A support system is a must. And I'm not talking the one we snap on under our clothes every morning, ladies! You need to find some people who know exactly what you are going through.
I had breakfast with some lovely ladies Friday morning. They all have kids with D, and one was diagnosed with it at the age of 12. One woman's son was dx at the age of 16 months. They had tips, tools, and ideas that could help me manage diabetes better. It was nice to talk with people who are fighting the same fight as I am.
If your child has been diagnosed with diabetes, don't fight this disease alone. It. Will. Kill. You. Maybe not physically, but it will kill your spirit. And if it doesn't then you deserve to be knighted or something. But all us mere mortals need to be supported in this journey.
I am part of a message board (Place for Parents), and I love it, but there is no substitute for living, breathing, actual people. You can go to the JDRF site, and find your local chapter. They should know of people in your area that meet together. If there isn't anything, think about starting one yourself. I can be quite shy at times, and it's hard for me to put myself out there, but I know it is so important to my well-being.
Do it for yourself. Do it for your child. Do it because you need to.
Hi Joanne~ My daughter Kacey was diagnosed last year with type 1 diabetes and she is going to be 9 next week. I just ran across your blog. I agree having a support network is so important. Unfortunately the support group that meets through my daughter's hospital is about an hour and a half away and they only meet for an hour and a half so it's really not something we can work into our schedule. Thats why I started blogging and I met so many other parents of T1 kids and T1 adults that have been able to offer the support and advice I've needed the last 7 months. It's a great online community! :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad you have found these people. Nothing is better than people who know what it is really like and can walk alongside you. (And, you're right, although the internet, blogs, and groups are AWESOME, there is no substitute for real people in the flesh in front of you.)
ReplyDeleteWhere do you guys meet? Maybe I could join you sometime?
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