Sarah Howard
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 Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.
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If you lived with T1D as a child, were you restricted from participating in fun activities that typically involved candy? Cancel reply
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I was allowed to participate but, for the first few years at least, I had to trade in my candy for pennies and/or nickels. Then I was allowed to buy whatever I wanted with the money.
I got to go trick or treating, but my brother got all the candy. Easter and Christmas I got sugar free candy or treats that could easily be figured into the exchange diet.
I was diagnosed as an adult
I participated but did not eat the candy. My mom was very strict with my diet and 40+ years later I’m very thankful. I had an A1c of 6.0 in 1977 before glucose testers were on the market.
I personally was diagnosed as an adult, but my Terr two youngest children were diagnosed at ages 6 and 11. They were allowed to participate and eat the candy they received because our endo had told us that sugar free candy still had the carbs, just from a different source so we would have still needed to bolus for them. So we went with bolusing for the stuff they really wanted, but we very careful about the quantity they ate.
It seem funny now, but I was diagnosed in 1960 and given “diet” jellies, sodas, tea, etc. There was no restriction on candy at Halloween. LOL
I got to exchange my real candy for sugar free candy or toys. 1983 was diagnosed at age 6.
back in the early 50’s the regulations were a far cry from today’s thoughts. Fortunately I lived through “strict ” everything with no mental harm done. I’ll state that, others may disagree !! LOL
I was diagnosed as an adult.
I was dx in 1955. One of my first experiences at school, 3rd grade, after a month in the hospital, was a classroom birthday party for a girlfriend. When her mom brought the cake, ice cream and party treats (candy) I was told to stay at my desk while everyone else gathered around a large table in the back of the room to celebrate her birthday. My teacher gave me one graham cracker square from a box my mother had given her to help treat my low blood sugars. The memory of the hurt and humilation of being excluded is still vivid after all of these years.
I was diagnosed at 14yo, so not really a child but still a child. I was limited some but not a lot.
Our parents never held us back from anything.
I attended summer camp beginning in 1960, the same year I was dx’d. Candy bars, available for purchase only on “Candy Night” were the currency of the camp and I was allowed to buy only to pay off on a losing bet. It sucked.
Dx’d in 1951 as a 4-year old I was raised to be a strict disciplinarian, But part child, part disciplinarian I was also impish enough to know how to cheat! Discipline and cheating were fun, one because the rewards were short term, the other because the rewards were long term. I now, much later in life, see the pleasures and downfalls of both. (ɔ˘ ³( ͡❛ ‿‿ ͡❛c)
I was pre diabetic when I was a child I was allowed to participate but not to eat the treats I was on a no sugar diet but that was my mom not the doctor
Dx at age 3 in 1970. I got to participate in Halloween until I aged out, and “sold” the candy to my parents and my siblings. My friends were so jealous that I had spending money, they tried to convince their parents to “buy” their candy. I recommend it to everyone, even non-diabetics. The parents “buy” the candy back and then give it away, enjoy it themselves, or dole it back out as the occasional treat for the kiddos.
I was always allowed to participate but I wasn’t allowed to eat the candy. My parents bought the candy from me. A penny for each piece. Birthday parties were also ok, but my Mom always knew ahead of time what was being eaten, so she had something similar for me. And of course sugar free juice.
I was not allowed candy or sweets but still went to birthday parties, etc. Mom tried to make treats for me but they weren’t very good, due to my being diagnosed at age 9 in 1960. Not much out there, but by golly, she tried. I traded in my Trick or Treating for art supplies and got cookies or candy if I went low.