I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

hurdle ID 10073190 300x172 The Switch to MDI: Part 2 A Rocky StartAfter doing our best to gear up for the switch to MDI (multiple daily injections), we officially changed V.’s insulin regime.

We then proceeded to spend a nearly sleepless night of blood sugar low, after low, after low.

 

 

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

needles ID 10036540 300x199 The Switch to MDI: Part 1—Gearing UpAwhile back I wrote about planning to make the switch to MDI (multiple daily injections). We had planned to make this change to V.’s insulin regime to gain better control over her blood sugars and have more flexibility in her meals. We decided to put off the switch to MDI, however, because V. surprised us with in-target blood sugars several days in a row following our summer holidays.

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

suitcase.ID 10053921 300x234 Travelling with Diabetes: What to Pack?We’ll soon be heading on our first family vacation since V. was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The big question when travelling with diabetes: what to pack?

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

back to school ID 10046485 300x225 Diabetes and School: Mommys Back to School JittersOK, I’ll admit it. I’ve got the back-to-school jitters.

V. heads back to school tomorrow. And back-to-school time is hard enough on families as it is. There’s adjusting to the school routine. Shifting bedtimes and wake-up times. Packing lunches. Incorporating after-school activities.

But Diabetes and school? Add type 1 diabetes into the mix and things get even more complicated.

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

IMG 4464 e1376715343561 A Less Sugary Birthday for Children with DiabetesBirthday celebrations tend to be sugary events. Cakes always seem to take center stage, and with children with diabetes, the challenge is to come up with an equally impressive, but less sugary option.

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

baking ID 10055367 e1374900545748 Before and After: Diagnosed with Diabetes as a Young ChildV. was diagnosed with diabetes just over a year ago. She was six years old at the time.

Here’s the thing about being diagnosed with diabetes at six: you’re young enough that you’re pretty accepting. You may not like change, but you understand that it happens and that you have to deal with it. And you’re innocent and trusting enough do whatever your parents tell you…

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

success.ID 10057993 300x177 Living with a child with Diabetes Plan B: A New Insulin PlanManaging diabetes is all about planning. But what do you do when your plan to plan falls apart? Well, you get a new insulin plan. Or go back to the old one…

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

juice box ID 100157603 e1372561876665 Diabetes Tip #3: Have a Fast Acting Sugar Source on HandI try to avoid words like “imperative”. They sound too dictatorial, too heavy-handed.

But I’ve come to understand that with a child with Type 1 Diabetes, it is imperative that he or she always have a fast-acting sugar source on hand.

No, I’m not being overprotective or paranoid. Even if you feel you are managing your child’s diabetes well overall, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can come on very quickly and you have to be prepared.

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

IMG 1066 e1371626958703 End of School Year Gifts: The Irony of a Crystal CupcakeJune is upon us and it’s time to show our appreciation for the kids’ teachers with end of school year gifts.

This year, in addition to her home room teacher, V. is giving an end of school year gifts to Mme M., the teacher’s assistant who has been assigned to V. to help out with the whole diabetes situation.

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

fever.ID 10029184 300x202 Is she just sick? Or is she REALLY SICK?V. is home from school sick today, but it’s hard to tell if she’s “just sick” or if she’s REALLY SICK.

I’m pretty sure it’s nothing much. Her throat is sore. She’s sniffling and sneezing. She has a bit of a cough. No fever as of yet. All of the obvious symptoms of the common cold….nothing unusual or particularly worrisome. Even her glucose was still well within range when we checked her at breakfast.

But to hear her tell it, she’s at death’s door.

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

bagIMG 0866 e1370321438364 The Inseparable Company of a Child With DiabetesI thought we’d be done with The Bag when the kids were out of diapers.

You know The Bag…the one you agonized over before finally picking The One to put on the baby gift registry.

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

IMG 0563 e1369680236691 Eating Healthier The Yummiest Almost Instant Oatmeal! One of the bonuses (if we’re looking on the bright side) of having a diabetic daughter is that I’m much more conscious about the food I put on the table or in my kids’ lunch bags. As a result, the whole family is now eating healthier overall.

 

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

apple ID 10055103 e1369158290803 Nutritional Information RequestsThere are a gazillion reasons why someone might ask for the nutritional information of menu offerings in a restaurant.

OK, maybe not a gazillion, but I can think of several just off the top of my head: food allergies, food intolerances, restricted diets, religious observances, heart disease, diabetes…None of which are really anyone’s business.

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

popsicle.ID 10094076 e1368513581487 Diabetes: Give Her the PopsicleOn a hot summer day last July, a gaggle of neighbourhood kids—including my two—were running around and playing in our backyard. They were laughing and sweating, and the next thing I knew, they were clamouring for the ultimate summertime treat to alleviate the heat: a popsicle.

Read More »

I'm a part-time editor, long-time wife and full-time mom to a 9-year-old boy who's had asthma since he was 2, and a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed less than a year ago with Type 1 Diabetes.

Log book.IMG 0584 e1367847427717 300x224 Diabetes Tips and Tricks #2: Track the PatternsPatterns are important when trying to manage diabetes. If V.’s glucose readings show a high three days in a row at the same time or a low two days in a row at the same time, an insulin adjustment is in order.

Read More »

Join the mailing list

Check your email and confirm the subscription