movement…a world where you have to stay alert or “BAM!,” you are going to find yourself face down in the cold. 

My daughter is never allowed to lose track of time.  Staying on a consistent schedule is absolutely vital for maintaining her health.  She must be sure that she follows a consistent routine each and every day.  Everything must be planned and carefully considered to avoid unstable blood sugars. 

Long term (twenty four hour) insulin must be administered at the same time every day, weekends included.  So sleeping in on Saturdays and traveling to different time zones are tricky.  The short term insulin is administered with food and must be spaced out through the day in order to avoid stacking insulin and over doing it.  In addition, she must check-in with herself about two hours after a shot to monitor the effectiveness of the insulin dosage (and hopefully prevent a crisis).

My daughter is never allowed to skip a meal and even skipping a snack sometimes leads to trouble.  If she does not eat enough food (i.e., carbs for energy), she will either have too much insulin and blood sugars will drop or she will not have enough insulin which can lead to highs.  Either way, she will feel terrible and be placed in danger as her body attempts to compensate.

On top of this, my daughter is never allowed to eat gluten- the protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.  This restricts a tremendous amount of foods.  Since she was seven years old, she has not been allowed to enjoy Krispy Kreme donuts, hot sourdough bread fresh out of an oven, or goldfish (her personal favorite). 

She must pay close attention to every morsel of food that she eats, making certain that she avoids gluten while simultaneously eating a proper balance of protein, carbs and fiber in order to prevent unstable blood sugars as well as stomach issues. 

While most restaurants can accommodate gluten sensitivities, traveling and dining out is often very difficult because to so many restaurants simply offer a salad and a grilled piece of meat (i.e., zero carbs).  Imagine seeing a beautiful yummy menu and being told you can only have a grilled piece of meat and some steamed vegetables.  This is not fun.  And, in order to have the energy she needs and the overall nutrition, carbs are vital.  They are the only way she can receive the insulin required for her body to properly function. 

My daughter is never allowed to forget to drink lots of water each day.  Because her spine did not properly connect in utero, she has chronic constipation.   The water, along with an optimal twenty five grams of fiber a day, is really necessary to keep her hydrated and free of constipation.  In addition, the fluids are vital because dehydration is much more serious when you have type 1 as it can quickly lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, requiring a visit to a hospital (usually ICU). 

My daughter is never allowed to go anywhere (anywhere) without taking emergency supplies with her.  These supplies include a glucometer, a juice or fast acting sugar, a glucagon injection in case she passes out, and a bar with some protein.  “Everywhere” includes elevators, parking lots during fire-drills, bathrooms, chapel during school, backstage at dance recitals, on rides at theme parks, on rides at water parks or on cruises, out on the water skiing, playing in the snow and snow skiing…even just a walk around the block or short bike ride.  She must ALWAYS have at least a source fast acting sugar with her in case of an emergency.  It only takes a few minutes to drop so low that her body will seize possibly resulting in death. 

At thirteen, my daughter is not yet allowed to go away for the weekend with a friend because all of this is too much to handle on her own at this point.  It is even difficult for the two of us to handle!  The combination of diabetes with celiac compounds the issue because finding gluten free food is usually a challenge.

She is never allowed to eat whatever she wants, when she wants.  She has to count carbs and follow a mathematical formula, factoring in stress, hormones, and exercise into the equation to determine an insulin dosage.  It is complicated and much of it is trial and error. Though there is an insulin pump which does provide some freedom, the pros are accompanied by an equally long – if not longer- list of cons.

She is never allowed to skip the flu shot.  If she should get the flu, the chances of ending up in the hospital are high.

She is never allowed to skip her annual blood draw (lab-work).  Having one auto-immune disease makes you prone to others.

She is never allowed to go to bed without checking her blood sugar.  In total, she pricks her fingers at least four times a day and she gets at least four insulin injections.  A continuous glucose monitor alleviates these finger checks but again, adds other issues.

She is never allowed to get together with a friend who may have a slight cold.  A minor cold for one person can be a serious one for her.  And a stomach bug is likely to take her to the Emergency Room with very serious complications.

She is never allowed to simply enjoy a day at the beach or on vacation without stopping multiple times during the day for blood sugar checks, snacks and shots.  Heat causes her blood sugars to drastically drop as does severe cold weather.  So fun summer days at the beach and winter days in the snow come with even more diligence and monitoring.

She is never allowed to go to Middle School Lock-ins or all-nighters at Defy Gravity.  Her body requires a lot more rest than others.  She gets run down easily and misses a lot of school. 

BUT…

Even though she has to work hard to stay well, I am just so happy to have her here.  It was less than one hundred years ago when the first dosage of insulin was administered.  Before that, children died very soon after they were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. 

And the fairly recent diagnosis of celiac has given birth to so many options for gluten free foods.  Traveling and dining out is easier than ever!

Because of her restrictions and rules, my daughter understands how to manage time well and stay organized.  She is aware of the importance of nutrition, rest and exercise.  She knows how to read food labels and understands portion control.  She is in touch with her body and knows how to listen to it and respond appropriately.

Without a doubt, the best thing about having these health issues is that my daughter has seen God show up and pull her out of situations that neither she nor I -nor a doctor- could pull her out of.  She has witnessed miracles regarding her blood sugars…times when she has been woken in the night with a low…times when she has been sick and couldn’t eat and God brought her sugar up and stabilized it.

She even knows what it means to keep her eyes on Jesus as she found strength and courage while lying in a hospital bed in the mountains of NC focusing on Jesus’ crucifixion while nurses drove a big needle into her own wrist. 

Indeed my daughter knows the loneliness that comes from feeling different.  But she also knows what it means to be special and brave and loved and extraordinary!  She has learned how to fight the enemy – the emotional battles as well as physical ones – by depending on prayer and the power of Jesus. 

Though having chronic health issues is excruciating at times, I am convinced God has allowed them in her life for good reasons and I trust His plan for her life is good.  I believe her faith is being strengthened as a result of her struggles.

My daughter is tender hearted, kind and loyal. She is a good friend to others.  She is a good daughter to me.  And though she lives a life in a constant struggle to stay healthy, it is my prayer that I can teach her to choose to focus on what God is doing through her life and to be grateful.  I want her to understand that we get to choose to either be bitter or better as a result of our struggles.  And I pray she follows the advice of Paul when he encouraged the people of Philippi in Philippians 4:8.  He told them to focus (again, a choice) on “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy!”