MyT1D Hero

By Mac Causey

I’ve always been a fan of the “go with the flow” outlook on life, and my diagnosis did not change that. Sure, I see more needles in a day than most people my age see in a year, but that doesn’t stop me from doing the things I love.
Yes, there are challenges, but it takes more than a faulty pancreas to stop me. I still surf, skate, go out, and love my life.

It’s safe to say that being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) was the hardest hit I’ve taken in my life. T1D threw me and my family for a loop, and although life would be easier without it, this disease has opened me up to new experiences that I never would have had before my diagnosis. The most important of these new experiences is undoubtedly my Diabetes Alert Dog (DAD), Annabelle. She is my furry shadow, my best friend, and I can’t see my life without her.

I had experience with alert dogs even before my diagnosis—My mom, Becky Causey, is president of the Diabetes Alert Dog Alliance— and even before that I had several dogs in the house while I was growing up. It only made sense that I would get an alert dog. Now, almost 4 years later, I can’t even fathom not having a DAD. Annabelle follows me around the house and out in public like she and I are attached at the hip. When I don’t have her beside me, it’s the same feeling as if I forgot my phone.

Mac’s experience with alert dogs, although different and more intimate than most, is not entirely unique. In an mlive article, a 13-year-old Grand Blanc student named Joseph talks about Pepsi, his Labradoodle and Diabetes Alert Dog. Pepsi goes everywhere with Joseph, including basketball games, friends’ birthday parties, and especially during the nighttime hours when blood glucose levels often dip dangerously low.

Jedi, a Labrador, is another Diabetes Alert Dog who takes care of an 8-year-old boy named Luke. In an article by the Huffington Post, the miraculous experience of Jedi saving Luke’s life is explained. In the middle of the night, Luke’s levels dropped extremely low, and as he was trained to do, Jedi woke Luke’s parents to let them know.

These stories are just a few examples of the profound impact that a Diabetes Alert Dog can make on a person’s life. This impact comes in many forms, particularly in their ability to recognize when the person is in danger, but also the companionship, love and support that service dogs and pets provide us.

By: Amanda Holmstrom, PhD, Associate Professor of Communication, Michigan State University

We often hear that “emotional support” is important for people with chronic conditions like type 1 diabetes. However, what is emotional support? How can we be sure to provide good emotional support to our loved ones?

Amanda Holmstrom, PhD.

Emotional support is care and concern shown toward someone who is having a tough time. For example, you might want to cheer up a friend who’s upset because she’s having difficulty managing her blood sugar. Or, you might want to comfort your child who’s hurting after a classmate made a nasty remark about him missing a lot of school for doctor’s appointments.

Research shows that providing and receiving emotional support is an important component of our close relationships. However, there are so many ways that we could help our loved ones when they are hurting that it’s easy to get confused about what to do. We really want to help, but sometimes we end up having the opposite effect.

Fortunately, a lot of research has been done to help us know how to help others when they need emotional support. Here are some research-approved strategies that are usually seen as helpful:

• Find a time and place: Make sure that you have the time to talk and an appropriate place to do so. For example, it’s hard to offer really good emotional support in the 20 seconds before your child runs out the door to catch the bus. Carve out some time where the two of you can feel free to say what’s on your minds.
• Say you care and want to help. Make sure to tell your loved one directly that you care about her and that you are available and willing to help. For example, you could say, “I love you, and I want the best for you. I want to help you in any way I can.”
• Ask what’s going on. Ask your loved one to talk about the situation and how he is feeling. A simple, “What’s troubling you?” will often get the ball rolling.
• Legitimize feelings. Let your loved one know that you understand how he feels and that his feelings are perfectly normal. For example, you could say, “I can see you’re upset, and it makes a lot of sense that you’d feel that way.”
• Use eye contact and body language to show care and concern. For example, you could nod to show that you’re listening or offer a hug to show you care. Oftentimes the most helpful thing we can say isn’t said with words.

On the flip side, some of the things we often do to provide emotional support are generally seen as unhelpful. Here are some things to avoid:

• Don’t offer unsolicited advice. The most common error people make when attempting to provide emotional support is to offer unwanted advice. We tend to do this because we want to fix problems, but research shows that unless someone asks for advice, it’s often best not to offer it.
• Don’t downplay feelings. Denying, ignoring, or criticizing your loved one’s feelings is generally hurtful. For example, resist the urge to say something like, “It’s not a big deal” or “You don’t need to be so upset!”
• Don’t overdo it. Though it’s important to show your loved one that you care, try not to be too over-the-top in your concern. Give him room to breathe and process things on his own, too.

Though it’s not always easy to provide, emotional support is consistently rated as one of the most important components of our close relationships. By giving your loved ones good emotional support when they need it, you not only help them, but you keep your relationship strong.

By Reece Ohmer, high school sophomore living with T1D since 2009

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, I thought I’d share my opinion about the holiday of love.

I have been living with T1D since I was eight years old, and I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have to constantly check my blood sugar levels, monitor my food intake, and set the correct dosage of insulin.

Reece Ohmer, now a high schooler

With that being said, I vividly remember every Valentine’s Day as a child. I grew up in a household that believed in the saying ‘kid first, diabetes second’ and this has truly become the mantra of my life.

Valentine’s Day was no exception. I was able to enjoy all the festivities and parties (as well as yummy treats) that any other kid living without T1D was able to partake in. I do remember my mom and Miss Dawn, my school aide, buzzing around but only to make sure that I was treated equally in every regard. The kid that got the chocolate lollipop coated in extra sugar balls? Yes, there was one for me too.

Reece in elementary school

The funny thing about parties in elementary school is that they all revolved around food, specifically pizza. I remember having to pay extra attention to my BGs on these days, but even still, I enjoyed that gross, greasy cheese pizza with all the other kids. It may not have been good but I did it anyway- mostly because I could.

During the party, you were also allowed to pass out Valentine’s to the class, just as long as every child received one. Most of these Valentine’s consisted of an attached candy or food item. To be different, I always passed out cool, non-food Valentine’s to the class. I remember getting all this candy and not eating any of it. Not because I couldn’t eat it, but just the fact that I had the sweets in my possession was enough to make me smile. Ironically, the kids that received my Valentine’s felt special to get something that wasn’t super generic. One year, I passed out miniature bottles of bubbles. In minutes, the room looked magical with little tiny bubbles floating around the classroom. I felt like a rock star.

Reece has been living with T1D since 2009. She truly is a T1D Hero!

Looking back at my elementary days, as I am now in high school, I realized that I don’t remember the specific food or the candy that was given during the parties, I only remember the fun activities the class did together or the new adventure that my classmates explored.

It’s a bit ironic that our school created a holiday that revolved around eating, when in reality the only thing I remember from Valentine’s Day as a kid is the crafts we made and the party the class had. For me, Valentine’s Day was about playing games and being with the people you really cared about. I’m certain that I will carry that feeling of love and friendship throughout life.

By Julie Dunneback, MSN, APRN, BC, CPNP, CDE

Life with diabetes presents many challenges and stressors. In the beginning, after moving past the shock and grief of diagnosis, the biggest challenge becomes learning the basic skills of diabetes caregiving.

These include: carb counting and providing a consistent meal plan every day; measuring

blood glucose levels at meals and prior to bedtime, as well as when one feels low; and proper use of mealtime and nightly insulin.

Julie Dunneback

Learning how to take care of diabetes during times of sickness is also important, as is learning how to take care of diabetes during recess, gym class, basketball season, or vacations.

One must take these skills out into the real world of school or work and life with friends and family. Unfortunately, no one can fully understand what it is like to battle diabetes unless you are the person living with it, on that particular day, in that particular moment.

Diabetes affects the here and now, but also complicates each developmental milestone that a person with diabetes reaches.

Many good intentioned people offer suggestions, whether from other persons with T1D, parents of other kids with diabetes, teachers and counselors, or health care providers.

While these tips can be helpful, they may not necessarily be accepted.

The person with diabetes does not always want help or the solution that is offered. They may simply want someone to listen and to understand their experience.

Individuals often want someone to stand with them during times of stress, to listen, and to act as a supportive friend. Provision of love and acceptance is often more helpful than giving unsolicited advice.

With that in mind, please consider these diabetes dos and don’ts when interacting with persons with diabetes:

1. Offer a listening ear, not judgmental comments or unwanted advice.

2. Make no comment about dietary choices. Don’t ask if the person with diabetes can eat what everybody else is eating.

3. Allow for privacy, if desired, or at the very least, do not call attention to blood glucose testing, injections or dosing if the person with T1D is using an insulin pump.

4. Treat the person with T1D like any other friend or teammate; do not single them out because of their diabetes.

5. Above all, see them as an individual, not as someone with an illness or a disease.
   

   Julie in her clinic

While these guidelines are often helpful, it is imperative to assist a person with T1D if they are ill, confused, or otherwise unable to assist themselves.

Most importantly, remember to take it one day at a time, especially when the burden is great, whether you are the caregiver or the person living with diabetes.

Daily diabetes care is hard work, and it’s ok to have an off day, just do not give up on yourself if the choices have not turned out well that day, start fresh the next day. Accept your best efforts each day as enough.

By Shari Navetta

My son was 22 months when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. We have been through everything, from dealing with insulin pumps while wearing diapers to Valentine’s Day school parties and sleepovers. Now he is eleven years old and in middle school. He and I handle his diabetes every day.

Shari and her son Andrew

When he was five, he was invited to a birthday party. When I dropped him off, the mom said her husband was just leaving to go get the pizza. I decided to stay until the pizza arrived so I could dose him for the correct amount of carbohydrates. Needless to say, an hour and a half later, I felt incredibly awkward still being there and the pizza still hadn’t arrived. I found myself staying in the basement of the boy’s house with 20 little boys running around me having a nerf war. I was super annoyed and told myself, “Something has to give.” As I drove home, I realized I hadn’t stayed because the pizza hadn’t arrived, but I stayed because I was afraid to leave him alone at a parent’s house that didn’t know much about diabetes. He was at an age where it was awkward to helicopter around him, yet I didn’t trust his ability to make life and death decisions on his own. Choosing not to allow him to go to the party because of diabetes wasn’t an option to me. The next day, I went to the store and got my little man a flip phone. I was super uneasy about the judgement I would receive from other kindergarten parents. I knew it seemed ridiculous to give him a phone at such a young age. However, I decided when he was away from me, I needed to know that he was ok. Of course, he was thrilled with his new little piece of independence. We discussed rules and because it was only a flip phone, he couldn’t play games on it. 

For the next six years, there were many times that I realized getting him that phone (and a couple of upgrades since then) was probably the best diabetes mom (or D Mom as so many of us love calling each other) decision I have ever made. I have been able to set rules about phones early when he still listened and followed them. He’s been able to learn responsibility for an expensive item (he never did find out that first flip phone was actually free when I added another line to our plan for $10.) To him, that phone was important and irreplaceable. It allowed him freedom. Having type 1 diabetes when you are growing up can be stifling enough. When you are nine and ten years old, you really don’t want your mom following you around the neighborhood, to a party or to a sleep over. He was able to do all of these things knowing that if he was in trouble, I was only a call or text away. More importantly, it allowed him to learn to trust himself.

I also imagined caring for your diabetes at a young age would be kind of like taking that first leap into the lake and knowing you would be able to keep yourself above the water. With each new opportunity of independence, he has handled himself responsibly. He understands that the phone is his way to care for himself.

Andrew with his phone

Finally, it allowed me freedom. When you are a D Mom, you are as protective as a mother bear in the wild. Every minute of the day and night, low blood sugars are ready and waiting to snatch your baby from your watch. We are vigilant and fearless and it is hard to let our cubs out of our sight. Knowing he had that phone, allowed me to go back to work. It allowed me to let him go to the sleepovers and allowed me to sleep while he was there. He still doesn’t know I am usually within ten minutes of him. It allows me to watch him learn to care for himself and teach him pitfalls and dangers along the way.

Getting him a phone was a great decision for our family. Every family is different and every child has their own needs. For our family, the phone gave us many opportunities for him (and me) to have a little independence while still feeling connected. And I don’t regret it.