Is it the honeymoon period wearing off? Is it the new (lack of) routine that happens in the summer? Does his slow-acting insulin need adjusting? His fast-acting? Too much “quick” food? Not enough exercise?

Managing the diabetes is like some sort of ongoing science project. Nick’s blood sugar levels have been running high. While this is not as immediately scary as low blood sugar, the high blood sugar damages his body in many long-term ways from eye problems to kidney and nerve problems.

My notebook is filled with entries such as this:

“9:12 a.m. 198, ate two pancakes (20g each) and a banana (15g), gave .5 unit insulin correction plus 2 units for food, adding a tsp. of jam to bump up the carbs 5g.

11:24 a.m. 79, feeling like he’s dropping, so he had 4 oz. of juice.

11:40 a.m. 162, high because of juice? maybe insulin kicked in after food was burning off and that accounted for low? Drank 8 oz. water.”

Etc. I could quit both jobs and do this full time. Maybe then I’d figure it out.

Except, of course, I can’t quit anything.