Stepping out into the world

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1

One of the things I worry about, even though it’s kinda sorta too soon to be worrying about it, is how Eric is going to make his way in the world without becoming “that kid with diabetes.” Most especially, I worry about sports & other activities. I’ve read about coaches who don’t want to let children participate because they are fearful of the child’s health issues (diabetes and other conditions); and I’ve heard stories about people discriminating against people w/diabetes out of ignorance, and refusing to listen long enough to learn. Eric is active, athletic, and physical, and I do NOT want him left out.


So two things have come his way: first, I'm signing big brother Nate up for jukado (mixed martial arts) lessons at a donjon that stresses responsibility and respect above all. The Doshu of this organization is a man whom I've been told is fantastic with kids, and having met him a couple of times now, I believe it. So happened that the donjon put on a performance at a local town festival yesterday, so I stopped in and expressed that I wanted to sign both my sons up for jukado (though Eric is still a bit too young.) And then I looked the Doshu in the eye and said, "I want Eric to start when he turns 4 because I have no intention of having that insulin pump of his keep him on the sidelines." The Doshu didn't bat an eye; he simply said, "Absolutely not. There's no reason why it should." RIGHT ANSWER!!

The next thing was today -- we put Eric on a horse for the very first time. He was low just before going riding, and we simply shoved a straw from a juicebox in his mouth, let him drink the box dry, then swung him up on the back of the chestnut QH who teaches all the littlest kids -- and old "Sidewinder Jag" stepped out as carefully and gently as you could imagine. Eric grinned ear-to-ear the entire time, though he surely didn't feel all that great. I've heard stories of horses who can identify their owners' low BG, and I sure hope that happens with Eric. But more than that, I hope he grows to love riding as much as his father, brother and I all do. That's one arena he'll never be left out of.
2

Eric is better off today then I was 50 years ago. The world is not as limiting for T1s as it was when I was dxed. There is more information on how to manage; the insulin is better and loads of support in the online community…he will be fine just make sure he knows about how to manage his D and he can go far.

3

I used to work for our local soccer association. We had at least 10 out of 1500 kids that we knew were diabetics, and they were allowed to play. We encouraged other parents of children with chronic illnesses to let us know, so we could alert and educate their coaches. We had three deaf children, one blind child, one child with a prostetic leg, and many others with illnesses we didn’t know about. It takes educating the people who run the program, educating the parents of the kids on the team, educating the kids on the team, and the coaches. If you as parents are at different events with Eric, that helps you can be alert to his needs. I have a very good friend, my CDE infact, whose son plays varsity football. He has played some form of sports all through the years of elementary/middle and now high school. He watches his sugars between scrimmages, practices he leaves the field for a juice up, etc. The question should be for Eric, how much can he do, and is he willing to learn about how to walk through that world taking care of himself. Your concern is the concern of every parent of a child with diabetes, will they be able to walk the road alone with out you…and it’s a good question. But I believe that if we educate them, and educate others, they can do just about anything they want to.

4

Having Diabetes has life close some doors on you but also other doors ( opportunites ) are opened that never would have without diabetes. Yes he will be that “kid with diabetes”, but that can be a good thing not just a bad thing. He might grow as a person into “that doctor with diabetes” or that “Jukado instructor with diabetes” which will be a HUGE comfort/inspiration for kids in the future that get diabetes and need a doctor or jukado instructor.