Part Time Caregivers Guide to Type 1 Diabetes

A while back, my best friend was interviewing for a nanny position. It just so happens that one of the 2 daughters had diabetes and was on an insulin pump and CGM.  I started writing down all sorts of random thoughts and tips for my friend to helpeducate her about what all she'd need to know in order to care for this girl.  The thing I discovered is that most, if not all of the diabetes guides in existence are geared towards full time caregivers.  My friend wouldn't need to know every single detail, every scenario, etc. and these guides were just too overwhelming for someone like grandparents, babysitters, nannies, teachers, etc. who only care for a child with diabetes occasionally, just during the days, etc.

I decided that a guide specifically geared to this population was something that I felt could help loads of people.  I started writing a "Part Time Caregivers Guide to Type 1 Diabetes".  I went through a few drafts, and it is still (and probably will always be) a work in progress, but my issue has been how to get this guide OUT THERE to those who could benefit from it.

I looked into publishing it somehow, but that world is just far too overwhelming for me.
I got in touch with my old pediatric CDE, and she said they have their own kind of welcome pack / guide that they give to all newly diagnosed families.

I guess I have some questions for you all...
-- Is this something that there REALLY is a need for?
-- What kind of format would you like? (printed, computer so you can revise or edit as needed and print out for the people in your life who need it)
-- What all would you like in it - I have all the basics (checking blood sugar, operating a pump, giving a shot, treating highs and lows, basic trouble-shooting, etc. as well as worksheets for writing in insulin doses, bolus amounts for certain foods, correction amounts, important phone numbers, etc.)

If anyone has suggestions for how to get this out there, if you'd like to help by editing, or if you'd just like to see it and give feedback, any and all help would be great.  Just drop me a message on here or by e-mail at triciamoore2@aol.com

Thanks!!

Fresh Start

Let's try this blog thing again... third time's the charm, right?!

Quite a lot has happened since I last posted forever ago.  Since it has been so long, this post in particular will probably be even more of a random mish-mash of STUFF than my others...

Let's recap:
I'm an RN now, licensed in Illinois, Wisconsin and soon to be Indiana.
I moved to Janesville, WI and worked for an ER nurse there for about 6 months.
I lived in Janesville from October 2011 - July 2012.
This month (7/6 to be exact), I moved to a new city in a new state for a new job!  That's a whole lotta new!
What am I doing with my life now you ask?
I am living in an Indianapolis, IN suburb and working as a Mother / Baby nurse at a suburban hospital and so far, LOVING it!  The people I work with are awesome, the patients are super appreciative, and there are no drunks at work anymore! WOO! Oh, and I get to cuddle babies... pretty great!

I still know no one in the area aside from the leasing guy at my apartment and the people I have met at work, but hopefully once this ridiculous heat wave is over, people (including me) will be out of the AC more and I'll be able to meet more people.  It's hard to want to be outside when it's 102 and muggy.

Two additional big (but not quite as big as the move and new job) things in my life right now that I'm trying to figure out are going back to school to finish my BSN (Bachelor's in Nursing - only have my ADN, or Associate's right now), and wanting to adopt a rescue dog of some kind in the fall once I'm a bit more settled into work and life here... well, and a perpetual goal is to get my CDE, but the darn NCBDE (national certification board for diabetes educators) apparently doesn't realize just how insanely hard it is to be your own pancreas, and they don't allow your time with your own diabetes to be included in the required hours for certification...
The unit I work on as an RN right now doesn't really see PWDs, so I have to figure out how exactly to work towards that goal in my new job...

I'm hoping this reincarnation of my blog will focus on all the craziness of diabetes PLUS working as a nurse AND working 12 hour shifts (days right now for orientation, but then nights once I'm on my own).  It takes a lot to be your own pancreas, a lot to be a nurse, a lot to work 12 hour shifts, and a lot to work nights when most people are sleeping soundly in their beds at home... That's a LOT of stuff to orchestrate and make work.

Any questions about my life with diabetes, my life as a nurse, suggestions for posts, etc. please feel free to send me a message on here or e-mail me at triciamoore2@aol.com
I hope to do at least a post a week, so if I haven't posted in a while, feel free to also send me an e-mail nudge to get the ball rolling on a new post.