[Host] When you learned that your child has type 1 diabetes, you were probably given a lot of information—from medicines to how and when to eat. It's a lot.
But watching this video as a family may help. This is Bryson's story.
[Bryson] "Hi! I'm Bryson.
Not long ago, I wasn't feeling great. I found out that I have type 1 diabetes.
It was tough at first, but now things are better.
Type 1 diabetes means my body doesn't make insulin.
Insulin is a thing that helps turn the sugar from food into energy I can use.
Without insulin, my body can't use the sugar from food. And that can make me feel sick.
Like a lot of kids with type 1 diabetes, I have a pump and a CGM.
My doctor calls it a continuous glucose monitor.
Because of the pump and CGM, I don't have to do finger-stick tests or give myself insulin shots.
But a few of my friends with diabetes test their blood and use insulin pens.
It didn't take long for me to learn how to keep my body feeling good and healthy.
I pay attention to the foods I eat.
My CGM checks my blood sugar, and my pump gives my body the insulin it needs.
And just in case my pump or the CGM breaks, my parents and I know how to do the finger-stick test and give insulin shots.
Here's how I would test my blood if I needed to.
First I poke my finger with this thing called a lancet.
Then I put a drop of blood in a little machine that checks how much sugar is in my blood.
After I test my blood, a grown-up helps me figure out how much insulin my body needs.
Insulin gets into my body through a shot.
The shot has a really small needle.
And now that I'm used to the shots, I don't even feel them much anymore.
At school, I go to the nurse's office a few times a day to make sure I'm doing okay.
When I started going to the nurse's office so much, some kids wondered why.
They were worried about me, because they thought I might be sick.
So I told them about diabetes. And I told them that you can't catch it from somebody else.
Having diabetes means I am more careful about the food I eat.
But it doesn't mean I can't have treats.
I just have to make healthy choices most of the time.
And I have to remember that if I eat some types of food, I might need more insulin.
My family helps me by eating healthy too.
We try to make dinner together, and we all help with the cooking.
I can keep doing all the activities I like to do.
Like playing football! Because exercise helps me stay healthy too.
Oh! And I learned I'm not the only kid on my team who brings medicine to play football!
Arthur brings an asthma inhaler, and Kate brings a bee sting kit.
We help each other remember to bring the things we need when we have practice and games."
[Host] Thank you to Bryson and his family for sharing their story.
It may not always be easy, but just like Bryson's family—with information and a little time— you and your child can manage type 1 diabetes and live healthy, happy lives.
