Tag Archives: juvenile diabetes

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?

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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

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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 →

When Lightning Strikes… Twice

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They say lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place. I don’t believe it. Saturday our family was struck for the second time…with Juvenile Diabetes. On our recent trip to California, I noticed my eleven-year-old son, Riley, kept asking to stop for the restroom. Once. Again. And again. A bit of fear shot down my back. It all felt so familiar… it had been a road trip eight years ago when my oldest son showed his first symptoms. Often times, it takes a long drive to really see how often your child is using the bathroom. I mean, once they’re … Continue reading →

Get ready for… SUMMER CAMP!

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School’s almost out and summer is just around the corner. If you haven’t considered it before, summer camps for kids with disabilities are fun, instructional, inspiring, and offer ways for kids to socialize. There are all KINDS of camps, and most likely several in your area, providing opportunities for your child to have a terrific summer-fun experience. My son Garrett loved attending his juvenile diabetes camp in San Diego, California. Camp “Wanna-Kura” provided fun activities that taught principles of nutrition, glucose testing, and insulin dosing. There were LOTS of other kids for Garrett to interact with, who all had diabetes … 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 →