Lauren's Hope

Today my first medical ID bracelet arrived in the mail.  It caught me by surprise because I just ordered it a few days ago.  I must say...it was love at first sight!

It was told to get a medical ID back in March when I was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  Then I was reminded again a few weeks ago when I started wearing an insulin pump.  I kept putting it off.  I didn't want to wear my medical condition on my wrist.  I didn't want it to define me.  I didn't want to display my "handicap."  I also didn't like the way medical ID's looked.  Ugh...not for me.

However, with a 2 hour round trip drive to work each day spending that much time in the car leaves me at a high risk for potentially having low blood sugar while driving.  If I were to get in an accident someone might wrongly assume that I'd be drunk.  Wearing a medical ID might very well save my life one day.

I decided to do a little research online and came across a wonderful website: Lauren's Hope.  Lauren's Hope has an array of wonderful medical ID bracelets, necklaces and more.  They are cute yet functional.  The best part is that the actual engraved ID detaches from each bracelet so you can purchase more than one strand and interchange them based on your outfit.  When you sign up for the emails you hear about frequent discounts on specific bracelets.  After spending hours contemplating which bracelet I'd like, I finally settled on Sparkling Ice.  I love how it will match any outfit I pick out and it sparkles in the sun.  I can't wait to wear on my first day back to school. 

Know anyone who is contemplating getting a medical ID?  Check out Lauren's Hope!

Teacher, the Pump, and Picture Books

As some of you may already know, back in March I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  Initially, it threw my life into a frantic spin.  In a desperate attempt to gain back control I looked for various distractions.  Hence, the start of my lovely bog and TpT store.

After a few months of struggling with various injections, and not being happy with my blood glucose levels, I attended a few classes at a local diabetes center and decided to start using a pump.  More specifically, I choose Ominipod!  I choose to wear a Pod instead of other insulin pumps on the market because it is wireless!  I live an active lifestyle and a Pod will provide me with the freedom I so desperately want.

Well, just one week after attending my pump class and filling out my paperwork my box arrived in the mail!  I was astonished by how fast it came.  Between paperwork, insurance, mail delivery times, etc...I thought for sure I'd be waiting at least until August.  Nope!  Here it is!

I am uberly excited to get started using the pump over the summer.  My next class is scheduled for Monday, just 3 days away.  I'm hoping to be a pump wearing pro before my first day back to school.

So, while I've been waiting for Monday to come so I can properly be trained how to use my wonderful pump, I decided to do a little internet search for child friendly diabetes picture books.  I intend to share my diabetes and pump with my class this year.  Although a pump is discrete, it still makes noise on occasion, and I am still going to need to check my blood glucose levels, and manage my lows and highs throughout the day.  I also do not want to keep my diabetes a secret from my students.  It is not something to be scared of.  I want to use this opportunity to advocate for diabetes and teach students about it.  While entrusting my students with my diabetes, I will be building a strong classroom community of caring and open-minded students.

So, here are a few pictures books that I've found so far that I can use as an avenue to teach students about diabetes:

1.  Taking Diabetes to School by Kim Gosselin

This book contains an instructive story of a grade-schooler with diabetes who tells his classmates about the disease and how he manages it. The story offers insight into the day-to-day school life of a child with diabetes and includes 10 Tips for Teachers and a Kid Friendly Quiz.

2.  Life with Diabetes by Dana Sheppard

 

This is an entertaining and educational story about Lacie the Lizard on an insulin pump. It shares Lacie’s adventures and friendships, and learn why she is just like any other Lizard.






3. Just Sweet Enough By Stacey Omstead DiNiro


This is a cute and simple story about being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

I'm still on the look out with a picture book focusing on having a teacher with diabetes.  I've yet to find one.  Maybe I need to publish my own!  Do you know anyone with diabetes?  Have you ever had a child with diabetes in your class?  Please share!