Another diabetes awareness month has come and gone. Like many people, pages, and blogs, I made a “post a day” for November. And if you were following my posts, you may have noticed that there were no posts on November 30th.
[Read more…]Recent Posts
You can do T1D without an Insulin Pump
One day, out of nowhere, you get a diagnosis of T1D. You’re thrown into a world of sliding scales, carb counting, insulin injections, “free” snacks. You’re terrified of stacking insulin and all of the things that come with type 1 diabetes. You chug along, learning as you go. You start to get the hang of it. Things are falling into place. Yet, when you have questions, ones that have nothing to do with pumping, people tell you that you “need to get a pump”. So… what if you don’t want one? [Read more…]
Things I didn’t know about being a Parent of a T1D Child
Most people know someone with diabetes. “My uncle has diabetes. At least it’s not too serious. With all the advancements, I hear it’s easy to control.” Knowing a friend or relative with diabetes (any kind) is very different than living with it yourself… or being a parent of a child with type 1 diabetes. [Read more…]
Diabetes Awareness Month: How You can make a Difference this November
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Maybe you’ve participated in spreading awareness in the past and are looking for new ideas. Maybe it’s your first year with T1D and you’re not sure where to start. Whatever your situation, here are some great ideas and resources for you to use online and in your community!
[Read more…]I Want One Day…
Every day. Wake up. Make sure child is breathing. Check blood sugar. Count carbs. Give insulin. Rinse, repeat… until bedtime. Yes, we do other things that “normal” people do. Yes, we live our lives. No, we don’t let type 1 diabetes control us. But after a while, this life can become exhausting. [Read more…]
Adventures of the Insulin Gang Travelling Bears
When you think about T1D, it doesn’t often conjure up positive emotions. There is a lot of work and stress associated with the disease. Sometimes it gets overwhelming. There are so many aspects to learn about and it’s extremely involved. But there are some hidden treasures in the T1D world whose purpose is to help and brighten up your experience. Let me introduce you to one of them: The Insulin Gang Travelling Bears.
[Read more…]Comparing your T1D to Other People’s T1D
Type 1 diabetes is an interesting disease. Different people have different targets and ranges for their blood glucose numbers. An A1C of 7 might be fantastic for one person while it’s disappointing for another. People sharing and talking about their “wins” and difficulties can cause feelings of superiority or failure in others. That’s why comparing your T1D journey with someone else’s can be a dangerous game to play.
[Read more…]Is my Child’s T1D Becoming an Excuse to Say ‘No’?
A notice came through my mail slot today. “You are invited”… a potluck, a neighborhood BBQ. My neighbors are celebrating. You see, we live in a townhouse complex. We’ve lived in this place for almost 3 years now. There used to be a small (and I mean SMALL) playground area, but it was closed off almost immediately after we moved in because the structure was not safe. So, after a while of no access to a play area, some neighbors got together and worked on a community garden, picnic, and play area. It’s finally done, and everyone wants to celebrate and enjoy the rewards their hard work has earned. Sounds pretty nice, doesn’t it? Yet all I could think when reading the notice was… ugh. [Read more…]
Caregiver Burnout: A T1D Parent’s Journey to Self-care
Caregiver burnout. It’s very common for parents of type 1 diabetic children. We spend so much time planning, counting, worrying, that we often forget to take care of ourselves. It gets so bad that self-care can seem like an impossible hurdle, like you’ll never be able to care for both yourself and your child with T1D.
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So you have Type 1 Diabetes… Get Over It
We had a family dinner recently. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins… you get the idea. After the kids had gone to bed, the adults started chatting. Someone brought up the topic of my son and his T1D. We mentioned that he’d been having a hard time coping lately. As we explained that he is getting increasingly frustrated by his diabetes, someone decided to say, “Well, I’d just tell him to get over it.”
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