9 Things a Mom of a Type 1 Diabetes Child Won’t Tell You … or Maybe She Would

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9 things a mom of a type 1 diabetes child won't tell youTwo summers ago, we got word that our 9-year-old nephew Timothy had been rushed to the emergency room, and then admitted to the hospital, with alarming symptoms. He was subsequently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and his mom and dad started a crash course in what that meant, how to care for him, and how it would change their lives.

Although we live hundreds of miles from them, we have been learning too. I am thankful that my sister-in-law has been open about their journey, about the joys and the struggles they have experienced in the last 18 months, giving me a peek into their world and helping me to understand it better. Below are things the mom of a Type 1 diabetic child would like you to know — and would tell you herself if her life slowed down enough to let her breathe.

1. There are two kinds of diabetes and they are not equal. Type 1, also known as juvenile-onset diabetes, is far less common — 5 to 10% of all diabetics. It occurs when the body’s immune system has destroyed the cells in the pancreas that release insulin, without which the body cannot absorb glucose, which is needed to produce energy. Type 2 diabetes is the more common form (90-95% of diabetics). It occurs when the body is insulin resistant, so it can’t use insulin the right way.

2. Type 1 diabetes is not preventable. My child’s diabetes was not caused by a poor diet or obesity, something that can contribute to type 2 diabetes. Nothing in my child’s diet or lifestyle contributed to him getting type 1.

3. There is no cure or possibility of remission with type 1 diabetes. It will not go away if he just eats right or loses weight. He needs insulin to live. His body won’t make it. End of story.

4. My child’s life depends on accurate, regular monitoring of his glucose levels and accurate administration of insulin. Dr. Frederick Banting, the discoverer of insulin, is my hero. Before his discovery, children with diabetes tended to live about a year after diagnosis. My child was diagnosed over a year ago. Do the math. Insulin saves my child’s life every. single. day.

5. Yes, it’s manageable. But type 1 diabetes requires more time, effort, and energy that we ever dreamed it would. It is a job that is 24/7 and taking vacation time can be deadly. We monitor our son’s glucose levels day and night, weekdays and weekends, at home and out of town. Type 1 diabetes is an unwelcome, but now familiar, member of our family.

6. My child lives a normal life. He runs and plays and has hobbies and wrestles with his brothers. But his “normal” involves regularly checking his blood glucose to make sure it is at a healthy level. And I am the ever-vigilant one making sure he is checking and that he is okay. Call me a helicopter parent if you want.

7. My child will not outgrow “juvenile” diabetes. It is not called “juvenile” because it only lasts through childhood, but because that is when it is often diagnosed. My son’s insulin cells are gone. He will not ever outgrow this. My child will live with type 1 diabetes for the rest of his life.

8. Children, especially teens, with type 1 diabetes need support and understanding so they will be comfortable taking responsibility for their own wellness. Adolescence especially is a time when no one wants to seem “different” from their peers, but avoiding responsible care in the name of fitting in can be deadly.

9. More awareness will lead to better understanding and better research and treatment. Research has led to the development of the insulin pump, which makes diabetes even more manageable. Research could, someday, lead to a cure. There is no cure for type 1 diabetes — yet. I pray every day that a cure will be found in my child’s lifetime.

Has type 1 diabetes impacted your life? What do YOU want others to know about it?

For more information about Type 1 Diabetes, visit JDRF.

Photo credit: Jill A. Brown / Foter / CC BY
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Kristi Bothur
Kristi is a pastor’s wife, mother, writer, and former public school teacher for English for Speakers of Other Languages. She grew up all over the United States as an Air Force brat, but moved to Columbia in the 1990s to attend Columbia International University, and has called the Midlands “home” ever since. Her days are kept full with the antics and activities of her children - homeschooling, church activities, American Heritage Girls, and Trail Life - as well as writing and leading her Columbia-based pregnancy loss ministry, Naomi’s Circle. Kristi is a contributing editor for “Rainbows and Redemption: Encouragement for the Journey of Pregnancy After Loss” (www.rainbowsandredemption.weebly.com) and a co-author of “Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother“ (sunshineafterstorm.us). She shares her thoughts about faith, family, and femininity on her blog, This Side of Heaven (www.thissideofheavenblog.com).

45 COMMENTS

  1. Beware the Idea of March took on a new meaning for us last year. My 19 month old (at the time) was diagnosed with Type 1 on March 15th 2020 after going into DKA and almost dying. He’s 2 1/2 years old now and we’re almost a year in. We don’t have a CGM or a Pump yet, we do everything manual. It’s fine, we have our routine, and our Endocrine team confirms we’re doing great even though sometimes it’s a real struggle to keep his glucose in range. It’s hard, it’s frustrating, it’s permanent. I’ve basically run myself ragged holding a full time job and being the nighttime caretaker. Husband handles the morning shifts and we double up in the afternoons. It doesn’t stop and we can’t take breaks very often. We can’t expect anyone else to learn or manage it for us, so we take care of it before and after sending him to Grandma’s so we can get maybe 3-4 hours to ourselves. People just don’t understand what we go through. Those points are spot on and I feel like I’m repeating them so often. Thank you for sharing this. I’ll be using it as a guide instead of trying to field those questions. 🙂

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