Parents | YOU CAN DO THIS PROJECT

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“We Can Do This”: Vol. 2

(For those who live with anxiety, even talking or reading about anxiety can be a trigger, so please proceed with caution before watching the video below.)

You may remember the “We Can Do This” video from this past April, in which five people who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as adults shared their diagnosis stories, lessons learned and advice for others who may be going through the same thing.

Keeping in line with that format, Vol. 2 gives a glimpse into the life of people who live with both anxiety and diabetes (or care for someone with diabetes). People already living with diabetes are about 20 percent more likely than those without diabetes to have an anxiety condition at some point in their lifetime, and it’s a topic that many are uncomfortable talking about.

And because the You Can Do This Project centers around the idea of opening up about the tough stuff – that’s exactly what Kate, Alexis, and Hallie did.

To connect with others with diabetes and anxiety, check out the new community “Anxious You Anxious Me” on Facebook and Twitter. You may also email Alexis directly at Anxietyyouanxietyme@gmail.com.

Category:

Adults, Daily Living, Encouragement, Group Videos, Importance of Community, Mental Health, Parents, Type 1, Videos, We Can Do This video series

Video: JDRF Omaha Walk

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the You Can Do This Project table at the JDRF Omaha Walk to Cure this past Saturday – we had beautiful weather and a great turnout. The nature of the event may not have been conducive to recording much video, but we did gather some “Words of Hope” to share with you!

Category:

Adults, Encouragement, Group Videos, Kids, Parents, Type 1, Videos

Video: Wendy

Contributor: Wendy; candyheartsblog.com

Connection: Parent of a child with type 1 diabetes

Quote: “I remember sitting in the ICU, thinking that she would never be able to enjoy Halloween again. I want to assure you that if those are things your child enjoys, you will still do them.”

Category:

Daily Living, Diagnosis Stories, Encouragement, Parents, Type 1, Videos

Video: Moira

Contributor: Moira McCarthy; despitediabetes.com

Connection: Parent of a young adult with type 1 diabetes

Quote: “I thought [her diagnosis] was the end of the world, but it’s 15 years later now, and we’ve been through everything.”

Category:

Daily Living, Encouragement, Parents, Teens, Type 1

Video: Amy

Contributor: Amy; www.diabetesmine.com

Connection: Person with LADA/type 1 diabetes

Standout Quote: “I’m not sharing all this to bum you out, but to let you know that you are not alone if you’re dealing with all this stuff every day, or even if you’re just getting started. Sure, it’s a pain; sure, it’s a lot of work, but you know what? You can do this.”

Category:

Adults, Daily Living, Diagnosed as an Adult, Diagnosis Stories, Encouragement, Insulin Pumps and CGMs, LADA, Parents, Type 1, Videos

Video: Alexis

Contributor: Alexis; http://justicesmisbehavingpancreas.blogspot.com/

Connection: Parent of a child with type 1 diabetes

Standout Quote: “Seeing him low or high just breaks my soul; my heart. But I’m at a point where I’m grateful: that I have insulin in the fridge, syringes, sites, cartridges, pump, a great endo, I have you guys… no, this isn’t the life that I would have chosen, but this is the hand we were dealt so I feel like I need to play it well.”

Category:

Daily Living, Depression, Diagnosis Stories, Encouragement, Importance of Community, Mental Health, Parents, Type 1, Videos

Video: Joe and Reyna

Contributors: Joe and Reyna; betabuddies.blogspot.com

Connection: Child with type 1 diabetes and his mom

Standout Quote: “I don’t like telling you this – it is a hard emotion to deal with, but frankly you will be envious; you will be jealous. Forgive yourself for these emotions. You are hurting; you are grieving. It is understandable. It is okay.”

Category:

Daily Living, Encouragement, Kids, Learning From Mistakes, Parents, Type 1, Videos

Blog Post: Jen

Contributor: Jen; @bloodsweatcarbs

Connection: Parent of a child with type 1 diabetes

Blog post: http://bloodsweatcarbs.blogspot.com/2011/06/you-can-do-this-from-one-type-1-parent.html

[Dylan has] played soccer for 3 years, from grades 2-4, and took karate at the same time, working his way up to his orange belt, before giving up the martial art due to time restraints (and he would like to resume both of these activities as soon as his schedule permits). He has taken countless sets of swimming lessons, and is headed to his third diabetes camp this summer. We also regularly go camping, hiking, cycling, walking, skiing, and geocaching as a family. He is on the school honor roll and for the past 2 years he has been part of the “gifted” program in his school district, which means that for a 1/2 day per week he goes to a different school with other “gifted” children to do more abstract challenge projects. And this past year he took up perhaps the scariest of all team sports, ice hockey, which he adores. All of this, combined with the youth ambassador work he does for JDRF, and a large group of school friends that he cares passionately about. Diabetes has accompanied us on family vacations to Las Vegas, Disneyland, Puerto Vallarta (twice), and many local destinations. With each new activity, we have faced new challenges, such as whether to suspend the pump, run a temp basal, switch to syringes, or simply remove the pump altogether, but through it all, Dylan has been positive and happy, and, to date, we have never had an A1C of over 9.0, so we’re doing okay.

Category:

Blog Posts, Daily Living, Diagnosed as a Child, Insulin Pumps and CGMs, Kids, Parents, Type 1

Video: Denise and “Bean”

Contributors: Denise (mom) and “Bean” (child); http://www.mysweetbeanandherpod.com/

Connection: Child with type 1 diabetes and her mom

Standout Quotes: “The only thing you cannot do is produce insulin, and that is not a big deal. There are many, many things you can do with diabetes!”

“The way I deal with it is the way she’s going to learn how to deal with it, and if we make it a big deal, it’s going to be a big deal to her. So, we don’t make it a big deal. We make it our friend. We deal with it; we make concessions; we make adjustments. There is nothing she can’t do.”

Category:

Diagnosed as a Child, Encouragement, Insulin Pumps and CGMs, Kids, Newly Diagnosed, Parents, Type 1, Videos

Blog: Diane

Contributor: Diane; http://dianespost.blogspot.com

Connection: Parent of a child with type 1 diabetes

Blog post: http://dianespost.blogspot.com/2011/06/you-can-do-this.html

“You can do this because you have strength in places you haven’t had to look yet. You have the love for your child that will drive you to find the way to coach him how to have the confidence to manage and thrive in his new world. And so you begin.

You move onto to your “new normal” with a positive and calm demeanor because you know he is watching your every move and taking his cues on how to handle all the unknowns from how you are handling them. You package up your own fear, worries and sadness and save it up for night or for your brief times alone in the car.

Diabetes is a family affair and while it makes me sad in places that I don’t have words for that my son’s childhood has been colored by this disease it has also brought a strength and bond to our family that gives me the peace to know we are able to handle our future. Diabetes is a part of us but it is not the soul of us.”

Category:

Blog Posts, Daily Living, Diagnosis Stories, Encouragement, Newly Diagnosed, Parents, Type 1