About

Every journey with diabetes looks a little different. Still, many of us share common threads: questions,

fears, learning curves, and moments of unexpected strength.

I’m sharing my story in hopes that you’ll feel less alone and more able to meet this road with courage, and even adventure.

 

The Beginning

My connection to diabetes started in childhood. I remember hearing my parents talk about it and learning that my dad “couldn’t eat sugar anymore.” As a kid, I didn’t fully understand what that meant, but I felt the worry and it made me anxious.

 

I watched my dad take insulin with a long needle. He tested his glucose using urine strips, but the results didn’t offer much practical guidance. He did not know what changes to make or how to improve his numbers. Like many people back then, he focused on avoiding sugar while still eating foods like fruit and bread, without realizing how much carbohydrates could affect blood glucose.

 

Because diabetes was always in the background, I grew up assuming I’d get it someday. Whenever I didn’t feel well, my parents checked my sugar—first with urine strips, and later with a device called an Autolet. It is commonly referred to as “the guillotine.” You’d place your finger in position, press a button, and a needle would snap down for a blood sample. It was a big shift from urine testing but there was still no plan on how to use the information to make adjustments.

 

So much has changed since those days. Learning that carbohydrates, proteins and fats—not just sugar—impact blood glucose was a gamechanger. And today’s technology is remarkable: meters that need only a tiny drop of blood, plus continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps that make day-to-day management far more manageable.

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My Journey Continued

I never developed type 1 diabetes myself, but diabetes still became part of my life in a very personal way.

 

I married a wonderful man named Scott. A few years into our marriage, Scott’s brother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in his late 20s. It was unexpected and completely new for their family. Then, a few years later, their two-year-old son was also diagnosed with type 1. That diagnosis was both shocking and heartbreaking.

 

I watched his parents learn everything at once: carbohydrate counting, mixing insulin, giving injections, and checking blood glucose. Scott and I knew we wanted to be part of their support system. We spent time with them, observed how they managed care, and—under their guidance—practiced giving injections. Eventually, we became comfortable enough to care for our nephew on our own.

 

We became their “respite team,” giving his parents a safe place to leave him when they needed a night out. We grew deeply attached to that little boy, and we also gained an eye-opening view of how complex diabetes management can be, especially with a small child.

 

More Adventures

Fast-forward 13 years. Our oldest son, Tyler, was 16 when he started feeling sick. We assumed it was the flu, so he stayed home from school.

 

The next morning, Tyler sat at the table with Scott and me and said he knew something was wrong, just didn’t know what. He described intense thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, and weight loss. In that moment, everything clicked. We knew immediately: type 1 diabetes.

 

Within seconds I felt a flood of emotions: fear, grief, and the sudden realization that life had changed.

 

Then Tyler said, “I think I’m going to pass out,” and he collapsed onto the floor. That moment marked the beginning of his journey with diabetes.

 

Diabetes wasn’t unfamiliar to me, but I wasn’t prepared to be a parent of a child with type 1. I felt overwhelmed and terrified. I also carried something that felt like “survivor’s remorse.” I caught myself thinking:  “I always thought I would be the one with diabetes, why isn’t it me?”, or “I’m an adult; he has his whole life ahead of him. It should be me.”

 

At the same time, a steadier voice inside me reminded me: we could learn this. We had experience from caring for our nephew. We had hands-on practice.

 

Still, the weight was heavy. About six months after Tyler’s diagnosis, I remember calling my sister-in-law and saying, “I’m done. I’m ready for diabetes to go away.” And I meant every word.

 

Five years after Tyler’s diagnosis, our youngest son, Kody, came to Scott and told him he had symptoms of diabetes. Thankfully, he recognized them quickly. They checked his blood glucose—and it was high.

 

Scott and Kody sat me down and told me. I was instantly overwhelmed, knowing what he might face. Scott asked me to step out and cry somewhere else so I wouldn’t frighten Kody.

 

A few weeks later, we met our extraordinary diabetes educator who told us about a study for people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes called Defend 2. Kody participated and did very well. For six years, he didn’t need insulin; he managed his diabetes through consistent physical activity and strong nutritional habits.

 

What I take from that season is hope: research continues, and progress is real. Until there’s a cure, our focus is on the best management possible—and the best quality of life.

 

What About the Middle Child?

Our middle son, Jared, didn’t have type 1. At the time, he also fit many common “middle child” traits—peacemaker, competitive, friendship-driven, sometimes overshadowed. Looking back, I don’t think I paid enough attention to how his brothers’ diagnoses affected him.

 

We tested him for antibody markers, and he didn’t have them. For some reason, I treated that as the end of the worry.

 

Now I see it differently. I should have made more space for Jared’s feelings—confusion, fear, sadness, or even frustration. What I do remember clearly is that Jared became incredibly skilled at spotting low blood sugar. He often noticed his brothers were low before they did. He was their built-in “alert buddy.”

 

This is one lesson I want to share: when a child is diagnosed with type 1, the whole family is impacted, especially siblings. They should be included in conversations of learning and sharing. Allow them to ask questions and express how they feel.

 

Financial Reality

Along with the emotional weight, diabetes brings real financial pressure. Insulin, supplies, and frequent medical visits quickly rise to the top of the budget. These aren’t optional expenses—they are life support.

Be sure to fully understand your health insurance coverage.

 

Ask questions like:

• What diabetes supplies are covered—and at what level?Which pharmacies or medical suppliers are in-network?

• Are CGMs and pumps covered, and what are the requirements?

• If supplies are shipped, which companies are reliable and consistent?

• If you don’t have adequate coverage, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has health insurance information that may help you explore options. ADA - Health Insurance Information

 

 

“I Just Want to be a Normal Teenager”

I heard this more than once.

 

My boys wanted what every teenager wants: to blend in. They didn’t want to prick their finger or take an injection at a lunch table. They wanted fries and milkshakes with friends. They wanted to go to prom without needing to calculate insulin for dinner, dessert, refreshments, and late-night snacks.

 

So, we worked to make diabetes management fit into teenage life—not the other way around.

 

Sometimes that meant flexibility. Sometimes it meant accepting short-term high blood glucose as part of real life. But my boys didn’t stop doing what they loved. Diabetes became part of their life, not the center of it: sports, backpacking, pizza with friends late at night.

 

When CGMs and pumps later became part of their care, life felt more “normal” for them—and for us.

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Know the Signs of Type 1 Diabetes

If you’re reading this, you may already know the warning signs of type 1 diabetes. But sharing that knowledge matters. When type 1 goes undetected, it can become life-threatening. When your friends and family ask about diabetes, use it as a teaching moment to share what the signs and symptoms are: increased thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, and blurred vision are typically the most recognizable. You can learn more about Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms from the American Diabetes Association.

 

It Takes a Team

We had a strong support system—but we had to build it intentionally.

 

We taught friends, teachers, coaches, extended family, youth leaders, and others what type 1 diabetes is and what management requires. We even gathered Tyler and Kody’s friends together to talk about diabetes and let them test their own blood sugar.

 

My advice: invite people onto your child’s team.

Teach them:

• What “low” blood sugar looks like

• How to recognize symptoms

• What to do to help

• How your child manages diabetes day to day

The more informed people you have around your child, the safer—and more supported—your child will be.

 

Diabetes Self-Management Education Matters

Our diabetes educator truly saved us. She helped us climb a steep learning curve and supported us as things changed over time.

 

Back then, I wasn’t an educator—I was a mom trying to manage my children’s diabetes. Since then, I’ve become a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist because I want to support others in meaningful, practical ways.

 

From both perspectives—the parent and the professional—diabetes self-management education is essential. It builds the skills and confidence needed for lifelong management. And your diabetes care team can help you stay current with new technology and learn how to use your tools to their fullest potential (and help your child do the same).

 

 

I call this a journey because it’s not a single moment—it’s an ongoing path

with ups and downs, challenges and victories, and constant learning.

Gather knowledge. Make the best decisions you can.

Over time, find a way to let diabetes fit into life...without letting it take life over.

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