My blog readers know me mostly as a family history writer, but I write other things, too, like homeschool curriculum, book reviews, guest blogs, and more.
Katie, 9 years old
I have a new project that I need help with – a journal for young people with type 1 diabetes. I’ve seen journals for people with cancer and other illnesses, but not one for those with type 1 diabetes.
Katie and her husband, Alex, cutting the cake at their wedding earlier this year
My daughter was diagnosed with T1 when she was 10. It was a rude awakening, as anyone whose life is touched by T1 knows. She’s 27 now, and her journey from newly diagnosed to capable and confident has inspired me to create a journal for those like her.
This is not an instructional journal that teaches how to count carbs and skills like that.
This is a personal journal for recording accomplishments, frustrations, and things learned about how to live with T1 diabetes.
If you have type 1 diabetes, please complete the survey I have linked to below. It’s only 11 questions and won’t take long.
Link to survey:
Type 1 Diabetes Journal Survey
And whether you have T1 or not, please share this blogpost and survey through your social networks. The more input I have, the more helpful the journal will be.
Thanks so much for your help.
-Nancy
Copyright © 2015 Nancy H. Vest All Rights Reserved
I was diagnosed in 1991, and my first memories are 1. being told by a nurse – “Look at you! You were 120 lbs when you came in, and now you’re back to 135! You need to control your eating!” At the time, I didn’t know it was very normal after the extreme dehydration of ketoacidosis to gain weight.
2. Being shown a video of people with diabetes, most likely a large number of people with type 2, having their limbs cut off in a “scared straight” effort by the hospital. Keep in mind, I was 11.
I dealt with depression for years. I tried to kill myself once so “diabetes wouldn’t win.”
Now, I’m a psychiatric nurse. I devote a large amount of time to my kids with diabetes, especially Type 1, because most people, even health care providers, don’t understand what it’s like. I help with eating disorders because I’ve been there. I help with self-mutilation and cutting because I’ve also been there.
Everything we go through is help to someone else.
Melissa,
What a horrible introduction to diabetes. That “scared straight” plan isn’t very effective with an 11-year old. I know it wouldn’t have been effective for my daughter when she was diagnosed at almost 11. My daughter was fortunate to know three women my age with T1. These ladies helped her see that she could marry and have children and a career and all those adult things even though she has T1. I know you are a blessing to the T1 kids you work with, just like these ladies helped my daughter through the rough pre-teen, teenage and young adult years with T1. Thanks for connecting. Nancy