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31: Supporting a Family That’s Struggling With T1D
Manage episode 364689939 series 3391328
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We all know that how we experience our kid’s type 1 is very different from how the rest of the world sees us. People on the outside might see us calmly dosing for a meal or picking up prescriptions at the pharmacy. They have no idea that we’re up nights, checking the Dexcom through the day, or on the phone with insurance for hours on end. That said, sometimes people on the outside might have concerns about what they see. Is their view accurate? Hard to say. But the question is how to address those concerns if you’re someone who wants to help.
In this episode, we hear from a concerned aunt who wrote in with a question. She worries about her 12-year-old T1D nephew. From her outside perspective, she doesn’t see that her sister is managing his diabetes well enough. With guest and fellow T1D-mom Annie, I talk through both the possibility that this aunt doesn’t have the whole picture and the likelihood that the boy’s mom lacks support and struggles with mental health.
Here are some takeaways:
- Diabetes is hard, and all families struggle at some point. Getting family support (and offering that support) can make a difference in helping manage what is – ultimately – a family disease.
- Mothers – or the lead T1D parent – deserve help. Partners, other family members, and even therapists can hugely lift the burden. And, of course, I can’t pitch camp enough: Family camp, in particular. Camp is a fantastic way to connect to a community that fully gets what you are experiencing.
- When eager to support from the outside, show curiosity without judgment or anxiety. It’s okay to have some fear but drop criticism at the door. Maybe you have some preconceptions about diabetes – but learn what you need to before bringing up your concerns about someone else’s situation.
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Need help getting your kid the right snacks?
That's why I've created the Sweet Talk Snack Course. It's a free mini-course to give you 6 snack sized lessons on making sure you're giving your kid the right foods to keep them nourished and their blood sugar in check. Get it at https://diabetessweettalk.com
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