Kim: The Diabetes Club Lives On!
save
We just had another dinner with the diabetes club. That's what we call our group of friends with one thing in common… type 1 diabetes! The goal is to get together every couple of months or so and have a dinner at one of our houses. Everyone helps provide the meal, and it always turns out healthy and delicious! I recommend forming your own type of similar group.
Just a few stats from our meal yesterday…
Adults: 9
Children: 14
Teenagers: 2
Pounds of chicken: 8
Pounds of pork chops: 6
Types of vegetables: 6
Gallons of fruit salad: 2
Carbs per serving of dessert: 15
Blood glucose meters: 5
Test strips used: 10
Pumps: 4
Combined years of diabetes experience: 13
…And some fun things we did that you might want to try yourself:
- Photo Op. We got all of the kids with type 1 lined up with their dessert to take a picture. Some of the other kids in the group wanted to get in the picture as well, but we had to quickly shoo them out for a minute so we could get just the kids with diabetes. The kids with diabetes were the "in" crowd. When does that ever happen normally?
- Free Play Time. The kids loved playing and getting to know each other better, and didn't require an organized game to do it. I heard a couple of different kids say, "Who is the kid with diabetes in your family?" I saw that they really wanted to connect with each other! They ran around playing "secret agent spy" for a long time while the adults sat and visited.
- Conversation. It's so nice sitting around and talking with other parents about diabetes. We're able to share feelings, get ideas for things that work, vent frustrations and just take a minute to laugh about what we deal with every day. When else can you sit around talking about A1C results or how certain foods affect blood sugar numbers? It really is the best way for me to get the therapy I need to tackle diabetes.
- Party Favors. Our friends, Kim and Dave, hosted the dinner this time and gave us all a party favor at the end of the night -- a sharps container! It was the most random party favor I've ever gotten, but it was perfect! It was something we could all definitely use, and it gave us all a good laugh!
If you are fortunate enough to connect with other families with type 1, give the diabetes dinner a try -- it's worth it!
About the author: My name is Kim. My daughter Kaitlyn (the third of our five children) was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just a few years after my nephew James was diagnosed with the same disease. I'm excited to pair up with my sister-in-law, Jen, to share our story with you!
Disclaimer: The experiences and suggestions recounted in these articles are not intended as medical advice, and they are not necessarily the "typical" experiences of families with a child who has type 1 diabetes. These situations are unique to the families depicted. Families should check with their healthcare professionals regarding the treatment of type 1 diabetes and the frequency of blood glucose monitoring. Jen and Kim are real moms of kids with type 1 diabetes and have been compensated for their contributions to this site.
Related topics:
Starting a Diabetes Club
In the Type 1 D Club
Meeting Other Families With Type 1 Diabetes