Today, Lance needed “supplies.”
After absurd amounts of finger pricking in recent times, I needed to pick up a box of 100 Accu-chek Soft Clix Lancets.
10 pricks a day at $15.50 a box of 100 works out to nothing more than a sheer nuisance. Many people ask me why I test so much. It’s the only way I truly KNOW what is going on in my son’s body. Blood sugar control between 5 and 10mmol/L also has been proven to halt complications. So that’s what we aim for.
I also needed to get Novo Nordisk Needles for Lance’s insulin pens. They screw onto the top of the pen, and are intended for one use only. The provide a very accurate delivery of insulin. As Lance is still little, (even though he told me that I wasn’t allowed to call him that now that he is 7 and all. The most beautiful part is that without intention, my face obviously showed glimpses of hurt. He quickly recanted and said: ” Well, you can still call me that. I guess I am your little boy still, so it makes sense.”
I digress.
As Lance is still little, he is able to get away with having a six millimetre needle inserted into his stomach, which in reality is miniscule and not so visually disturbing for him.
The NDSS allow you to take one box of 100 home per visit to an affiliated pharmacy.
This means that we are regular visitors, collecting more insulin pen needles. Sigh. When you account for at least 4 a day, you don’t even see out the month without having to fill out paperwork and get a new box. Still, considering they are free, I dare not complain.
In this photo, Lance’s tiny hands hold the equipment that will “lance” his fingers up to 10 times a day, and penetrate his stomach so that insulin can be injected at least 4 times a day. This equipment looks innocent enough, however when I look at his fingertips and injection site on his stomach, I realise that without them, and without the NDSS Government Scheme, Lance would not be alive.
Diabetes always requires a huge monetary strain just when you DON’T need it. My Grocery bill has doubled because of the introduction of Gluten Free foods. Lots of people ignore their diabetes and complications because they simply can’t afford the medical expense. Not to mention how the 140 000 Type 1 Diabetics affects the economy of Australia. Not only is it deadly, but it is a very expensive “lifestyle” to maintain. The Federal Government does take this into consideration, and I am so grateful for getting insulins that retail at $500 for $5. However, Insulin is not a cure.
