Above Photo: Deb Skiing Whistler-Blackcombe, BC 2016
Hi! I’m Deb.
Our oldest granddaughter, B, is a beautiful happy little girl who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 19 months old. From the doctors’ office to the Children’s Hospital, her life… and our lives changed. Particularly, her mom and dad’s lives, who became responsible to keep her alive, 24 hours a day, every day, even while she sleeps.
Incredible teams across the country teach and support parents and persons with T1D every day. There are no vacations or breaks from diabetes. One day may be good, the next a rollercoaster: excitement, stress, exercise, weather, growth spurts, hormones and illness all affect blood sugars.
How Did This Happen:
The cause may be autoimmune, or it may have been a virus. There is enough autoimmune diseases in our family to consider option 1: Arthritis, thyroid, celiac.
One of our goals is to educate those who do not understand what Type 1 Diabetes is and how it differs from Type 2 Diabetes. Type 1 is not a choice, nor can it be reversed with a change in diet, weight and exercise. Type 2 is usually lifestyle driven and there may be a choice. It is so very confusing because they share the same name.
Sadly, some people asked how much sugar did “B” have to eat in order to contract T1D. Simple answer: your pancreas is dead, now insulin administered will keep you alive. Sugar wasn’t the cause and yet it will become very important. Complex sugars, simple sugars and insulin.
I am a Gramma, who had the privilege and opportunity to retire early with the support of an incredible spouse, to help care for; and be regularly involved with T1D. It’s a big learning curve, one they don’t give parents much time to learn. And the rest of us follow along, trying to help and understand.
Diabetics are people and children first, and yet have a very real world they cope with.
We now have two sweet little granddaughters, who are inviting us along for the fun! Please join us in our adventures, our recipes, what we’ve learned and what’s still to come.
Deb and Mike
