When you learned that your child has type 1 diabetes, you were probably given a lot of information—from medicines to how and when to eat. It's a lot. But watching this video as a family may help. This is Bryson's story. Hi! I'm Bryson.
Not long ago, I wasn't feeling great. I found out that I have type 1 diabetes. It was tough at first, but now things are better. Type 1 diabetes means my body doesn't make insulin.
Insulin is a thing that helps turn the sugar from food into energy I can use. Without insulin, my body can't use the sugar from food. And that can make me feel sick. Like a lot of kids with type 1 diabetes, I have a pump and a CGM. My doctor calls it a continuous glucose monitor. Because of the pump and CGM, I don't have to do finger-stick tests or give myself insulin shots. But a few of my friends with diabetes test their blood and use insulin pens. It didn't take long for me to learn how to keep my body feeling good and healthy. I pay attention to the foods I eat. My CGM checks my blood sugar, and my pump gives my body the insulin it needs. And just in case my pump or the CGM breaks, my parents and I know how to do the finger-stick test and give insulin shots. Here's how I would test my blood if I needed to. First I poke my finger with this thing called a lancet. Then I put a drop of blood in a little machine that checks how much sugar is in my blood. After I test my blood, a grown-up helps me figure out how much insulin my body needs. Insulin gets into my body through a shot. The shot has a really small needle. And now that I'm used to the shots, I don't even feel them much anymore. At school, I go to the nurse's office a few times a day to make sure I'm doing okay. When I started going to the nurse's office so much, some kids wondered why. They were worried about me, because they thought I might be sick. So I told them about diabetes. And I told them that you can't catch it from somebody else. Having diabetes means I am more careful about the food I eat. But it *doesn't* mean I can't have treats. I just have to make healthy choices most of the time. And I have to remember that if I eat some types of food, I might need more insulin. My family helps me by eating healthy too. We try to make dinner together, and we all help with the cooking. I can keep doing all the activities I like to do. Like playing football! Because exercise helps me stay healthy too. Oh! And I learned I'm not the only kid on my team who brings medicine to play football! Arthur brings an asthma inhaler, and Kate brings a bee sting kit. We help each other remember to bring the things we need when we have practice and games. Thank you to Bryson and his family for sharing their story. It may not always be easy, but just like Bryson's family—with information and a little time—you and your child can manage type 1 diabetes and live healthy, happy lives.
