So I've been on my Christmas break from college for almost a week now. I finished my first semester with straight A's, and one sophomore class knocked out of the way. Who knows how much I've spent on gas just driving back and forth to Winston-Salem, but God really gave a lot a grace to me as I adjusted to driving four days a week on a 12 lane highway, even in the morning traffic when I had an 8 o' clock history class to catch.
Since I finished my finals, I've been back at Hallmark earning some Christmas cash. This past Tuesday was the day I had marked down to do my Christmas shopping. I had the whole day off, and was ready to snatch some deals and find just the right gifts. I haven't done ANY Christmas shopping, and I was ready to twiddle away at my gift list and be in the Christmas mood while I shopped. But that didn't happen. I started my day with a lot of pep and energy. I woke up early, read a little, drank some coffee, and did a little exercise. Yes, I was ready. Well I needed to hit the showers before I went anywhere, so I got cleaned up and was styling my hair. And this is where my day went downhill.
I've been a type 1 diabetic for 3 years now. I've ran into some bumps and tricks along the way, experiencing some hours in the ER, but for the most part, the most dramatic experience I've had was the weekend I was diagnosed with diabetes. However, this episode comes pretty close to that weekend.
So as I'm styling my hair I start to feel woozy. Like I'm having a low blood sugar. No biggie, because I had my meter and a bottle of soda with me just in case it dropped. Well it dropped. Big time. I prick my finger, and switch into panic mode as I saw my meter read my sugar as 20. 20?!? Yes. 20! I've never had it that low before. My panic only worsens when I realize that I'm home alone. I have no one to call for help. My heart was pounding.
It didn't help that my hands were shaking uncontrollably as I was trying to call my dad's cell number. But I dialed it. The phone rang. No answer. I crack open my soda and start chugging. I race downstairs to my bedroom where my purse was to grab my glucagon kit that I'm supposed to use in times of emergency low sugars. I open it, but my hands were shaking so bad I was fumbling and couldn't get it to work right.
By this time I'm seeing spots. My heart is racing, my breathing is heavy, and I'm thinking, this is it. I'm going to pass out. With everything I have in me, I dial 911. The lady on the other line was extremely calm. I could not think straight, much less talk in full sentences. I was able to give her my address. An emergency crew was on the way. I open another soda and chug it down. I'm pretty sure I burped while I was on the phone with the 911 lady. Who knows what else I did. I probably told her the date my guinea pig died when I was a kid. Yeah, I was not in my right mind.
The lady stayed on the line with me. We tried to call my dad's cell again. No answer. We call his office. The secretary answered and I was able to talk to my dad until the emergency crew arrived. They checked on me. By that time my sugar boosted up to 300 (a normal sugar level for me is 120). When I had calmed down, and saw that there was no real emergency anymore, they left. I slumped on my couch, taking deep breathes, and started to sob. Yes, it's true I cry a lot, but never before had I ever been that scared.
I calmed myself down and called my dad to let him know everything was okay. We prayed together over the phone, thanking God for watching over me.
By this time it was 11 a.m. about an hour later I re-checked my sugar. It was 500. I felt terrible. It's been two days since this incident, and I still can't shake my headache. I haven't been able to sleep well either. But at least my sugar is starting to act normal.
Did I get my Christmas shopping done? Not at all. But now I have a sweeter view of life, and of God's keeping of His children. So yeah, I had a bad day, but at least I'm alive to tell about it!
