CWD News
Recapping ADA 2024
The Children with Diabetes team just returned from a steamy hot Orlando and the 84th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. As we unpack our bags and start our laundry from the trip, we can’t wait to share this recap of our time at the conference. Grab an iced coffee, and let’s get ready to recap Sci Sessions! The American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions is described as the world’s largest meeting on diabetes, offering educational sessions and networking opportunities for those in the diabetes community and industry. There were over 11,000 in attendance who represented over 115 countries. The […]
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Understanding Infusion Set Options
There are several ways to get insulin into your body, such as wearing insulin pumps or automated insulin delivery systems (AIDs). This can be very helpful since people come in all shapes and sizes, and one size rarely fits all. Knowing what options are available for the system you use can make all the difference to your satisfaction and success with that system. What is available with what device? Insulin Pump Infusion Set Options Available Beta Bionics iLet Straight in cannula or steel needle Insulet Omnipod Only the angled proprietary cannula Medtronic 780G Straight in cannula normal or extended wear […]
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I Glucagoned My Daughter
Last night we had a scare. If I am being honest, it’s always been my worst fear: a diabetes low blood sugar that is so LOW that my daughter doesn’t make it out on the other side. She’s almost 15 years old now and we’ve been dealing with diabetes for 12 of those years. As a diabetes mom, I try to be prepared for all of the things, all of the time. I can usually handle it, until something happens like last night. It happened so quickly that I fumbled and panicked. While our story has a happy ending, it […]
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Diabetes Supplies: You’re Going to Need a Bigger Bag
When you have diabetes, you inevitably have to carry a lot of things with you. You have to be prepared for the many curveballs that diabetes can throw your way. How do you balance keeping enough supplies on hand and not carrying a giant backpack everywhere? It can be tricky, but it can be done! Here are some examples and scenarios to help you cultivate your various diabetes bags. Frequent places If you have a consistent place you go to, such as work, school, or family’s homes, it may be easier to leave some supplies there. These should include supplies […]
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Nausea with Lows and Diabetes Woes
It’s always amazed me how many little things can go wrong with the human body. So many complex systems work together so harmoniously that we often take it for granted. It’s very similar to a car – many things are working hard to get me from point A to point B, and I get very frustrated when it doesn’t work as it should. One tiny piece goes out of alignment, and hours of time and likely hundreds of dollars later, it’ll be back to usual. Unfortunately, it’s less simple when it comes to the human body, as we cannot take […]
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The Impact of Friends for Life
How do you measure the impact of an event? How do you quantify something that is difficult to explain to someone who has not experienced it? Studies about diabetes camps have shown how much peer support benefits children with diabetes. One study showed that many adolescents with diabetes learn about safety related to high-risk behaviors and type 1 diabetes at diabetes camps or Friends for Life (FFL) conferences. But these are just tiny glimpses into the vast expanse of what Friends for Life is. What is Friends for Life? As mentioned above, it isn’t easy to fully describe FFL. Children […]
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Stepping Back While Moving Forward
My daughter has had diabetes since she was three years old. It was unexpected and unwelcome. It changed our lives and nothing has been the same since this diagnosis. We’ve had the highest of highs…literally. And, we’ve had the lowest of lows…also, literally. We’ve moved from multiple daily injections to three different types of insulin pumps. We’ve learned to sleep with one eye open constantly focusing on a number on a continuous glucose monitor that lights up our bedroom like an airport runway. We’ve counted carbs and responded to alarms and done all of the things. We’ve also ignored the […]
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Weekly Basal Insulins: Could they be a Reality Soon?
It’s human nature to hope for better things and for some to focus on improving things. Historically, diabetes has been difficult, and many people have been unable to achieve their glucose management goals. The tools and technologies that we have today help a lot, but it’s not a perfect system. Researchers are still working hard to find ways to reduce the burden of living with diabetes and improve outcomes. One of the areas of focus has been reducing the amount of injections. Developments in Insulins Compared to when insulin was first discovered and developed, many different types of insulin are […]
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Mother’s Day: The language of loud sighs and quiet tears
It’s been a week, and it’s only Wednesday. It feels like there are 4,567 days of school left in this school year, but, in reality, we only have 8 days left until summer break. We’ve dealt with the unexpected “combo meal” of food poisoning and diabetes. A potential teenage suitor made a negative comment about my daughter’s diabetes and her twin brother’s autism all under the guise of flirting and an apparent lack of awareness that words can truly hurt. A mom and I got into a disagreement about our parenting styles, and a great friendship was halted before it […]
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Guiding Growth: Parenting for Diabetes Autonomy
Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs people experience. You want to be kind but not too passive, supportive but not an enabler. You want to give your children the world, but not spoil them. When you add a chronic disease, that means their life will be different than most of their peers, making it challenging to enforce all the added rules. As a person with diabetes, a nurse, and a diabetes care and education specialist, I’d like to discuss what I’ve been seeing more lately with families. My experience First, a big acknowledgment that I am NOT a […]
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