Living With Diabetes

With diabetes, your child generates boatloads of data from insulin doses, to glucose results, carb-to-insulin ratios, A1Cs, and more. Do you have Diabetes Data Overload? Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the data? At times, the data is positive. Other times, it’s downright disheartening or frustratingly...

https://youtu.be/bTymRbRi6bU Ahhhh college life! Independence. Flex schedules. New people. Parties. So much for a young adult to look forward to! And while your all-grown-up kid with diabetes might be beyond excited for this momentous time in his or her life, you might be struggling with the idea of...

What are ketones?Ketones (acid) are a result of fat breakdown. The body breaks down fat when it cannot access sugar (glucose). Ketones are usually an indicator that there is little to no insulin. Ketones are usually associated with elevated glucose levels but can occur with in-range target glucose. Ketones...

If you have a child with type 1 diabetes, you’ve heard the litany of myths and misconceptions that the general public associates with the disease. Cringeworthy comments like, “He’ll outgrow it,” and “Did you feed her too much sugar?” can cause any diabetes parent to become unglued. The...

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DOWNLOAD/PRINT PDF Written by the Diabetes Research Institute's Education and Nutrition Service.

https://youtu.be/JO2pVU8FLSY There are so many things to learn when a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and understanding how food affects blood sugar numbers is just one of them. A few nutrition tips and guidelines to follow…Create FlexibilityAccording to the Education Team at the Diabetes Research...

Are your kids looking for a fun, new activity during the long summer days? Or perhaps they're just ravenous when they get home from camp. Either way, we've got the right recipe for you -- a diabetes-friendly snack that your kids will love to make...and eat! Check out this cooking demo, featuring Robyn Webb,...

https://youtu.be/siqAeILiiJg College Survival: Part 2 of 2Did you miss Part 1? Click here> We check back in with Brooke Miller fresh off completing the Diabetes Research Institute's Mastering Your Diabetes: A Survival Guide to College and Beyond.Embarking on the transition to college, Brooke and her parents...

https://youtu.be/PZIcmoVZjhQ As a health care community, leaders in the field of type 1 diabetes have long been concerned about the gap in diabetes care that often occurs as teens move from pediatric to adult care.  This phase of development, often referred to as “emerging adulthood” (between the ages of 18...

Do you ever feel that your love and support go unnoticed? That no matter how hard you try to reach your child that your words fall on deaf ears? Will they ever realize that you push so hard because you want them to live their healthiest and happiest life? As you well know, a diagnosis of any kind is not an...

Candy apples, candy corn, candy everything, oh my! No, you’re not dreaming, that time of year is quickly approaching and most of us are in desperate need of a plan! What's a parent to do when an entire holiday is centered around SUGAR? Is it possible to cancel it and quickly move full steam ahead? After...

Life with diabetes can feel heavy at times.  At diagnosis, many of us felt like we might buckle under the gravity of our new reality.  Even years after diagnosis, we still bear the burdensome demands of constant vigilance.  We shoulder the emotional strain of coping with this chronic health condition’s...

Parents of children with type 1 diabetes know that keeping your child healthy is a 24/7 job, so it can feel scary to drop your child off for school, and away from your watchful eye, for 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. The best way to make sure things go smoothly is to communicate early and often with every...

This article was written by licensed Health Coach Trisha Artman (Coach the Cure).  She often writes "articles that address the emotional ups and downs that come with chronic illness, but at the same time are completely relatable to the vast majority." We think this article can easily be applied to all of us...

When it comes to managing diabetes, the first things you think about are insulin, diet and exercise.  Trailing closely behind are emotions and stress – both of which can have a huge impact on blood sugar numbers.  Finding a way to cope isn’t just about “getting by;” it’s about achieving good...

All parents face certain challenges when kids hit different ages. (Remember the Terrible Twos!!) But nothing really prepares you for the stage of puberty, and the trials and tribulations of the teen years. As clinical psychologist Dr. Wendy Rapaport comments, “Adolescence is in a class by...

We’ve all read numerous stories – or have our own stories to tell – about people’s reactions to injecting or testing in public; and some have been horrifying! But does that mean you shouldn’t? Diabetes is not something to be ashamed of…so why should we relegate these necessary-for-life responsibilities to a...

In the years since my own child was diagnosed with diabetes, I have heard from many other T1D parents about their experiences.  A friend once told me that shortly after receiving the bad news, he broke down while talking with the E.R. doctor.  He recalled feeling like his child had just been given a “death...

It really is true that it takes a team to care for and support a kid (and a family) with type 1 diabetes. The responsibilities for some team members are relatively limited and are clearly attached to their titles, such as "endocrinologist,” “diabetes educator,” “dietician,” “school nurse,” “clergy member,”...

“People with diabetes need a couple of families – the one that they are born with, the one they create, and their medical team. It is the medical team that can keep you, your family, and each other from burning out. No one has to carry the burden of care alone, and everyone on the team should be interested...

For parents who work, balancing your schedules and the needs of your child with diabetes can be both challenging and stressful. As many parents have lamented, you can be “only one sick child away from getting fired!”So, how can you make your work life less stressful? While some of the suggestions may sound...

According to Clinical Psychologist Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, panic, resentment, guilt, worry, anger, dread, and disgust are all feelings that might arise at times when dealing with your child's diabetes.  The good thing is that it's normal to feel all of these emotions...because we are all human...

At a PEP Squad conference, family therapist Patti Sinkoe MS, LMFT, worked with a group of children and teens who are living with diabetes or who are the siblings of someone with diabetes. According to Patti… We had the opportunity to share everyone’s experiences of living with diabetes. We laughed together,...

Written by: Ilene M. Vinikoor, DCSW, LMFT After reading a recent and ongoing “conversation” on our PEP Squad Facebook page about non-compliant teens, I felt it was important to respond with some ideas.  As a type 1 diabetic since 1968, and an individual, couples and family therapist,...

According to the Diabetes Research Institute's Education Team, which includes Della Matheson, RN, CDE, Lory Gonzalez, ARNP, CDE, Amy Kimberlain, RD, and Gwen Enfield, RD, CDE, you CAN have a date night even after a child's diabetes diagnosis.  They offered words of wisdom and compiled a handy list of...

Have you ever heard your child without diabetes say…          “I wish I had diabetes”…?Surprisingly, it happens.  But before you break out with finger sticks to give her/him a real dose of diabetes, think about why your child might be saying...

People with diabetes know very well that food plays a big part in their blood sugar control.  Carbohydrates (CHOs) have the greatest effect on the blood sugars, and it is for that reason we pay close attention to these when managing diabetes.  Carbohydrates are the primary source of fuel for our...

Healthy eating habits are a key component for healthy children -- with or without diabetes.  The DRI's Education Team offers up some tips and guidelines for all families living with diabetes... Provide adequate nutrition to ensure normal growth and development; integrate insulin regimens into usual...

Part 1 of 2Read Part 2 > With the fear of nighttime reactions being a big concern, many parents -- if not the majority -- faithfully test their children every night. Scientific evidence shows that nighttime reactions do occur, and since we are asleep a third of the day, we really don’t know what...

By Dr. Wendy Rapaport, Clinical Psychologist Part 2 of 2  Did you miss Part 1?  Click here> Nighttime testing is probably one of the most sensitive and emotional issues for parents of children with diabetes. Panic, resentment, guilt, worry, anger, dread and disgust are all very difficult...

Students experience a mix of emotions when starting a new school year. In order to succeed, they need to feel safe first and foremost. Achieving this requires collaboration and education. And like everything else you've already tackled as a diabetes parent, you can manage this challenge, too! Know Your...

Who better to give Tips for a Great T1D School Year than an experienced D-mom?  That's why we asked PEP Squad member Jeanette Collier to offer up her best advice, just in time to alleviate the back-to-school madness.  Her son, Cedric, 14, was diagnosed with type 1 at age 10, so Jeanette is well-versed in...

Managing diabetes when your child is sick can be challenging.  It is especially scary when it’s a stomach bug!Recent posts on the DRIF’s PEP Squad Facebook page emphasize the concern many parents are experiencing.  They've asked whether other kids run high or low; what to do about...

We’re calling this 15 Summer Travel Tips for “Families” because type 1 diabetes affects the whole family!  And while you might have put several things in your life on hold after your child’s diagnosis, you should not let T1D discourage you from traveling and enjoying the bonding experience of a family...

Summer may seem far away, but it’s never too early to start making plans -- especially if your child has diabetes. Camps are great places where kids can meet new people, learn new things and, most importantly, have fun.  So now you might be thinking…should I send my child to a regular sleepaway camp or...

School’s out.  You have relatives and friends in town.  There are three scheduled holiday parties, traveling to do, and your normal routines are being changed daily. The festivities of the season can often cause added stress!  But you can still enjoy the magic of it all with some forward...

Earlier today, a newbie mom asked for tips from other PEP parents about how to handle Halloween, as this is her family's first since her child was diagnosed.  Dozens replied with helpful and One of our favorite responses came almost immediately from Jeanette..."Just like before plus insulin." ...

Provided by the Diabetes Research Institute's Education Center As you know, type 1 diabetes requires lifelong replacement of insulin to provide what the body’s insulin-producing cells (beta cells) no longer make.  Anyone living with type 1 diabetes can tell you how frustrating and difficult this can...

Provided by the Diabetes Research Institute's Education Center THE PUMP IS NOT AN ARTIFICIAL PANCREAS!!!!  It does not know how much insulin you need and then automatically deliver it.  You must program the pump (along with the help of your healthcare team), and YOU must learn to “think...

Many parents of a child with diabetes, or a parent who has diabetes themselves, ask the same question: Should I screen my other children, or my children, for the possibility of them developing diabetes?  • Yes…I want to know and it’s for scientific research that may ultimately prevent future...