T1D isn’t a pleasant thing to have at any age. You’re getting poked and prodded all the time, there are about a million decisions to make, and everything just gets a little more complicated. But there’s something particularly unpleasant about navigating T1D when your baby or toddler is the one with the disease. Here are 20 things that parents of T1D babies and toddlers have to deal with that other people with T1D usually don’t.
[Read more…]10 Unfortunate Quirks every T1D Teen has
We celebrated my son’s 10th diaversary earlier this month. 10 years of T1D. That means he’ll be a teenager soon. And, with the teenage years imminently upon us, I thought I’d commemorate Jordan’s 10th diaversary with a list of 10 habits every T1D teen (and preteen) does that their parents and caregivers find frustrating. So here it is, some are funny, some are serious, and all are relatable if you have a T1D teen!
[Read more…]The Ultimate T1D Back to School Guide
Sending your child back to school after their diabetes diagnosis can be overwhelming and emotional. You’re not only putting your child in someone else’s hands, you’re putting your medically complicated child in someone else’s hands. And often, they don’t know the first thing about T1D. How on Earth can you prepare for that situation? Whether it’s a new diagnosis, a new school, or you just need to make sure you’ve checked all the boxes, here’s a T1D back-to-school guide that will help you cover all the bases.
[Read more…]How to deal with Picky Eating and T1D
The days of “sit at that table until you’ve cleaned your plate” are fading fast. We’re learning that the way many of our parents treated food was… problematic, to say the least. Now, many parents lean more towards encouraging children to listen to their bodies. Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full. No force-feeding, no using food as a punishment. It’s much more natural and causes fewer power struggles. But then, T1D throws a wrench in the whole process. All of a sudden, you go from having an empowered child who listens to their body to a picky eater who isn’t eating the food that they’ve gotten insulin for.
[Read more…]Is Your Child Ready for Independent T1D Management at School?
Ah, middle school. The in-between place of growing up. No longer a little kid, but not quite a teenager either. No more hand-holding from teachers and school staff. More homework, more responsibility. A proper class schedule. Lockers. You’re moving up in the world. Getting older. More independent. Should your T1D care be “growing up” with you? [Read more…]
Dear Teacher, I have T1D
It’s back to school time, and I was thinking about what we need to tell my son’s teacher about his type 1 diabetes. He’s in fifth grade now. This isn’t our first rodeo. Every year since kindergarten, we’ve talked to the teacher, sent home a letter to his classmate’s parents, and done a presentation in class. This is the last year of elementary school (his second year at this particular school) and while I was thinking of what we needed his teacher to know, I may have gotten a bit off track. What can I say? I get bored with the same spiel year after year. [Read more…]
How to have a Successful Date Night with T1D
So you want to go on a date night. Ever since your child’s diagnosis, you’ve been stressed, exhausted, and you feel your relationship with your partner being taken over by finger pokes, carb counting, and insulin injections. You deserve a night out. You need a night out. But it was difficult enough leaving your child with a babysitter before diabetes. How can you have a care-free experience with your partner if you’re constantly worried about how the babysitter is handling your child’s complex medical condition?
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8 Truths about T1D Parenting
Parenting isn’t an easy job. There’s no “right” way to parent, no pamphlet or manual with all the answers, and yet, everyone has opinions about what you’re doing wrong. Similarly, doing the job of an organ isn’t an easy job. There’s no manual teaching you how to be a pancreas. Doctors don’t have all the answers. Other people with T1D don’t have all the answers. And yet, everyone has opinions about what you should be doing differently with your T1D child.
[Read more…]4 Tips for Connecting with Your T1D Teen
The teen years. Those 3 little words are enough to scare any parent. Throw T1D in the mix and, well, you have the ingredients for a very rough ride. When your child has a life-threatening disease like T1D, you instinctively want to protect them. But everything you do seems to push you further apart. You want to help, but they usually don’t want the help you’re trying to give.
The 24 Hour Plan: Teaching your T1D Child to Care for their Diabetes
Non-compliance. It’s a word we hear a lot in the world of T1D. But what does it mean? How can we teach our children to take care of their T1D? Whether it’s not testing blood sugar, not counting carbs, or not giving insulin, not taking care of diabetes can be dangerous. So what can we as parents do to help guide our children to care for their diabetes without becoming overbearing and nagging? Let me introduce you to the 24 hour plan.
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