Insulin Nation

Holiday Tunes with a T1D Spin

We asked our readers to give their favorite holiday tunes a T1D spin. Here are some lyrics for all to enjoy:

The Night Before Christmas with Type 1 Diabetes

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, till the CGM alarm did rouse;

The testing supplies were stocked by the bedside with care,

In hopes that a finger prick soon would be there.

My son was nestled all snug in his bed

While visions of sugarplums sent his blood glucose in the red,

And me in my pjs, with no coffee in sight

Had just grabbed the meter and turned on the light,

When out of the receiver there arose such a clatter,

I knew something definitely was the matter,

Away to the refrigerator I flew like a flash,

Tore open the butter door, and grabbed the insulin stash.

Grabbed the pen needles then heard a new tone,

Opened the Dexcom app and looked to my phone,

And what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But two fast falling arrows and yo-yoing blood sugars to fear,

No sleep anytime soon, BG stabilization is no quick fix,

At least I can brew coffee and watch some Netflix,

More rapid than eagles his numbers did drop,

While I counted the minutes waiting for it to stop,

Now 5 points! Now 10! And then 20! C’mon, blood sugar!

Now fall another 50! Nothing to low, to a nice stable level,

At this hour, even 150 would make me revel,

As the pebbles in a rockslide tumble downhill,

His numbers continued to plummet still,

And I knew right quick,

He needed another finger prick,

To his bedside once more, ever so wary,

His meter reads 70 so not a moment to tarry,

Once again, to the kitchen I skitter,

Not for bolus this time but for Skittles,

Carbs in hand, I called out his name,

Shook his shoulder and made the late night candy claim,

Quickly he awoke with a bound,

Wiped the sleep from his eyes and looked around,

He was dressed in Christmas flannel from his head to his foot

But his scowl showed his excitement for 2am candy was kaput,

He said not a word and went straight to work,

Waking him up to treat always made me feel like such a jerk,

He took his last chew then snuggled back in,

While I waited for the sugars effects to begin,

It’s been hours since his Dexcom first let out a whistle,

As his blood sugar shot up then dived like a missile,

And now that it’s finally all right,

I can finally go to bed for the night,

And as I closed my eyes what should I hear?

But a tiny voice, loud and clear, “Mommy, mommy wake up! Christmas is here!”

Amity Holland

To the tune of “Jingle Bells”

Beeping pumps,
beeping pumps
Beeping all day long.

Oh what fun it is to treat my hypo-gly-ce-me-a.

Hey

Poke, bleed, Test
Poke, bleed, Test
What number will I get?

The meter’s quick, the numbers good, and I’m clear to play outside!

Corey Melke Hinz

 

To the tune of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”

I better watch out.
I better not cry.
I better try again this meter says I’m too high.
Only insulin will make it go down.

It wakes me when I’m sleeping.
It nags me when I’m awake.
It knows if I eat bad or good
so let’s get a cure for goodness sakes!

Teri McKay

To the Tune of “Deck the Halls”

Don’t let T1 ruin your Christmas. Fa la la la la, la la la la
Inject yourself like you mean business. Fa la la la la, la la la la

If you want some Christmas candy. Fa la la la la la, la la la
Be sure to keep your insulin handy. Fa la la la la, la la la la

Jeff and Kendra Korchoski