I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was ten, so 24 years ago. I have learned that in the diabetes community, it is an asset to get diagnosed as a child because kids receive hands-on teaching for themselves and their parents. I am no expert on type 1 diabetes on the whole, but I am an expert at mine. I am not a diabetes educator, because me and chemistry are a horrible match. It’s the only class I have deserved to fail, and my perseverance and effort prevented that from occurring in high school. Yet said, I know what it’s like to have a scary low. I know what it’s like to accidentally overtreat a low, and then you’re left with a yo-yo day trying to bring the high down as fast as humanly possible, because going from low to high in a short span of time feels unbelievably uncomfortable. I know what it’s like to have school administrators and teachers alike try to overly control what is happening, but have a very limited knowledge of type 1 diabetes. I know what it’s like to have a parent who doesn’t have it and always worries about you. I don’t know what it’s like to have a parent with diabetes. I don’t know what it’s like to be a male with diabetes. I do know what it’s like to manage the unmanageable on a daily basis. I hate the term diabetic, instead I call it ‘living with diabetes’, Trust me, I know what it’s like to have everyone ask you what your Dexcom is, tell you about anyone they know or have ever known with diabetes whenever they find you have and ask/tell you what you can eat. My personal favorite is when we get told the sugar amount in something, when they don’t know we count the carbs.
To me, even sugar is meeting with parents who have a child that was recently diagnosed and help them make sense of it all. It’s also for the adult that got diagnosed late in life and wishes they could have someone walk them through all of the information that they need to be an expert at to keep themselves alive. I can help you with that.
For Parents
You can share your diabetes worries with me, and I can tell you what is valid and what’s just regular parent worrying.
I can explain to you what things are like so you can better understand where your kid is coming from and what diabetes actually feels like.
I will listen to you share your concerns. I will do my best to answer your questions. I will help us figure out how many sessions meeting together are necessary.
After working with me, you won’t be a diabetes expert, but you will feel more comfortable advocating for someone in this world.
For Late-Diagnosed Adults
I am not a coach. I also don’t want to be a diabetes coach. I will never share my experience unless me sharing will help you.
I am here to help diabetes make better sense to you. If you are living with it, I’ll provide the kids' teaching approach to you and make it customizable to you and what you need help with.
Since I’m living with diabetes, I might need to treat a low, deal with a high, or change my pump during a session. That isn’t because I don’t value your time, but I think it’s important for you to see someone put their diabetes first.
Lastly, there are no stupid questions, and if needed, we will make time to vent about all the ridiculous things we are told.
Lastly, I am not a medical professional, so if you have questions about your basal, carb ratios, or which pump is best for you, I cannot help you. But I can answer basic questions about the differences between some things if I have personally used them. Or help you find the answers or information about other people’s experiences.
If even sugar would be a good fit for you, I invite you to book an initial consultation by emailing me at thebcukleycollective@gmail.com. The initial consultation costs $45 for everyone and lasts between 10-20 minutes. The first call can be video or phone, but all other even sugar sessions are done by video.