Today we say Thank You to our Mothers. We have a lot to be thankful for. Especially us, the ones who were diagnosed as a kid, where our Mothers played a key role in our Diabetes Management for quite some time.
I remember as if it were yesterday, when my Mom came, exactly 10 years ago, on May 12th 2004, a sunny Wednesday morning to my school, to tell me that I had Diabetes and that we needed to head to the hospital immediately. She was in tears, and so was I.
On that Wednesday, my Mom took on a big task, my Diabetes, that she was going to manage for the next years, and she has never stopped to do so.
The first two weeks in the hospital we learned a lot. I was 8, so I was included in all educational classes, but I could never fully grasp the full challenge of Diabetes management. She talked to doctors, took out the good info they gave her and she fought for carrots in the ward fridge, so I could have snacks in between my scheduled meals. Coming home from the hospital she, along with my dad, were working hard to keep my numbers in range and making sure I still had a childhood like every other child.
For the first 1.5 years I was on two shots a day, and besides the shots I had no big worries to face. Mom tested my sugars, sometimes in the middle of the night, she counted the carbs, she dosed my insulin, and she worried when I was high.
When I started the pump in 2005, I slowly started taking over some of the tasks. I cannot imagine how hard it was for her to let me go, however she was the perfect person to do so, as I attribute the good relationship with my diabetes mainly to her own handling with Diabetes. She made sure I could do anything I wanted, she advocated for me and my Diabetes, and she was always there when I needed her.
Of course there weren’t always happy times around our house ;) We did have our struggles, especially in the years, when I wanted to be in charge of my Diabetes, and she couldn’t fully let go, being aware that I was still forgetting a lot of the important stuff (I don’t wanna know how many boluses I forgot during that time, and still do sometimes…). However, I think Mom did a great job in transitioning from her taking care all on her own, to letting me take over my Diabetes.
Today, as an 18-year old, I basically manage my Diabetes on my own, but if there are days where I am just plain tired of it, or if I am in a hurry in the morning to catch the train and notice that my cartridge is almost empty, she is still there to jump in and make my life a bit easier.
With this blog post I wanna thank my Mom, but I also wanna encourage all the Moms, especially D-Moms, out there, who are struggling, working hard and sometimes might feel like they are failing: You are doing an irreplaceable job, and even if your kids might not thank you every day, your work is very much appreciated, needed, and it will make a difference!
I will celebrate my diaversary tomorrow with so much gratitude, gratitude for my Mom, my privilege to have access to Insulin, testing devices, insulin pumps and insurance, and gratitude for the many moments, experiences, and of course people all over the world I made and met only thanks to my Diabetes.
Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
SC
Swiss, this is beautiful. I'm thanking your mom too. She did a great job.
Nice Swiss :)
Am curious though, is it only us Brits who have Mothers Day in March?
what a beautiful tribute to moms, swiss
Nya, this is what wiki says:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothers_day
Mothers day was invented by an American woman, and it was usually celebrated on the second sunday of May. In Switzerland we celebrated today, too.
Looks like some other countries made their own mothers day.
Thanks for the nice feedback :)
I wanted to revive this topic because tomorrow is Mother’s Day and I think it’s very touching. Also written by one of our long time members Angela, aka Swiss, aka @swisschocolate. She hasn’t been quite as active as in the past, but she has a really good reason: she’s in Medical School in Switzerland, her home. (
swiss!)
I have told others here how personally healing it is for me to read how much work our D-Moms (and Dads) work to make life with diabetes better for their kids with type1. Thanks to all the Moms here! You’re a real inspiration! Have a fantastic Mother’s Day!
Well said Swiss, I too was 8 when diagnosed and I can only imagine what my mom went through. It’s funny though because to this day when she visits me she’ll ask me if I have my lucozade (sugary drink for hypo) with me when I’m leaving the house, and I turn 40 in a few weeks, lol! I always have a little giggle when she says it!!! I don’t think anyone else in my life has ever come close to sharing the burden like a mother does and that’s fair enough, I’m a big girl now after all! But it sure is nice to know she always has my back when it comes to diabetes and everything else for that matter. Love my mom!!!
thanks, marie for reminding me of that piece
years fly by so fast, I cannot believe that i already celebrated my 13th diaversary the other day. 
and my mom, she is still the best! studying to be a CDE at the moment, I couldn’t be prouder!