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Dennis was used to ignoring his blood sugar at work but this stupid cgm Jack had got for him was making it impossible. Not only could he not ignore it, but his fellow doctors always looked at him when his alarm started going off. Which was fine in the ED, he trusted his family there with most of his secrets. It was not fine in peds. It didn't help that he left his insulin pen at home and had only brought a one dose syringe with him.
“Whitaker! Take yourself to endocrinology and get taken care of!” Doctor Peterson demanded, raising an eyebrow at the young man. She would send him to the er but endo would be faster. It did surprise her that the young man who gently educated new type 1 diabetics would forget to bring his insulin to work.
“I can just take it off.” Dennis grimaced at the look, feeling his phone ding several times just as his alarm started to screech.
She was pretty sure he lived in Abbott’s resident housing, maybe she should just send him to the er. “Go take care of it.”
Dennis sighed, beelining to the lockers. He had used his syringe earlier and he was really tempted to just take the cgm out and hide it in his locker. He sat heavily on the bench, opening his phone to check his levels. 340 was not ideal and the texts from his family weren't either. Why he had let Jack, Robby, and his housemates add his device to their phones was beyond him. The text from Robby alone was enough to make him squirm.
Samira sighed softly, having finally tracked Dennis to the peds locker room. She had to ask his very irritated attending where to find him. The fact that robby had chosen her because she was gentler wasn't lost on her. “Den!” She shook his shoulder, relaxing slightly when he opened his eyes. “Let's get you some insulin before Robby drags you to the er.”
“‘M fine.” Dennos protested but took the syringe she offered. He gave himself the insulin dose, reaching for his water bottle. “Sorry.”
“It's okay, bud. We just got to get your sugar down.” Samira soothed, sitting down beside him. She was staying with Dennis until his sugar level was lower.
-c-
“I would like a word, Dennis.” Jack remarked quietly, studying the young man currently alternating between his phone and a medical book. Most of the books in their library were medical books, although they had gained a bit of a literary collection over the years.
Dennis blinked, setting his phone down after saving his paper. He didn't have a computer and he didn't want to ask to borrow someone's, so he did his research papers on his phone. “Sir?”
“Jack.” He corrected firmly, sitting down across from him. They needed more comfortable study chairs. “You aren't in any trouble Dennis. I just wanted to talk to you about your blood sugars.” The younger man had had some very high sugars recently, Jack had been meaning to talk to him about an insulin pump, since that would help keep his sugars normal and it would be easier on Dennis.
“My sugars fine.”Dennis didn't actually know what his sugar was at, it hadn't beeped angrily at him recently
“You realize I have access to your cgm. I can see how your sugar is trending.” Jack raised an eyebrow, studying the younger man for a moment. “You have had several blood sugars over 300 in the last couple of days. You're currently sitting just below 200.”
Dennis rolled his eyes, not looking at Jack. His sugar had always been either really high or really low. It wasn't just suddenly going to be normal. “I have it under control.”
“I know you believe that. We just want to help, Dennis. “Jack answered quietly, holding out the pamphlet on insulin pumps. “I think you would benefit from a pump if you are willing to try it.”
“Too expensive.” As much as he would love a pump, he knew he couldn't afford it. It was a luxury he didn't need. Dennis had been poking himself for years, there was no reason to stop now.
“Cost is not a problem. It's taken care of. Would you be willing to try? It would make it easier at work for you.” Jack was hoping that that would make the kid agree. They had to get his blood sugar under control.
Not having to run to the lockers to stab himself every time his alarm sounded would be nice. It would be great to not have attendings frustrated with him. “Okay. I can try.”
-c-
Not having to stab himself constantly was great.His pump constantly getting caught on everything wasn't. Dennis was about ready to hide it and his cgm in his locker. He figured he could easily keep it from Jack and Robby, he wasn't working in the er after all. They wouldn't find out. He'd just have to bring some back up insulin.
It took three days for him to decide to just leave his annoying, life saving insulin pump in his room. If anyone asked, he'd just tell them he forgot it was charging and didn't do a site change. Which wasn't a lie, it did need to charge and he had needed a site change. He almost took off his cgm, he just needed a device break, but he knew Robby and Jack would be wanting to know why he wasn't transmitting. His housemates would probably be pestering him too.
Dennis was just not expecting to forget to take his insulin. He had gotten used to putting it in his pump and not having to worry about it except for bolus. It wasn't until his cgm started shrieking, because he left his phone in his locker so it wouldn't beep, and he felt irrationally angry about the shrieking that he realized he had fucked up.
His blood sugar had to be in the 400s. Dennis didn't usually start feeling like this until then. He hadn't expected the peds charge nurse, Irene, to grab his wrist and drag him to a chair. At least she gave him the dignity of sticking his own finger to check his sugar. The 460 wasn't the highest it had been but it was high enough.
“Do you have an extra reservoir in your locker?” Irene asked, raising an eyebrow when the young man grimaced. She had figured he needed a reservoir change or even a site change if his blood sugar was that high. She could just call endocrinology if he forgot the backup insulin.
“It's fine.” Dennis flinched at the look she gave him, wrapping his arms around himself when his attending came over. He needed to take his cgm out so it would stop shrieking.
“Irene?” Doctor Peterson questioned, glancing at the glucose meter her charge nurse held out. Shit. “You have a pump failure, Whitaker? Where is your phone?”
“Locker. It's fine!” Dennis snapped, closing his eyes and taking a slow breath. He couldn't go off on his attending. He could get fired.
“Sit down Whitaker. I'll call endo and get some insulin brought down then you can change your pump site.” Doctor Peterson ordered firmly, setting a water bottle in front of him. She knew it was the high sugar making the normally sweet young man snappy. They would get his blood sugar down and he would be alright.
It wasn't until his sugar had come down some and she sent him to get a new site change and his phone from his locker that he realized he was fucked. He didn't have his pump so he couldn't attach it. Dennis turned his phone back on, flinching at the dozens of messages. Robby and Jack were going to kill him. He tried to ignore his racing heart, knowing he needed to calm down.
The fact that her med student had come back not even five minutes after going to check his pump looking very sheepish made doctor Peterson sigh. “You forgot a new site.” She guessed, raising an eyebrow at him. Her options were to make him go sit in the break room until his sugar was below 200 or send him home. This was not the ed, they could manage without one med student for the rest of shift. But she also didn't want the kid driving. “Alright Whitaker, do a recheck and let's see if you are still trending downward.”
He rolled his eyes, taking the chair he was pointed to and accepting the glucose monitor. Dennis wanted to point out that he could just check his cgm but he also knew it wasn't always the most accurate. He wanted to hide the number, knowing that if he was a patient they would be constantly monitoring him. 309 wasn't that high. He had handled worse. “I'm fine, really. I can take a bit more insulin in a while and I should be good.”
Doctor Peterson sighed, studying him for a moment. “Call someone to pick you up. You are done for the day, go rest.” The fact that his face dropped made her want to hug him. “This isn't a punishment kid. You need a new site change and the stress of working will keep it elevated. You got a roommate who can pick you up?” The sad little nod was not helping her feel any less guilty.
Dennis pouted for a moment before heading back to the locker room to call Trinity. He hated that he had fucked up this badly.
-c-
Dennis felt betrayed when Jack pulled up in front of the hospital instead of Trinity. He huffed, slamming the door shut when he climbed in.
Jack just held out a water bottle, waiting for the young man to take it before driving back toward the house. “You're coming to the apartment with me until we get your sugar down. Have you tried a bolus?” He expected the glare, the younger man didn't realize how adorable he was like that or he wouldn't do it.
“Won't fucking work.” Deniss snapped, crossing his arms over his chest. He was not drinking the water. He was fine!
“Oh? Why is that?” Jack had not been surprised when Trinity told him that Dennis needed a ride home. She had wanted to skip therapy but he told her no. He could handle a cranky Dennis.
“Fuck off.” Dennis regretted the words as soon as he said them, grimacing at the very unimpressed look Jack gave him. “Sorry sir.”
Jack gave a soft hum, pulling into the driveway. “Where are your supplies? I don't want you on those stairs right now.”
He had to take a few deep breaths to keep from yelling, letting the older man lead him to the apartment. He could go get his own supplies! He was fine. Dennis didn't need to stay in Jack's apartment right now. He could just go lock himself in his room. Jack was going to murder him. He was dead. Bury him now. “Desk.”
Jack deposited him on the couch with a pointed look to his water. “Drink. I'll be right back.” He grabbed the extra keys to the kids rooms, before heading into the main house. It only took a few minutes for him to get up to Dennis' room. Jack raised an eyebrow, picking up the pump off the desk before finding a reservoir and the supplies needed for a site change. He hesitated before grabbing the kid a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Dennis didn't know it yet but he was spending the night with them and they would be having a long talk about this.
Dennis took a deep breath, reminding himself that Jack didn't like yelling, glaring at the older man when he offered him his pump. “I'm fine.”
“Are you? Last I looked, your blood sugar was still too high.” Jack answered, setting the diabetes supplies on the coffee table beside the change of clothes. “Do you want to tell me why you aren't wearing your insulin pump?”
“Go to hell.” Dennis snapped before flinching back. Jack didn't look angry or surprised, just concerned. “Sorry!”
“I understand that the highs make you irritable, Dennis. If you don't want to wear the pump right now, I can go grab insulin shots from the main kitchen. You are going to take insulin, that isn't an option. But how you take it is your choice.” Jack stated quietly, catching the young man's eyes for a moment. They had been talking about suggesting therapy for Dennis, he thought maybe it was necessary now.
“Shots please.” Dennis grimaced, watching Jack disappear back into the main house. It took no time at all for Jack to reappear with a glucose meter and an insulin pen. He took both, pricking his finger to double check the reading on his cgm before giving himself a larger dose of insulin. “I'm sorry.”
Jack nodded, accepting it for what it was. “You are staying here tonight, so we can monitor your sugar and make sure it comes back to normal range. Right now, finish your water. We will talk about this later.”
“Are you angry?”
“I'm not pleased you put your health in danger but I'm not angry. No one is angry at you for this. This is just something we will have to talk about to find the best way to support you.” Jack said firmly, meeting the young man's eyes when they flew to him “but that isn't a conversation for right now. Your sugar is still too high to think straight. The three of us will talk about it later.” He sat down beside the younger man on the couch, keeping his body language open and relaxed. Jack was not at all surprised when Dennis leaned against him. The younger man needed the comfort right now, everything else could wait.
-c-
He hadn't meant to fall asleep on the couch, Dennis didn't think he had been that tired. It took him a minute to remember where he was and to realize what had woken him. He could hear voices coming from their kitchen but they were too quiet for him to make out. Dennis checked his phone, groaning at his blood sugar. Still high but not nearly as high as earlier.
Robby came quietly into the living room, offering the young man a fresh bottle of water before sitting on the coffee table in front of him. It drove Jack crazy but right now he needed to be on eye level with Dennis. Jack was taking a couple of minutes to collect himself so he didn't say anything he couldn't take back. “That was a very dangerous thing you did.”
Dennis squirmed, looking away for a moment. “I'm sorry.” The soft hum didn't make him feel any better.
“You don't have to talk to us about this but I would really appreciate it if you did. Why did you not take any insulin with you to work today?” Robby questioned quietly, ignoring the look Jack gave him when he came into the room.
“I needed a break.” Dennis hesitated, glancing at Jack when he sat beside him before looking at Robby. “And I forgot my injections.”
Jack sighed softly, knowing this was going to be hard for both of them. “Needing a device break is okay, Den. But you can't go without any insulin. If you don't want to wear your pump or cgm, you have to remember to take your pen and meter with you.” Burnout was a real thing, there was just a better way Dennis could have handled it.
“You don't get it!” Dennis snapped, blinking at the twin laughs.
“Jack understands device Burnout kiddo. You know how many times I've come home and he's just thrown his leg in the trash?” Robby chuckled, moving to sit on the other side of Dennis.
“It was one time!” Jack protested, ignoring the fact that it was definitely more than one time. “I know how othering it can feel, Den, but you can't just decide to screw your body. You came really close to dka today.”
“I'm sorry.” Dennis mumbled, leaning against Jack's side for a moment. “I've gone longer without insulin, I was fine.”
“Until you weren't. Until your blood sugar got so high that you were snapping at your attending and me. I know how frustrating it can be but you have to take care of your body. Full stop.” Jack shook his head, keeping his arm wrapped around the younger man.
“We would like you to talk to a therapist. Just so you have someone else you can go to if you don't want to come to us.” Robby added quietly, ignoring the mumbling. He had raised enough med students to know it wasn't nice.
“We aren't requiring you to, not right now. But if this happens again, we will be.” Jack was pretty sure it would happened again. This young man had been on his own for a long time, he wasn't used to people caring. They would just have to work on changing that.