Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Manager of Marketing at T1D Exchange.
Yes, as a little kid waiting in line for Santa. Every other kid in line got a small bag of candy canes, cookies and other collateral treats. My small bag had a red ribbon on it. Santa reached back and provided me the bag with oranges, apples and bananas. Yuk! ( ͡ಥ ͜ʖ ͡ಥ)
Not so much gifts as thoughtfulness. One friend when we exercise together will always bring something along for me to eat. The gift of thoughtful friendship is the biggest gift. Everyone say Ahhh! Sorry – not usually this sappy but she touches me.
I have received gifts of sugar free candy , sugar free caramel corn, sugar free cookies, and even a big box of Splenda. Good products and good gifts for a diabetic who doesn’t want to feel denied. My daughter gave me a diabetic cookbook 22 years ago and I love browsing the cuisine that is diabetic friendly.
Reading the comments I would change my answer to yes. I forget this disease truly is a culture! So: stockings full of fruit snacks, probably even tablets, a diabetic cookbook or 2, a medic alert tag, any food kind of blurs the lines but yes, some are clearly rescue carbs or sugar free. Only child of 2 T1Ds, I have given my folks at least a myabetic bag and MTM’s autobiography. And when one parent passed we were gifted JDRF donations. ☺️
At first a cookbook-never used. Later when I got a Dexcom my kids gave me an Apple Watch because I had said one could see the BG’s there. I still use it and love it.
Yes – I received the gift of life sustaining insulin being reintroduced into my body after being diagnosed with T1 diabetes – aka juvenile diabetes – during the Christmas holidays in 1962. I was 8 years old and sick with all the classic symptoms of dying beta cells & insulin starvation – nausea, vomiting, voracious hunger, weight loss, dry skin, lethargy, extreme excessive thirst and endless peeing. I entered the pediatric unit at Riverside Hospital in Toledo, Ohio on December 28, 1962 and spent the next three weeks there learning how to live the rest my life as a person with T1 diabetes. Thus the best TID-related gift I ever received was hormone replacement insulin therapy and I am grateful for it every day of my life. It has kept me alive and living in this body for 58 years and counting as I enter year 59 living with T1D!
A type 1 teddy bear at hospital during diagnosis, a few books that I asked for over the years, a belt to hold my first pump, and a smart watch to see my BG without whipping out my phone or receiver.
A very expensive diet scale to weigh my foods that contain carbohydrate on that add a large digital print out as my eyes could no longer see the little tiny lines on the ancient scale. Yes, I still weigh most of my food that contain carbs after 60 years of diabetes as I have very brittle diabetes and have to be very precise in measurements.
I receive gifts from ADA, Medtronic, Tandem, Dexcom and researchers for having the interest and knowledge in this condition. Having a pump and sensor that communicate is nice. I am ever so hopeful for gifts in neurological research.
Yes, as a little kid waiting in line for Santa. Every other kid in line got a small bag of candy canes, cookies and other collateral treats. My small bag had a red ribbon on it. Santa reached back and provided me the bag with oranges, apples and bananas. Yuk! ( ͡ಥ ͜ʖ ͡ಥ)
Not so much gifts as thoughtfulness. One friend when we exercise together will always bring something along for me to eat. The gift of thoughtful friendship is the biggest gift. Everyone say Ahhh! Sorry – not usually this sappy but she touches me.
I have received gifts of sugar free candy , sugar free caramel corn, sugar free cookies, and even a big box of Splenda. Good products and good gifts for a diabetic who doesn’t want to feel denied. My daughter gave me a diabetic cookbook 22 years ago and I love browsing the cuisine that is diabetic friendly.
Yes- beautifully wrapped vials of insulin. JUST KIDDING
I received a Myabetic case for Christmas last year!
Reading the comments I would change my answer to yes. I forget this disease truly is a culture! So: stockings full of fruit snacks, probably even tablets, a diabetic cookbook or 2, a medic alert tag, any food kind of blurs the lines but yes, some are clearly rescue carbs or sugar free. Only child of 2 T1Ds, I have given my folks at least a myabetic bag and MTM’s autobiography. And when one parent passed we were gifted JDRF donations. ☺️
Being T1D for over 50 years, I look at every new day as a gift! Merry Christmas everyone!
The one gift I got for Christmas that was T1D related was a book that I really wanted, by Irl Hirsch, M.D.
Sugar free chocolates. People don’t understand sugar free =sugar alcohol and taste bad. But it was well meant.
At first a cookbook-never used. Later when I got a Dexcom my kids gave me an Apple Watch because I had said one could see the BG’s there. I still use it and love it.
My sister made some waist belts for me to hold my pump. Still using them after a few years
Does a box of sugar free chocolates count?
My best friend made me sugar free cookies
Yes – I received the gift of life sustaining insulin being reintroduced into my body after being diagnosed with T1 diabetes – aka juvenile diabetes – during the Christmas holidays in 1962. I was 8 years old and sick with all the classic symptoms of dying beta cells & insulin starvation – nausea, vomiting, voracious hunger, weight loss, dry skin, lethargy, extreme excessive thirst and endless peeing. I entered the pediatric unit at Riverside Hospital in Toledo, Ohio on December 28, 1962 and spent the next three weeks there learning how to live the rest my life as a person with T1 diabetes. Thus the best TID-related gift I ever received was hormone replacement insulin therapy and I am grateful for it every day of my life. It has kept me alive and living in this body for 58 years and counting as I enter year 59 living with T1D!
A type 1 teddy bear at hospital during diagnosis, a few books that I asked for over the years, a belt to hold my first pump, and a smart watch to see my BG without whipping out my phone or receiver.
A very expensive diet scale to weigh my foods that contain carbohydrate on that add a large digital print out as my eyes could no longer see the little tiny lines on the ancient scale. Yes, I still weigh most of my food that contain carbs after 60 years of diabetes as I have very brittle diabetes and have to be very precise in measurements.
I receive gifts from ADA, Medtronic, Tandem, Dexcom and researchers for having the interest and knowledge in this condition. Having a pump and sensor that communicate is nice. I am ever so hopeful for gifts in neurological research.