I Hate Diabetes: Perspective is Everything
Graham Daugherty • June 20, 2018
By Jennifer Griffin
You read that right, I hate diabetes. I said it. A lot of caregivers think it, but it’s not supposed to be said out loud (or written down!). We’re supposed to be strong, encouraging, and supportive of our little warriors. We’re supposed to stay calm, focus on fixing the problem and let kids be kids. But let’s face it, there’s a lot of things to hate about this thing we call type 1 diabetes.
- 3AM Juice parties and 3:20 and 3:40 and 4:00 and darn now she’s too high.
- Saying no to ice cream because through no fault of her own, she’s been 350 all day.
- Spending 3 hours on the phone with the insurance company trying to get them to cover the medication that will literally keep her alive.
- Watching your two year old meltdown in Target, knowing it’s a high BG and that everyone around you thinks you’re a terrible mom.
- Holding your seven year old as they cry because some little kid told the whole class she was contagious and now no one will sit with her.
- Letting your 10 year old go to a sleepover, hoping you won’t have to call the house at 3am because the Dex is alerting low, or worse, not having a Dex and just worrying all night.
- Letting your 16 year old drive alone for the first time, praying that she’ll check her sugar before starting the car, knowing she probably won’t.
- Letting your 18 year old go off to college, hoping you taught her well enough to stay out of the hospital.
Now, before you throw in the towel, let me tell you why it’s not all bad.
- 3AM juice parties, as I laid next to her bed, holding her tiny hand, watching her sleep.
- Saying yes to ice cream because a 50 is a good reason to have ice cream.
- Knowing that 100 years ago I would be spending hours in the hospital watching my child waste away and die.
- Asking your child “are you high?” in public and waiting to see reactions from nearby judgy moms.
- Going into the classroom and teaching the kids what diabetes is and what makes my kid so awesome.
- Sending my 10 year old to diabetes camp, knowing she’ll be safe and I can SLEEP for a week.
- Watching as my child matures enough to handle things on her own, instead of relying on mom and dad to be the pancreas.
- Knowing I’ve done everything I can to help her grow up and realizing she will make the same mistakes I did, but knowing she has more empathy, more responsibility, and more maturity than most kids her age.
So, hang in there caregivers – look for silver linings, take advantage of the opportunities as they come (meeting the governor at the Children’s Diabetes Foundation’s Carousel Ball was almost as cool as meeting all of the Avalanche players), and remember: you have a kid with diabetes, diabetes does not have your kid!
TL;DR After 15 years of living with type 1 diabetes, Sasha shares her journey from diagnosis and denial to acceptance, advocacy, and a career in healthcare. Through challenges like fear of injections, managing diabetes as an athlete, and navigating school and college, she discovered strength, community, and purpose. Her story shows that while diabetes is difficult, it can also shape identity, open doors, and lead to meaningful connections and opportunities.
Type 1 diabetes affects mental health in youth and families. Learn about risks like depression, anxiety, and distress, plus support options and when to seek help.
Type 1 diabetes is often misdiagnosed as flu, UTI, or viral illness. Learn key symptoms, DKA warning signs, and when to ask your doctor for testing to avoid delays.
Follow one patient’s journey with type 1 diabetes from childhood diagnosis to college life, sharing challenges, independence, and finding support along the way.
A parent shares how naming type 1 diabetes “Frank” and reframing it helped protect their child’s identity, improve mental health, and strengthen family support.
Donate your Colorado state tax refund to the Children’s Diabetes Foundation. Learn how to use form DR 0104CH to support T1D patients and families.
Learn the three stages of type 1 diabetes and why early screening matters, including how detection can reduce DKA risk and delay onset with new therapies.
With Father’s Day just around the corner, I am thinking about my dad even more than I usually do. He was a special man who lived a remarkable, impactful life right up until the day he passed away at the age of 98, a little over a year and a half ago. He was a decorated World War II veteran, a bookie in Vegas during the Rat Pack era who married the love of his life between rounds of a prize fight, and who later went on to become a successful entrepreneur. Most importantly though, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
Author: Lindsay Klatt Being the dad of two daughters already has its highs and lows; having one of them (who admittedly was already a little feisty) diagnosed with type 1 diabetes makes him a saint. My wonderful dad navigated these challenges with such love and grace. As we approach Father’s Day and as I recently celebrated my 27th Diaversary, I reflect on the things he deserves to be thanked for. There are too many to count and no way to properly express gratitude for the additional struggles type 1 fathers face, but here’s a toast to a few of the things etched on my heart: Cheers to my dad who, when I was diagnosed, had the best balance of acknowledging the sadness of the event and being encouraging for the future. It made me feel seen to see him upset, and to see him determined. He has always maintained that balance I am so grateful for.
