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• Waiting for the next shoe to drop
• It’s his responsibility to lead the sleigh
• He has been pretty understanding
• She knows that diabetes is apart of life
• Why him? He’s your favorite one
• She wanted to be involved
• Diabetes has become part of her life
• Taking on a maternal role

Waiting for the next show to drop

My mother-in-law is a type I diabetic, and her sister is a type I diabetic. The general rule of thumb, from what I understood, was that diabetes is not common in siblings, and they say that when that happens, then my girls have a higher risk of developing type I diabetes. So I watch my two girls, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Poor things, they can’t throw up without me checking their blood sugar. So we figure if that ever happens, they’re going to be okay because we’ve taught them how to eat, we’ve taught them how to be active, and they’ve watched Brady try to balance everything.

-Mother

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It's his responsibility to lead the sleigh

I think it was hard at first. It was a big change for everyone. I know in the beginning, Thomas’ brother was like “Oh, well I don’t have diabetes…Why can’t I have this big bowl of ice cream?” I had to take him aside and explain to him how hard it is on Thomas as well   He may not realize this because Thomas has been very good at coping with his diabetes. Very, very rarely ever have I ever heard him complain about having it. He just goes on like a rebel. I tell his brother that it’s his responsibility to lead the sleigh. 

-Father

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He has been pretty understanding

We have two children. Allie’s older brother does not have diabetes, but he has generally been pretty understanding about the adjustments that just get made in the family life to accommodate it. You know, we haven’t really changed a lot.

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She knows that diabetes is a part of life

She’s only two, but she does know that Immanuel takes his blood sugar. She’s only two so she doesn’t understand. She just knows that Immanuel takes his blood sugar and that’s part of life.  Because of dealing with Immanuel, there have been a few times where I’ve taken her blood sugar just because she was been drinking like a fish and that’s one sign of diabetes.

-Mother

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Why him? He's your favorite one

He complains sometimes.  We try to explain it but he’s very smart too so he understands. He still complains, “Why him, why him? He’s your favorite one.” But he’s been much better now.

-Father

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She wanted to be involved

It was really hard for her in the beginning. With Abby, she has always been the one that was the oldest, got a lot of attention, and she was used to us having a lot of time for her. What happened was after Billy was diagnosed, John and I were so wrapped up in calling the hospital when Billy was 400 or 40 and then waiting, and then trying to count carbohydrates when we were making meals and have his insulin in the syringes. So, we were so blown away by the basics of keeping Billy safe that we didn’t have a lot of time for her and what we learned was to keep her close. Because she was the oldest and because she wanted to be involved, we ended up talking out loud to her.  You know, “Abby, we are trying to learn how to count carbohydrates. What’s two plus seven?” and involving her and making her feel important to us like she was helping us. And that ended up meaning we could still stay with what we needed to do.

-Mother

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Diabetes has become part of her life

She went from helping us in the beginning to learning about it. She even came to the hospital with us and sat through all the classes when we first got there. And then she learned how to be his babysitter, which is a big deal for a kid to be able to help her brother. And often times, she would be the one who would notice, “Mom, he looks low” or “He seems really hyper. Do you think he’s high?” So she ended up being really helpful and part of the team and she became his babysitter.  Now, I know this summer she’s going to volunteer at a diabetes camp, at Clara Barton and she’s still writing articles for Diabetes Health. So it’s become a part of her life. I would add that she’s healthier than she certainly would have been if he hadn’t been diagnosed. She eats far better than than we used to and we all exercise a lot more than we would have.

-Mother

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Taking on a maternal role

Abby was included in all the meetings and the decisions and she definitely has a maternal role towards Billy and she’s very affectionate with him.

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