16 Comments
Happy Father’s Day! Please share anything T1D-related that your dad (or grandfather / any father figure) does that you’re grateful for.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
© 2023 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
When my pancreas finally gave out, I went to hospital to learn all about the changes I needed make (shots, food, exercise, precision) for the rest of my life. My dad felt so sorry for me – I was 16. He walked with me around the diabetes wing of the hospital. He pointed out the diabetic patients hopitalized with heart disease, kidney failure, or neuropathy. He said, “you don’t have to do this. You don’t have to or want to live this life. You can do better.” Looking back on it, I wasn’t quite sure what he meant. At the time, I took it to mean that if I had discipline, focus, determination and precision, I could fend off the horrible long-term health aliments from high glucose. And, I couldn’t have been more thankful for his wise words.
My Dad had T1D and he showed me that if you plan, you can go anywhere. I taught that to my son with T1D and now he is teaching that to his daughter with T1D.
Happy Father’s day.
My father had to revive me from nocturnal hypoglycemia multiple times growing up. He was calm but persistent even if I resisted. He was my guardian in more than one way, lost him at 89 a few years ago, passed away in his sleep with his favorite Washington Redskins football jersey on, in his own home. I still miss him but he had a good run…
Never met my Father or his side of the family. So I have nothing T1D related to share.
For many years, Dad and Mom helped pay for my insulin and supplies, even the co-pay my insurance didn’t cover. Dad died 12 years ago and I think of him often.
My father is passed now but, when I was about 10 years old, my family were moving across country and stopped at the Painted Desert. We were half-way through walking around all the cool trees that were now rocks and I realized I was low. This was a long time ago and before my Mom or Dad or I carried glucose tablets… heck, I don’t even know if glucose tabs as we know them today existed at that point.
Anyway, my dad ran back (about a mile?) on a very very hot day to the welcome center to get an orange juice then he ran all the way back to where my parents decided I should wait.
That’s when I knew my dad would do just about anything to help save me.
Thank you for allowing me to tell that story! I’m so glad to remember it.
When I was first diagnosed w T1 DM at the age of 6, when I had a sleepover at a friends house, my dad would drive to that friends home in the morning to give me my insulin injection. Now that I’m a parent and realize how chaotic mornings can be with children needing to get our the door (I had 2 younger brothers) and needing to get himself to work, I appreciate that he did this even more than ever. He allowed me to experience childhood. Sometimes, with the drive, it would take 1 hour out of his mornings!
He always is there for me if I need anything. I definitely needed him 19 years ago when I went unconscious from low blood sugar. He is the one who found me and instructed my mom to call 911.
I inherited T1D through my paternal lineage. My paternal great grandfather and my father were diagnosed with insulin deficient diabetes in their early 30s. I am grateful for the genetic link that caused my body to develop T1D because I have used it to guide my own self-care decisions, and as a platform to guide a career in holistic nursing to help others living with chronic health challenges. I am now age 70 with 62 years of T1D in my body, still living and thriving in this lifetime.
My husband, the father of my children, is very supportive of me and my diabetes. I am so grateful that I have him in my life!
My dad, who knew plenty about diabetes, looked at me right after I was Dx’d and said – I hear you have diabetes? Yes, I said.
Well, you better get that shit fixed.
I started to laugh, and he started to laugh; it was one of the funniest things ever. So for years, whenever we wanted a joke, we would say hey, you better get that shit fixed.
When Dad was diagnosed with Cancer, I called him, and he told me about it. I said, wow, you know, you better get that shit fixed. We laughed like always. It was the last laugh I recall having with him.
My dad has been my symbol for morality and goodwill since I was a kid. When I think of someone who always knows how to do the right thing, I think of my dad
My dad has two T1d daughters and is always there for whatever we need. He’s the most supportive guy I know and is always willing to lend us a hand no matter the request.
I truly appreciate my dad’s unwavering support. He’s always there to encourage me, especially as I navigate being a young dad myself, and he’s been incredibly encouraging to me in managing my diabetes, too.
I appreciate my father teaching me how to avoid the consequences of poor dm control.
My friend deciding to invite me over to stay and help me adjust, not just inviting me but got me apple juice since he knows it is my favorite low snack, care is a support network and I recognize the efforts everyone around me has made