Happy Diaversary! Surviving the First Year with Type 1 Diabetes
There is a tradition in the Type 1 Diabetes community to celebrate each year on the day of diagnosis. My 6-year-old daughter’s first “Diaversary” just came and went. Last December, we found out our five-year-old daughter’s increased thirst and hunger wasn’t from a growth spurt. Her body’s immune system had started attacking her pancreas, the gland responsible for regulating blood sugar by producing insulin and glucagon. She had developed Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).
Reflecting back, it’s simultaneously hard to believe it’s already been a year and only been a year. We’ve dealt with the complex emotions that accompany a life-long battle to keep a child alive. We’ve navigated the steep learning curve of Type 1 Diabetes care filled with blood checks, shots, idiosyncratic medical terminology, archaic tools, and a whole lotta math. T1Ds and their caretakers learn to speak, think, and act as if they went to medical school just to stay alive.
Here’s an honest look at our experience through the first year after diagnosis — what we’ve had to learn, how it felt, and what has made it slightly easier for us along the way. I hope it helps other parents navigating…
