Babysitter Resource for T1D

A resource for parents of children with type 1 diabetes and their sitters

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I was approached by diabetes legend Hope Warshaw last year and asked if I could contribute a few tips to a babysitters resource that she was writing. I immediately agreed but then a lot of time passed and I thought perhaps the project went away. Just the opposite it turns out... she was just taking her time and building the most complete resource on the subject that I have ever seen.

I want to share it with you because it is so well done and absolutely invaluable. Bonus, it's free.

For parents, being away from a child with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is tough— so tough that most avoid it altogether. But spending time apart is important for the whole family. Parents need time to themselves and children need space to just be kids, while growing more independent with their diabetes tasks.

SmartSitters covers essential information about T1D to help families and sitters manage T1D together, wherever they are.

The downloadable guide is full of wonderful information, thoughts from people living with type 1 and even has fantastic artwork so it is pleasant to read and use. Check it out!

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It's not the heat its the Glycemic Index

Carbs, carbs, carbs, my entire life is counting carbs. I hate it! Some days I’m not good at it and other days I’m the carb counting champ of my town and the surrounding counties.

What a slog - This food brings you up quick, that one is no good for a low... OMG, don’t eat that before bed.  Scales and cups and measuring spoons, I see them in my sleep (the sleep I get between 3 and 6am).

Today my advice is quick and to the point...

Pick up the book, “Pumping Insulin” and turn to page 82.  Read and re-read it until you understand what Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load mean.  Read page 82 until your silly face falls off, read it until you can recite it, read it until people start talking about you right in front of you because they think you won’t hear them as all you do is read page 82 of Pumping Insulin.  When you’ve finished just sit back and watch your A1c go down.

Say it with me, “It’s not the carbs, it’s the Glycemic Index”.

After you’ve mastered page 82, flip back and read the entire book, it’s the surest way to improving your insulin pump skills.  If you don’t use a pump... well, I think you should get one if at all possible.  I’d rock the OmniPod if I was you.

If you missed my other additions to blog week... my day one blog is here, day two is here and day three is here.

I’m not affiliated or compensated by any of the products that I mentioned, they are just great and in my opinion the way to go.

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The following are archived comments from this post. You can post new comments below.

Tracy

Hi!  I'm new here.  My son was diagnosed in early March. 

Question....first, we're not pumping yet, so I don't have Pumping Insulin, but I am reading Using Insulin by the same author.  So, I'm learning about tlycemic Index.

Here's my question....at one point in the book, he says it's best to try to avoid eating foods that have a GI above 60.  Do you do that with your daughter?  Do you give the insulin earlier?  

Thanks!

Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 06:20 PM

Scott

We avoid them as much as possible and pre-bolus meals as best as we can. Right now Arden is a little too young to trust that she'll always eat everything on her plate.  Pre-bolusing definitely cuts the spike out of a BG rise.

We hope to have a CGM very soon to aid us in understanding the way different carbs react in her body.

Stay tuned!

Best to you,

Saturday, May 15, 2010 - 10:46 AM