Waking up in the night to tend to one’s diabetes can be a big pain in the butt! Whether it’s a low or a high or needing to use the bathroom because of a high. Or the worst—realizing you have to change your infusion set after all because the final bolus of insulin you gave at bedtime is not working (you are still high!) meaning your site really is dead and needs to be changed out pronto! One of my least favorite things is waking up in the morning with a high I’ve had all night long! Better to just get up out of your warm bed and take care of it. Anyone with me here?
My Dexcom CGM woke me up at 4:00 am one night last week with a high blood sugar. Or rather, I woke up and decided to look over at my CGM receiver next to me on the bed. Needless to say, I was not happy with the number on the screen. I double checked the CGM reading with a test on my meter which was sadly confirmed. Tired, I begrudgingly arose from the comfort of my bed and took a shot of insulin with a syringe—not from my pump (the surest way to bring down a sugar for me) and put in a new infusion set.
This poem came to me as I sat alone on the couch in the living room (so as not to wake my husband from his restful slumber). These moments in the night taking care of one’s diabetes are often, at least for me, when the frustration of living with diabetes sets in. I’m guessing some of you might be able to relate. 🙂
The Princess and the Pea
Diabetes, you can be so frustrating!
Do you have any idea what its like to be 274
Necessitating a site change and shot too?
4am in the morning..
awaking me out of a deep sleep
does this exactly sound comforting to you?
Diabetes you can be so Fickle!
I never know what will be
“Acceptable”
to you from one day to the next
Please tell me, what will it be?
You like me to eat cereal for breakfast
or you don’t?
You disapprove of pizza
or is it really okay?
Why do you always make me wait and see?
I never know how you are going to respond
from one day to the next
It’s maddening.
Really!!!
Diabetes, you are a big disappointment
really you are
You see, I just never know what you want
what will make you happy
and what might make you angry.
It’s really hard to get it just right with you.
Maybe I should just call you,
The Princess and the Pea!
A link to the story of The Princess and the Pea!
Peace & Light,
Cynthia
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Here are links to a few other poems I have written. To see more poems I have published, click on “Poems” under Categories on the right side bar of the homepage.
What other's don't see
Diabetes, I am sorry
Goodnight diabetes
Just for you diabetes...
Diabetes, You Have Made Me
1 comment
Great poem.