Being a parent of a kid with type 1 diabetes changes you forever — at least, I’m convinced that it has changed me forever! You know, in some ways I’ve become a little bit crazy, expecting the worst to happen at times. On the flip side, being a D-parent has taught me so much and helped me to see the humor in life’s challenges. In the spirit of taking ourselves not too seriously, I’ve compiled a list of things that perhaps only D-parents can understand. We truly are an interesting breed!
Are you one of us? You just might be a D-parent if:
- You wake up every two hours to check on your child — and they’re not a newborn.
- When reading food labels, you look at carbs before calories.
- You know the school nurse better than your child’s teacher.
- You’ve carried measuring cups in your purse, like some kind of traveling baker.
- You’ve squirted pancake syrup in your child’s mouth at 3 a.m.
- When packing for a weekend trip, your child’s suitcase is bigger than yours.
- When someone says they’re thirsty or tired, you want to hand them a testing kit to make sure their blood sugar levels are okay.
- Being high means something different to you than it does to the concerned neighbors overhearing your backyard conversations.
- You own a food scale and you are not a professional chef or dietician.
- Your other kids joke that you have a child named What’s Your Number.
- You buy Smarties® and juice boxes in bulk.
- You know where the islet of Langerhans is located in the body and what it does.
- You’ve given more shots to children than most med school students.
- You’ve considered going back to school to be a nurse… might as well make it official!
Disclaimer: The experiences and suggestions recounted in these articles are not intended as medical advice, and they are not necessarily the “typical” experiences of families with a child who has type 1 diabetes. These situations are unique to the families depicted. Families should check with their healthcare professionals regarding the treatment of type 1 diabetes and the frequency of blood glucose monitoring. Jen and Kim are real moms of kids with type 1 diabetes and have been compensated for their contributions to this site.
Smarties is a registered trademark of Smarties Candy Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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