I realize I have completely neglected this blog. I started it with such great intentions. ; )
As many of you know, we have been extremely busy with life. We're in the midst of basketball season right now. I'm coaching Cassie's 4th grade team and Scott is assistant coaching Kylie's 3rd grade team. Poor Kelsey has to play spectator and practice partner for a lot of basketball right now! Actually, I think it's good that Cassie and Kylie are a focus right now. (Though never fear, we are NOT neglecting Kelsey!)
I've actually started a Diabetes blog about our life with Kelsey's disease. I've found that the blogosphere is a source of rich encouragement and information. The Diabetic Online Community (DOC) is very active and I wanted to be a part of that. If you're interested in learning about our journey with type 1 diabetes, you can find our blog here: www.cherishedchildren.blogspot.com. The great thing about our D-blog, is that it can keep this blog fairly D-free (I say "fairly", cuz I'm about to hit ya with some important D-info)!
While I won't dedicate anymore posts on this blog strictly to Type 1 Diabetes, I do want to share just a few things about T1D. I do this only because I feel I have neglected my job to educate others about T1D. In order to spread awareness for all those living with T1D, I want to clear up a few common misconceptions...
*Neither we, nor Kelsey, did or neglected to do anything that caused her to get T1D. It is an auto-immune disease in which the body attacks its own pancreas. Her pancreas is no longer producing insulin the way ours do. It is not caused by lack of exercise or a poor diet.
*Insulin is her life support. There is no way to treat it with diet or exercise (as some in the non-medical field claim). Type 2 can sometimes be treated this way, but NOT Type 1. Kelsey has to pump or inject insulin to stay alive!
*This is NOT something she will outgrow or something that will eventually cure itself. She will have this until a cure is found.
*Her care requires full-time monitoring! She checks her blood glucose levels multiple times a day and we even get up to check her numbers a couple times in the middle of the night. We also have to account for everything she eats (carbs, fiber, and protein). It's not easy!
I'm sure that many of you already know this information. For those who don't, now you do! It is so important for Kelsey that everyone knows these things because when people don't, they make judgments that children with T1D do not need to live with. They have enough to deal with already! We always welcome questions and are happy to provide you with more information. Anyway, thanks for being sensitive to and for her!
We love you guys and thanks for your support!
Extras...
-Wow, I used a lot of exclamation marks in this post!!!
-Below is a video that a fellow D-Mom put together about the crazy things people say to parents with children who have Type 1 Diabetes. It's sad, but funny!
