“I Forgot I Had Diabetes!”

We were sitting around in our favorite gourmet burger spot, enjoying a celebration for my son who just turned twelve. Everyone had decided what size cheeseburger they wanted, how they wanted it cooked, and what kind of cheese would be grilled with the meat. We tried to keep an eye on the smaller members of the family, who had run over to the arcade, while my husband and I and our older children chatted about random stuff. Our pager buzzed, and the food was ready. Everyone hopped up to the counter and dressed their burgers, then eagerly sat down to … Continue reading →

A Little Hope Over Lunch…

Yesterday I had the opportunity to have lunch with the Executive Director of the Utah Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Another children’s book writer and I are pitching the idea of creating some illustrated books which could perhaps go into the “Bags of Hope” which are given to newly-diagnosed kids. All of our work would be donations to the cause. I’m excited about the project and the director seemed very receptive and encouraging. As we spoke over lunch, we talked about my two sons with juvenile diabetes. The director told me she could “count on one hand” the … Continue reading →

The Great TRICK-or-TREAT Divide: Juvenile Diabetes and Halloween

Do you have a child with juvenile diabetes, or a child on a special diet? Or do you just hate the idea of your son or daughter eating a lot of candy? With Halloween approaching, you might be wondering how to deal with the whole trick-or-treating routine. How do you allow your child to participate, and still limit the sugary indulgences? Note: Children with juvenile diabetes can eat candy! It’s not forbidden for a child in good control. You simply must count the carbohydrates into their meal plan, or give enough insulin to cover the amount. Still, a whole lot … Continue reading →

Our “WALK TO CURE DIABETES” Scrapbook

Today our family walked to cure diabetes! We got up bright and early and drove for an hour to our destination. (I had to yank and coax and threaten a few kids to get out of bed.) But once we got there, we were so glad we made the effort. Now that I have two sons with juvenile diabetes, I knew our family needed to take a stronger stand in joining the cause to cure it. We made a donation, and others offered their support. This is a disease which takes a terrible toll on a child’s health and well-being. … Continue reading →

“My brother’s got it, too.” Siblings with Juvenile Diabetes

This photograph makes me smile, because it shows the playful personality of my boys so well. (I have two other sons, Kyle and Liam, and three daughters not pictured.) Riley, age eleven, is finally getting into the groove of his diabetic routine. It has been two months since his diagnosis. For an eleven-year-old, he’s amazingly responsible and careful. Yet there’s something so unfair about a kid having to spend his life giving himself shots. I’m very proud of how he’s handling all this. At first, he was reluctant to give himself the injections, and we didn’t push the issue. His … Continue reading →

What Babysitters and Caregivers of Diabetic Kids Should Know

When your young child is a diabetic, it can be unnerving to leave him or her with a babysitter. So many things could go wrong. What if your son experiences insulin shock while you’re away? What if your daughter develops hyperglycemia and gets a stomachache? How will the caretaker know what to do? And how do you encapsulate what has taken you months to learn into a quick, easy lesson for a sitter? It seems impossible, which is why many parents choose to just stay home with their child. Classes for Caregivers are Provided at Your Child’s Diabetic Clinic or … Continue reading →

Why Do Some Kids Get Juvenile Diabetes? And Can We Prevent it?

The endocrinologist entered Riley’s hospital room, and asked how things were going. Did he have any stomach aches, pain, and how were his ketones? Then he turned to me and asked the loaded question: “Was there anything else that I wanted to know about?” Yes. I wanted to know why. Why did I have two children with juvenile diabetes? What caused it? Did I feed my kids too much sugar? What had I done? How could I prevent this from happening to yet another one of my kids? That’s when the endocrinologist explained what we know about the disease, and … Continue reading →

Striving for Independence: Kids and Juvenile Diabetes

After a long six-hour drive, I walked past the familiar fountain at the Children’s Hospital of San Diego. Was I really back at this place? Was history truly repeating itself? I checked in at the front desk, and rode the elevator to the second floor. In room 219 was my precious Riley. A wide smile spread across his face as I opened the door. “Hi R.J.!” I said. “If you wanted me to come for a visit, all you had to do was call. This is a bit over the top.” He giggled. Education is the Foundation for Treatment Spread … Continue reading →

Being “The Blood Sugar Police.” A Job I Didn’t Apply For

The title of “Mom” comes with many responsibilities. “Blood Sugar Police” was one I hadn’t planned on. It was one of those jobs I wish I could have politely turned down, but no. I was drafted into the position, like it or not, when my young son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age seven. Job Training I received my training at the Children’s Hospital of San Diego, where I learned to jab oranges with a syringe and measure blood sugar levels. (See my blog, “Oranges and Ball Machines: My Training In Caring for My Son’s Diabetes.”) I’ll be honest … Continue reading →

Oranges and Ball Machines: My Training in Caring for My Son’s Diabetes

In the lobby of the Children’s Hospital and Health Center of San Diego there used to be a rather fantastic ball machine. After arriving with his suitcase packed, a somewhat bewildered Garrett stopped to watch the balls in the machine as they rolled around the mini-tracks, up and down, activating spinners and gadgets. It was difficult pulling him away from it. But we checked in, and Garrett was given a patient wrist band. We were directed to his room, which was ready and waiting. A nurse met us and drew Garrett’s blood, much to his displeasure. We tried to situate … Continue reading →