Leighann Calentine's Blog, page 10

What My Own Medical Condition Taught Me About Type 1 Diabetes: My SIBO Diagnosis Story

After being diagnosed with small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), I gained a new perspective on what it means to live with an invisible illness.

Image: Pixabay

Q has been living with type 1 diabetes for over ten years now. In that time I’ve learned to be an advocate for her to make sure she gets what she needs to meet her medical needs, to be safe at school, and to participate in extracurricular activities.

But in those ten years, I have to admit that I haven’t always put myself first —...

A Caregiver’s Journey To Pump Therapy Series

Over the course of a year, I shared our journey from multiple daily injections (MDI) to pumping with the Omnipod insulin pump over on Insulet’s Suite D Blog (now called Podder Talk). If you are considering an insulin pump — any insulin pump — I encourage you to read the series.

I don’t “officially endorse” products here on D-Mom Blog, but the Omnipod is the pump that we use and was the right choice for our family. I always tell families that if you are considering a pump to look at all of th...

Walking a Tightrope: The Insurance Plan Year Conundrum

The last couple of weeks of the insurance plan year are always a bit tense as I walk this tightrope between insurance coverage, flexible spending account funds, and diabetes supplies.

Image: Pixabay

Our health insurance plan year begins on July 1 annually. For some families, it’s January 1.

By June each year, we have used up the pre-tax money that we allotted to our flexible spending account (FSA). I try to hold off on major medical expenses like ordering three-month supplies of insulin, insu...

Winter Holidays With Diabetes

Here are some tips for celebrating winter holidays, such as Christmas and Hanukkah, when your child has type 1 diabetes, including non-candy stocking stuffers, carb counting for candy, and gift ideas for T1D kids and the school nurse.

Image: Pixabay

The holidays can be daunting, especially for parents of children recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. You may think that you need to change some of your traditions, especially if they are food-based. The reality is that you can make almost any...

A Caregiver’s Journey to Pump Therapy Part 6: Experiences Starting the Pump and How Life Has Changed

In part 6 of the Caregiver’s Journey Series, hear about our last few days on multiple daily injections and how the insulin pump makes meal times a bit easier.

How is the type 1 diabetes journey – from diagnosis, through starting on multiple daily injections, to beginning on an   insulin pump   and other milestones – viewed and managed from the caregiver perspective? Join me in this 6-part series as I discuss my experiences navigating the diabetes journey as a   parent of a child with type 1 diabe...

Reflections on Diabetes Awareness Month

Here are my reflections as I look back over the past 30 days of Diabetes Awareness Month, when I shared messages on social media to educate and advocate for those living with diabetes.

For Diabetes Awareness Month I chose to share 30 daily diabetes thoughts and facts, across social media platforms Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

My goal is always to reach beyond those affected directly by diabetes to help educate or dispel a myth. I know that together we reached beyond those dir...

Diabetes During the Holiday Season

With planning and flexibility, your child with type 1 diabetes can still enjoy holiday treats and participate in school parties.

Image: Pixabay

It’s that time of year again. It seems like there is holiday gathering after holiday gathering, which can make diabetes management a little more difficult than usual. No matter which of the December holidays your family celebrates, there is always food involved in the celebration.

As with Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Halloween, there are a few things...

Diabetes Awareness Month: Day 30

“Diabetes is just one aspect of a child with type 1. Of course, take care of their medical needs, but try to make them feel like a kid first and foremost.”

Every day during Diabetes Awareness Month, I will share a fact, tip, or thought on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

The post Diabetes Awareness Month: Day 30 appeared first on D-Mom Blog.

Diabetes Awareness Month: Day 29

“Though you want your child to eventually self-manage their diabetes, take back over care if it becomes too much for them or they need a break. They have their entire life with diabetes ahead of them.”

Every day during Diabetes Awareness Month, I will share a fact, tip, or thought on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

The post Diabetes Awareness Month: Day 29 appeared first on D-Mom Blog.

Safe Needle Disposal: Safety Is the Point

SafeNeedleDisposal.org provides safe medical sharps disposal information based on zip code. The site is run by NeedyMeds, a national non-profit patient education organization.

(This post is sponsored by SafeNeedleDisposal.org. Please read my disclosure statement. All opinions are my own.)

Years ago our local pharmacy had a sharps recycling program. They gave you the container, and you returned it when it was full. I was saddened when they ended the program because I try to do my due diligenc...