No Super Snack for Jack

People often ask us, "How is Jack doing?" We usually give a standard answer, "Jack is as well as a kid with diabetes can be." How he's doing depends on the day, the hour and, often, the minute. Here's how he's doing now. Jack's school nurse just called. Jack's blood sugar level is 358. That's high...too high. Jack needs an additional injection of insulin to lower his level, keep him safe and make him feel better. On top of that, Jack's class will celebrate another student's birthday this morning. They'll be served doughnuts for a snack. For every other student in the class, those doughnuts are just a fun treat. For Jack, those doughnuts are another reminder of his disease. Jack can't eat a doughnut this morning. His blood sugar level is already too high, and one bite of a sugary snack like that would send his sugars soaring even higher. Instead, Jack will be given a piece of sugar-free chocolate. Woo hoo! (Can you detect the sarcasm?!) After devouring their doughnuts, the class will head out to the playground for recess. Jack, however, will visit the school nurse for his correction dose of insulin. It's tough to be singled-out when you're six. That's how Jack is doing.