Having my child diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes over two years ago led to an education that I never knew I would need,
This is what I have learnt…..
1. The appropriate answer to the question ‘did she get it from eating too many sweets?’ is probably one based in medical fact, however it is far more tempting at time just to answer ‘nope, that is obesity’ and walk away murmuring expletives under your breath,
2. Having a fear of blood is simply not acceptable when your child has Type 1 Diabetes. That goes for fear of needles and fear of hospitals. As a type one mum, you are going to make your child bleed, passing out during the process is going to make it awkward for everyone.
3. When everyone else was despairing about their vacuum cleaner being full of loom bands, I simply felt the world was sharing my pain as I stared at my vacuum which was overflowing with test strips.
4. Picking a test strip off your arm/leg/backside/back after your child has had a night of rubbish blood sugars and they shared your bed is not uncommon. Worrying where the rest went is normal.
5. Trying to say HbA1c after a few glasses of red is nigh on impossible
6. Asking your misbehaving, over excited kid if they are high whilst out dining at a restaurant is often frowned upon by the waiting staff.
7. Feeding your child sugar-coated sweets right before dinner because of a low, when dining out at a restaurant is often frowned upon by the waiting staff.
8. Type 1 diabetic kids can’t eat the following…..
1) food that has been on the floor – that’s just dirty
2) Anything with poison in it.
9. Doesn’t matter what grade you got in your Maths GCSE, after a few years of carb counting and managing insulin doses your mathematical skills will be close to Issacs Newtons ability.
10. Rummaging in the dustbin will become acceptable once you realise you have thrown away the packaging with the carbohydrate content on the back.
11. Checking blood sugars at midnight and seeing a perfect 7.5 can create almost orgasmic levels of happiness as you realise you don’t have to do the 2am check.
12. You will spend more time awake at 2am as a mum to a Type 1 Diabetic then you ever did at college.
13. When buying clothes for your Type 1 warrior you are always subconsciously thinking ‘where will the pump go?’
14. You can recognise the smell of insulin from 50 yards away.
15. If you ask my child to administer their insulin in a toilet, I cannot be expected to control my parental wrath.
16. Posting blood sugar levels on Facebook whilst everyone else sleeping is often a way of reminding everyone around you that it can be tough being a parent to a child with diabetes.
16. Kids with Type 1 Diabetes remain true warriors, they make it look easy, it isn’t.
My daughter Molly, has lived with Type 1 Diabetes for over two years. She is simply an inspiration.
In just under two weeks I am trekking up the Atlas Mountains in Morocco to raise money for Diabetes Uk to help find a cure. I am terrified of heights, not that find of walking and not 100% sure my walking boots fit.
If you want to sponsor me, please do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/Jane-Blackmore2/
She really is, and so are you x
All of these. I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t trodden this path before me. That said, I’m not planning on following in your climbing footsteps!
I truly had no idea that diabetes was such a daily roller coaster for everybody. Until I saw you and Helen Wills talking about it, I naively thought it was a case of avoiding sugar, eating healthily and then insulin injections every day. I really never comprehended the balancing act that you have to do to manage this awful illness.
Thanks for raising awareness so that those of us without diabetic kids are more aware of how to support those that do.
You have done such a sterling job of raising awareness Jane, watching you battling your way through this has been inspirational – both you and Molly are just FABULOUS.
Awww, Jane. You and Molly and just AMAZING!! xx
wow, I can’t believe it was over 2 years ago! You & Molly are doing an amazing job
x
Oh WOW you are both an inspiration!
And I have to say you are an inspiration too m’dear, as are the other Mums coping with this too. Until recently I had no idea what was involved with diabetes, and how it completely ruled your life. My Dad was recently diagnosed with Type 2, and I have a good friend here who has Type 1 and didn’t tell me until after I had made her eat Churros one day! :/ Thanks for raising awareness, I will share this across the platforms. x
Thank you for writing this post. As others have said, I think we mostly go around in our cosy bubble – I had absolutely no idea of the enormity of such a diagnosis, for you all. I take my hat off to you and to your girl. You’re amazing.
Seriously, someone asked you to go to the toilet for her insulin? I am amazed at the audacity and ignorance of some people and I applaud you loudly for everything you and Molly have done so far. I am sure many people will find this post incredibly useful.
really great advice jane. my grandfather use to have diabetes so i am so on the look out for signs in my girls. – thank you for sharing this.
You guys are amazing and you are ding such an incredible job. I wish you all the very best with your climb and will head over to sponsor you now. x
great post. Although I’m not a mum of s diabetic I have been one myself for nearly 30 years. I can honestly say public knowledge of diabetes is far better now than when I was diagnosed in the 80s. I really was treated like some sort of freak. One child was told to stay away from me in case they caught it!
Keep up the brilliant work you are doing
Have sponsored – this made think you are both utterly amazing – good luck!
I don’t know how you stay so patient. Sounds like other people’s ignorance is a huge problem when your child has Type 1.
You are truly an inspirational mum and Molly is so very lucky to have you fighting her corner, supporting her and getting up at 2am.
Both you and Molly are amazing troopers… Did I sponsor you already? I will sponsor you again :o). X
I salute you for raising a healthy child despite her type 1 diabetes. Seeing and treating patients with type 1 diabetes is one thing, but living with a child with type 1 diabetes is another thing (I know it’s tough!)
I know that having this kind of condition is not easy and I salute you for that. You raised her so beautifully. If I was in your shoe, I have struggled over petty things that a child has done. I do not know if ashwagandha root is good for all ages, but I heard that it is quite effective to combating diabetes. You may find it useful. Please, extend my best regards to Molly and looking forward to her full-recovery.