Have you ever heard someone mention they had diabetes, and immediately felt you knew how they could fix that? How you may have instantly judged their diet, their eating schedules and exercise routines? Did you believe the myth: it is a simple equation: No Sugar = No Diabetes or that Maybe they just have bad "genes".
The ELEVEN types of Diabetes are:
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 3c Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes
LADA
MODY
Neonatal
Alstrom Syndrome
Wolfram Syndrome
Steroid Induced
Brittle Diabetes
For further detail, please read this article by a friend and fellow policy advocate of mine, Christine Fallabel for DiabetesStrong as explains the various forms of diabetes, and what triggers the onset of that form of diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes.
Personally after Danika's diagnosis, I was constantly overwhelmed trying to "correct" people's comments and assumptions that just aren't factually true. And "defend" that she did not and we did not do anything to cause her autoimmune diseases of: Type 1 Diabetes & Hashimoto's Thyroid Disorder.
To Face each day, I had to start placing people in groups, I wore a blue ring (color of T1D awareness) to remind me to be kind, and that I didn't know before I had to know, and that education is key to understanding and perspective.
1. This person is willing to learn and understand this disease along with us to help keep her safe and lessen the burden of a 24/7/365 disease.
2. This person just wants us to be OK, and regardless of how much work it is, wants to minimize any situation or worry so they don't have to worry about us. I understand the perspective, but have to say, this group took preparation and mental preparedness before interactions.
3. This person is a caregiver to us all. They will call, text, FB comment, check in on us, encourage and support us along the way, let us vent without trying to fix things, wipe tears away, run for juice boxes, carry fruit snacks in their pocket, their car, call me for help if they are with her etc. This group is priceless to our survival.
4. Other T1D Families - a resource of experience that just "gets it", helps each other, shares information with each other, basically a group of "Fill each other's buckets up" people.
5. This person refuses to believe Type 1 Diabetes is a chronic health condition, and that it is just the same disease, managed the same way it was decades ago. But the world has changed. An example: during summer sports I get an urgent low alert, no one answering a phone, school is locked after practices start, and I am driving in a panic wondering how on earth I am going to get the medics into the school. The world around is us different and has to be taken into account in how you manage this disease within the rules and restrictions of things like "No Food allowed on the Bus", "No snacks in your locker" "No Water Bottles in class" "One bathroom break is enough" etc.
6. The HUGGER - Prepandemic of course - who could see we just needed a hug or an emoji hug, no words necessary.
7. Superstar is a person that:
Offers to "follow her CGM" to assist in ensuring she has what she needs before anything arises, or calls to ensure we are taking care of an urgent low and we haven't become "deaf" to the alarms or calls when she isn't in school and they didn't get a text.
People who even pregnant with twins, will get up at 3AM on school trips to check on her and let me know all is ok.
Families who take her skiing to Montana or to island lake cabins in Minnesota and do everything to create memories and have fun together, but also ensure they are prepared for the unexpected.
Family members & Friends who go on a mission trip to Ecuador with her so she can go without Mom having a panic attack.
Friends who ask to room with her on school outings because they are confident in their ability to help her if needed, they are empowered to call for guidance and they grew up quickly with her and weren't afraid to interact with adults.
Learn how to help change out insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring devices, tried a finger poke on themselves, learned not to be afraid of needles, filled insulin cartridges, etc. It really does help.
Volunteers who create opportunities for T1D's to meet other T1D's and go to Camp together.
I could list numerous examples, they know who they are and you get what I am saying.
Simply asks: What Can I Do to Help & Shows up to support efforts to find a cure either by donating to her team or attending events to show you support her\us personally.