Age: 4 Year Diagnosed: 2017 Location: Pasadena, Ca
“When Hazel first got her Dexcom she was about 20 months old. Initially, the alarms scared her. I explained to her that when Dexy beeped it meant that she needed a snack. This developed into a bit of a Pavlovian response--Dexy would beep and she would perk up and say, "Dexy snack!!" Then we got a new toaster that had an audible alert when it finished toasting. I didn't really notice it until one day it beeped and Hazel came running into the kitchen looking for her Dexy snack.
My biggest advice for other parents is to get involved in the type 1 community. I love Instagram for this, but there are various other ways to get involved. I have learned so much from other parents and from adults living with type 1 who post about their experiences. I love that Hazel has friends that normalize her experience. Insta-friends helped Hazel get comfortable with trying a new pump when she switched to pods. Adults living with t1d have helped me understand Hazel's low symptoms and how best to make her comfortable when she's low. I am immensely grateful for this community.”