Learning Process

Well Eric's still in the hospital, but he was granted a few hours off again to come home and have some normalcy.  It was a good day.

I met with him and the Diabetes Specialist at about 10am.  She spoke pretty good English and really took her time (1.5 hours!) to explain everything to us regarding Eric's diet so we would be experts.  She literally had flashcards of different foods/side-dishes and drilled us on what things need insulin (and how much) and which things didn't.  I feel so much more confident now and 100% more prepared at supplying Eric with the right nutrition.  Or as she pronounced: "nutreedishun".  It really is a lot easier than we thought: no insulin needed for fats, meats, cheeses and veggies...insulin needed for carbs, starches, sugars and fruits.

After we met with her, we went back to Eric's room so he could eat his lunch.  Before he ate she made him discuss what he needed the insulin for and how much his dosage should be--and he got it right!  It's going to be a little time consuming at first, but  I think we'll catch on quickly and pretty soon it will be second nature.  He'll always have to see his food before he injects and eats it, but as long as he has his pen on him he can really eat anything he wants.  She even told him to go grab a cheeseburger from McDonald's (he quickly obliged).

They also gave him new pens for his insulin (he has 2: one long-lasting for a 24 hour dose, and one quick-acting for using before meals) which look like super fancy business pens.  I told him he looks like a spy now.  He definitely has a lot to keep on him at a time which is a little tricky but I know that once he is back home, and we are on our own schedule, that it will fall into place.  As for now the house is slowly getting stocked with healthier foods and we're anxious to get him here.

After all that (and an ultrasound of his pancreas, liver, and arteries--which all looked good!) we headed back home.  We stopped on the way to buy new fencing for the backyard since we discovered Rambo can now jump over the existing one.  After that was set up we spent an hour or so relaxing on the couch then I drove him back to the hospital for his dinner.  As much as we are saving on groceries while he is gone, we are definitely making up for in gas money.