Inside the Sugar Free Mind Of... Beverly Lavelli!

Earlier this week, I explained in a blog post what "LADA" Diabetes was.

Today, we are diving "Inside the Sugar Free Mind" of someone living with it.... Beverly Lavelli!

Can you tell us about when you or your child was diagnosed? Age at Diagnosis?48  Feb 14, 2006
At my job at that time, I was living on coffee and donuts during the day and losing weight - I was THRILLED !!
The other employees at the office where I worked - said I 'smelled' funny.
I was furious - I showered every day !  I could not imagine what they were talking about.It turned out to be my blood sugar, "sweet smelling odor"
I had my period for seemed like forever - going on three weeks, very heavy, but felt fine otherwise.
I was HOPING it was my last period and I was just going into menopause being that I was 48.
After finally giving in and calling the doc and telling them the reason for my appt, I got in that day.
It turns out I had lost weight, almost 25 lbs.  (looking back - I looked like CRAP, but felt fine)
They ran the normal blood tests and sent me on my way.
He called the next day - my bs was over 600, and I hadn't eaten recently.
Not quite a true 'fasting' blood test - but close enough.
They started me on Actos for a month.
Then - when then that didn't work - I started insulin the next day.

What emotions did you go through at diagnosis?Nervous - scared - amazed - confused

How has the diagnosis changed your life? Your family? Your marriage?We eat healthier

Did you have a good support system when diagnosed?yes - husband, family

Did you get involved in a diabetes support group soon after diagnosis? If so, online and/or offline?support group thru doc office, off line

What online diabetes communities/support groups, if any, would you recommend and why?d-life - facebook community

What part of the world are you from?Orange, MA

If someone reading this interview post who lived in your state/providence was living with Type 1 Diabetes and wanted to connect with you for support, would you be OK with that? If yes, how could they contact you?
sure - email (bevlav1@hotmail.com) or facebook

In your opinion, what is the hardest part about living with Type 1 Diabetes, and why?learning what to eat, how much, learning who to believe, to many rumors

Can you say/think of anything positive you have found about having T1 Diabetes since diagnosis?I know more, eat healthier

What diabetes-charitable organization, if any, do you support, and why?
www.youravon.com/blavelli - I most always have a D related fundraiser going on my website
   -added...no - no special org, just D related....

    Facebook profile?  facebook.com/bevlav1   
What advice would you give to a family newly diagnosed?
You will be fine - its a learning curve, it takes time

What 3 things would you like more families NOT living with Type 1 Diabetes to know?
  That I can eat what I want (if I know the carbs)
  I choose to eat low carb, low sugar, low fat, high protein.
  I can't always eat when I want
  YES needles hurt, but you deal with it to live

Do you work outside of the home, work from home, or are you a stay at home mom?www.youravon.com/blavelli


Thank you Beverly, for allowing us to get inside your Sugar Free Mind! Your diagnosis story is so different from many of those I have heard in the past... yet, still hold so many similarities! This just goes to show that we are all fighting the same fight... no matter what "type" each of us have! Also, thank you so much for all you do to help raise awareness for diabetes, and money for a cure!

Want us to get "Inside your Sugar Free Mind", or someone you know? Shoot us an email at T1DTeamLenny@Gmail.com with the subject title: Interview! Help us spread awareness and share your story with our readers!

Inside the Sugar Free Mind Of... Kelly Dixon!

Today, we leap "Inside the Sugar Free Mind Of.." Kelly Dixon!

Kelly's son, Hunter, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at a very young age.

Come read their story!

Can you tell us about when Hunter was diagnosed? How old was he?
Hunter was diagnosed at the age of 22 months in 2004. During the summer months there were some signs, but with no family history, I did not realize what those signs meant like soaking his diapers, always thirsty, some weight lost, and reoccurring yeast infection. I had just gone back to college and it was the first time Hunter had really been away from me. I was told that the stress of being away from me at daycare made the Diabetes come on faster than it would of.  Within the first few days of starting daycare, Hunter had become very quiet, not that hungry and very clingy to me. Of course just the thought of it was because he was away from me for the first time. The night before he was he was very listless, pale, and started throwing up. I ended up taking him to the doctors in the morning knowing there was an After Care Clinic in the same building as our doctor if we were unable to get in to see her. As we were waiting, another patient who had just been called in had told the doctor she doesn't know whose patient it was but there was a child that needed to be seen right away (I am thankful to this lady since because of her we were seen right away). All three doctors at the office looked over Hunter and they told me that the ER will be waiting for us to come and to go right away. Once we got to the hospital ER, Hunter was put in the ICU part and as I was waiting a nurse came out and asked if there was any history of Diabetes in the family. He told us that he "officially" could not tell us that it was Diabetes until the doctor showed up but that is what was going on with my son. We spent a week in the hospital for Hunter to recover and for me to get the hang of taking care of my son with Diabetes.

What emotions did you go through at diagnosis?
I did not know too much about Diabetes.  However, I had an acquaintance that was Type 1 Diabetic and her Diabetes was not controlled during her childhood and at that point in her life she was almost completely blind and waiting for a kidney dialysis.  It scared me that my child had to go through this.

How has the diagnosis changed your life? Your family? Your marriage?
I was already a single mother at diagnosis so nothing really changed. I did take half a semester off from college (but was still enrolled) to get used to everything.

Did you have a good support system when  he was diagnosed?
Myy main support was my mother and my sister. They both were trained along with me on everything to do with Diabetes. If I needed some time to myself, they were there to help me.

Did you get involved in a diabetes support group soon after diagnosis? If so, online and/or offline?
I really wasn't too involved with support groups since most of them in my area were parents only and I did not have anyone to watch my son. I have in the last few years have connected with a lot of diabetic families on Facebook which has helped.

What online diabetes communities/support groups,  if any, would you recommend and why?
There are a lot of different Type 1 groups on Facebook that have been very helpful.

What part of the world are you from?
Oakville, Ontario, Canada

If someone reading this interview post who lived in your state/providence was living with Type 1 Diabetes and wanted to connect with you for support, would you be OK with that? If yes, how could they contact you? Yes, by email. kjdcountry@hotmail.com

In your opinion, what is the hardest part about living with Type 1 Diabetes, and why? My son does not realize when he is either low or high, which means unless he is testing himself at scheduled times, he never knows.

Can you say/think of anything positive you have found about having Type 1? My son has had some great opportunities to meet different people such as George Canyon.

What can you think of that you do/allow, despite of caring for a T1 child? We try to live as much as a normal life as we can.

What diabetes-charitable organizations, if any, do you support, and why? We have been a part of the JDRF walks and are hoping to get back to do more walks soon.

Do you have a facebook profile? http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=638675164

What advice would you give to a family newly diagnosed? That there are no silly questions since we have all been there and also that every person with diabetes is different.

What 3 things would you like more families NOT living with Type 1 Diabetes to know?
That it can be deadly, my son did not get Type 1 Diabetes because he was fed too much sugar, and he can still live a normal life.

Do you work outside the home, work from home, or are you a stay at home mom? I am a stay at home mom.


Thank you Kelly for letting us get inside your "Sugar Free" mind! We, too, hope that you and Hunter can join more walks soon, and I do hope  you are able to find a kid-friendly support group for you and him! Support is such a powerful thing when it comes to any disease! I am so glad to hear that your family is so supportive of you both!

If you would like to be interviewed, or know someone who does, please feel free to shoot me an email to T1DTeamLenny@Gmail.com with the subject title "Interview"! We are always searching for new and exciting D-Moms, D-Dads, and adults living with Type 1, to share their stories!

*FEATURED* Inside The Sugar Free Mind Of...Allyson Goris Kennedy!



Allyson's Daughter Tayler

 Today, we are getting "Inside The Sugar Free Mind Of" Allyson Kennedy!

Come read more about her daughter, Tayler, their diagnosis story, and what they have to say about the DOC!

Can you tell us about when  Tayler was diagnosed? After repeated vaginal/urinary tract infections since she was an infant, my daughter was diagnosed when she was 8 years old.

What emotions did you go through at diagnosis? Denial, sadness, anger, paranoia

How has the diagnosis changed your life? Your family? Your marriage? We cannot leave her anywhere for long, no sleepovers, etc. Family has shown no compassion or interest in learning about this disease, we no longer sleep through the night, constant worry, etc.

Did you have a good support system when diagnosed? From the medical community, yes (endocrinologists are listed among the best in the country), from family, no; they simply can't be bothered.

Did you get involved in a diabetes support group soon after diagnosis? If so, online and/or offline? We contacted the JDRF and met a lot of supportive people, though there is no actual support group in our area. I also turned to facebook and gained a whole new family.

What online diabetes communities/support groups, if any, would you recommend and why?
On facebook:
   Parenting Diabetic Kids
   What Mums and Dads need to know
   Diabetes
   I Hate Type 1 Diabetes
   JDRF
   Diabetes Research Institute
   Justice Against Type 1 Diabetes
   The Diabetes Dude
   T-1 Parents

What part of the world are you from? United States

If someone reading this interview post who lived in your state/providence was living with Type 1 Diabetes and wanted to connect with  you for support, would you be OK with that? If yes, how could they contact you? Absolutely, send me a message on Facebook

In your opinion, what is the hardest part about living with Type 1 Diabetes, and why? The hardest part are the unexpected lows, and the not knowing...

Can you say/think of anything positive you have found about living with T1 Diabetes since diagnosis? The only positive I can think of is knowing that I wasn't crazy when I told the doctors something was definitely wrong all that time.

What can you think of that you allow, despite caring for a child with T1?
We allow her to eat whatever non-diabetic's eat, and give her as normal a life as possible.

What diabetes-charitable organization, if any, do you support, and why? We do the JDRF walkathon every year, as well as donate whenever the local stores have fundraisers.

Do you have a blog about diabetes? No.
Facebook Profile? Allyson Goris Kennedy
Twitter? No.
Facebook Fan Page? No.

What advice would you give to a family newly diagnosed? Don't believe everything the doctors tell you~Trust your gut~You know your child best. Reach out to the online Type 1 community~They're a Godsend.

What 3 things would you like more families not living with Type 1 Diabetes to know?

1. We're not bad parents who didn't feed our daughter right.
2. No, we're not making more of this deadly disease than need be.
3. This is a different disease than type 2 diabetes; once you develop type 1, it can NEVER be reversed.

Do you work outside of the home, work from home, or are you a stay at home mom? I'm a stay at home mom.

Thank you so much Allyson for sharing Tayler's story with us! It always warms my heart to hear how many people across the DOC reach out to others for support, guidance, and love.

Do you know someone who would like to share their child's diagnosis story with us? D-moms, D-dads, and adults living with Type 1 are all welcome here! Just send me an email at T1DTeamLenny@gmail.com with the subject title "Interview" to put  your suggestion in cue!

Inside The Sugar Free Mind Of... Nicole Rekart!



Megan Rekart, dxd T1 @ age 13

 Today we are interviewing D-Mom Nicole Rekart about her T1 daughter, Megan.

Nicole homeschools her children, raises awareness for diabetes, and is a stay at home mom.

Megan was diagnosed at the age of 13 years old.  We asked Nicole to share her diagnosis story with us, how it affected their family, the support system they have, amongst a variety of other questions.

This is their story:


Can you tell us about when Megan was diagnosed?
   Megan was Diagnosed July 21,2010. We took her to the doctor
as she was having yeast infections symptoms.To our suprise when the Doctor came in to tell us that we needed to go to the
hospital as Megan was possibly Type 1 Diabetic. It was a terrible feeling, We as parents could not take this terrible disease
away with a antibiotic.

How old was Megan at the time of Diagnosis?
   Megan was Diagnosed at the age of 13 years old.

What emotions did you go through at diagnosis?
   I as a mom was beside myself. I was angry that I did not know the symptoms
I was upset I could not cure this with a doctors appointment, I was stressed because our life would change in so many perspectives
and I was scared that I did not have all the answers. (Why, What and how did this happen.)

How has the diagnosis changed your life?
  We live a new normal.I recently quit my job, Our school was unable to reassure as
of Megan's care. I homeschool Megan, We eat coutning Carbs and we know have a number range to stay in. We preplan all events or trips.  Your family?  Our family has changed as  our youngest daughter has decided she is also going to be a home school child. Our youngest daughter has gone to classes with us and knows the same if not more about how to care for Diabetes then we do. Your marriage? We have had to learn that Date nights are rare. We have learned Mom does not get much sleep
anymore. We have turned our lives to God. We have always believed God is our guide but, we have really learned to give our stress and pray to God as without him in our lives we would just have so many more questions.

Did you have a good support system when Megan was diagnosed?
  The hospital was great. Our family does not truly understand, No one has really stepped up to take classes or try to understand so we do not leave Megan with them. Our friends have changed. We love our friends new and old but surround oursleves with faith and people who try or do understand the life as a Type 1 Diabetic. 

Did you get involved in a diabetes support group soon after diagnosis?
  yes, I have many forums I visit, I have many new T1 Parent friends from Facebook whom without them I would not be strong, Positive and confident about Diabetes. If so, online and/or offline? On-line...

What online diabetes communities/support groups, if any, would you recommend and why?
   Facebook has many forums you can join. T1 Hang Out,   A cure for Graces, American Diabetes website, JDRF website is amazing.I have found Face book to be a huge tool as these parents are faced with what I am everyday and no they do not have a medical degree but, they guide you to the right directions and they keep your stress-level down :).

What part of the world are you from?
  United States, the state of Missouri.

If someone reading this interview post who lived in your state/providence was living with Type 1 Diabetes and wanted to connect with you for support, would you be OK with that? If yes, how could they contact  you? Yes! I am on face book (Nicole Ruszala Rekart)
or they can contact me via- e-mail nrekart@sbcglobal.net

In your opinion, what is the hardest part about living with Type 1 Diabetes, and why? The hardest part is getting people to understand that it is not a diet change, there is no Cure, and that I am not a super mom, I do what I do because My daughter is my life and she needs me to be all I can be.

Can you say/think of anything positive you have found about living with T1 Diabetes since diagnosis? Yes...I actually can say That we are a closer family, We rely on one another and we work together, I feel as if I have more knowledge and I am more in tune with our bodies, We are meeting many wonderful new friends. I am a stronger mom.

What can  you think of that you allow, despite of caring for a child with T1? My entire life has changed I am a better person as I take life and everyday like it is a gift!

What diabetes-related non-profit organization, if any, do you support, and why? I support JDRF, We are recently invovled with American Diabetes Association and we are working on a web site for Megan Rekart Racers.

Do you have a blog about diabetes? Facebook profile? Twitter? Facebook Fan Page? If so, what are your links? Not at this time, We are working on it :).

What advice would you give to a family newly diagnosed?  Always ask your doctor first. No questions is a dumb question. Do not listen to the negative, Do your research, get invovled and gather around positive people and not negative Nelly's.

What 3 things would you like more families not living with Type 1 Diabetes to know? We need a Cure Type 1 Diabetes is completely different then Type 2. Our children did not eat to much sugar or eat poorly to get T1 Diabetes. We are all good parents who would love nothing more then to say Our children use to have Type on Diabetes. I dislike hearing I could never hurt my child by giving them a shot, Because in reality I am not hurting my child I am keeping her alive.

Do you work outside of the home, work from home, or are you a stay at home mom? I teach my children as they are home-schooled.

Thank you for participating in our interview Nicole! We have enjoyed getting "Inside" your "Sugar Free Mind" and learning more about you, another strong "D-Mom"! Keep up your faith, advocating and educating for Megan, and helping the D-community strive for a cure! All your hard work will pay off, one day!

Would you like to be a featured "D-Mom", "D-Dad", or T1 survivor here and be interviewed by us? Email me at T1DTeamLenny@gmail.com with the subject title: Interview!

*Featured* Inside The Sugar Free Mind Of... Kim Drake-Bourassa



Alex, shortly before dx'd

 Today, our Featured Mom is Kim Drake-Bourassa, and her son Alex!

Kim is a loving wife, mother, friend, and a supporter of the JDRF and ADA. Both, her husband, and her work outside the home, while taking care of their Type 1 Diabetic son, Alex! WoW! I couldn't imagine how it would be to work, juggle activities, appointments, sleep schedules, and everything else involved with taking care of children, let alone a child with Type 1! Way to go Kim!!

Her son, Alex is a fun-loving, energetic little boy with a heart of gold! Read more about their story below...

Can you tell us about when Alex was diagnosed? At what age? Alex was 3 when he was diagnosed. I had noticed that Alex's diapers were very full only after an hour after last changing. I can remember watching him walk down the hall and his diaper was hanging down because it was so full. He would keep glasses of water everywhere and my sister asked him why he was doing that and he replied, "In case I get thirsty." He drank lots and if we didn't get him something to drink fast enough he would freak out. This went on for about a week and a  half. One Sunday, he asked for some water and I gave him a bottled water. He drank the thing and asked for another. I thought that this just  isn't right, so I spoke to my husband Randy and told him that I thought he had diabetes. He said he's too young for that. I made him a doctor's appointment for the following day and asked Randy to talk to the doctor about diabetes and my fear. He did this, and the doctor said that he had never seen soeone Alex's age with diabetes, but he did a urine test. I got a call the next day and they requested another urine sample, that I brought in on Wednesday morning, the following day. At 11:30 a.m. I got a call from the doctor and he told me that he had been on the phone all morning with an endocrinologist at Children's Hospital and that Alex was very sick and he had Type 1 diabetes, and that we needed to take him to the emergency room ASAP. I remember saying, that he wasn't sick and the doctor saying that yes, he was, and needed to get to Children's so they could do some tests as they suspected he had Type 1 Diabetes and needed to get on insulin immediately. I'm crying just thinking about this. I can remember it just like it was yesterday, and it was 8 years ago!

What emotions did you go through at diagnosis? Denial, not this can not be happening there is some mistake. What did I do to cause this. How can I test his blood sugar and give him shots every day. Will he be OK?

How has the diagnosis changed your life? Your family? Your marriage? It's odd, but a few months before Alex was diagnosed, one day I had this dreadful feeling. I was thinking that things were going so well and Alex was healthy and happy, but there was this feeling that I couldn't figure out. It was for just a day and then it went away, but I wonder why I had that feeling. It changed our lives as we had to pay more attention to what and how much he was eating. I have always been a worrier, but then I had something else to worry about and feel sad about for him. I thought it brought Randy and I closer as we were determined to do the very best we could for Alex. I think we have met some wonderful people that wouldnt' have met if Alex wasn't diagnosed. I have asked Alex if he could have anything he wanted, what would it be, and he has never once said he didn't want to have diabetes. When I ask him why, he says, "Because, that's what makes me special."

Did you have a good support system when diagnosed? We have had a great support system since diagnosis. My mom has watched Alex since he was 6 weeks old and when he was diagnosed, I was worried about what her reaction was. I asked her if she wanted to come and do the training with us, and she said, "Of course, I need to know how to take care of him." That ws such a relief to me. My sister and brother were both very supportive in learning how to care for Alex. My sister is a teacher at the grade school Alex attends, and she has been a great support system at school. She gives him a shot if he needs it during the day, and just knowing she is there, helps with my peace of mind.

Did you get involved in a diabetes support group soon after diagnosis? If so, online and/or offline? Yes, we became involved with a group that meets at the hospital, Lil Kidds Group. It was a wonderful support system and I learned a lot there. Alex loved going and hanging out with the other kids that had diabetes when he was younger but since he turned 10, he doesn't want to be with other kids with diabetes, and I'm not sure why. I also found CWD online group as well that has also been very helpful.

What online diabetes communities/support groups, if any, would you recommend and why? CWD group is a wonderful group with lots of people with different knowledge and experience. It is a place you can get some help to problems you are having, or just vent about the difficulties that come along with having a child with diabetes.

What part of the world are you from? We live in Kirkland, Washington (U.S.A)

If someone reading this intervew post who lived in your state was living with Type 1 Diabetes and wanted to connect with you for support, would you be OK with that? If yes, how could they contact you? Yes, I would love for someone to contact us if they would like to. My email is: kkbourassa@hotmail.com (Kim provided us with her cell phone number, but in our attempt to protect her from, what I like to call, "the internet elements", we will not discolse her cell phone number on this blog. If you would like to contact her, please send her an email. Thank you.)

In your opinion, what is the hardest part about living with Type 1 Diabetes, and why? Not getting enough sleep because I worry about Alex dying in the middle of the night. I often wonder what our life would be like if Alex didn't have diabetes, and I know that I wouldn't complain about being tired all the time and I wouldn't have started sleeping with him when he was 4 because I was worried about him druing the middle of the night. I do not sleep with him anymore, but I have fallen asleep on his couch and slept there when he was running low. Just easier than getting up out of bed and walking to his room.

Can you say or think of anything positive you have found about living with Type 1 Diabetes since diagnosis? Alex says that him having diabetes is what makes him special. That makes me smile because he can find something good in all the things that he has to do because he  has diabetes. We have met some great people that we wouldn't have met if he didn't have diabetes.

What can you think of that you do and/or allow, despite caring for a child with Type 1 Diabets? We let Alex eat whatever he wants and we bolus him for it. When there is a party at school, we allow him to participate at that time, and he gets a shot for what he's eating. We want Alex to feel like he's like everyone else as much as possible. He already has to stop what he's doing to check his blood sugars and go get a shot, so we feel it's important for him to be able to participate in parties at school, or anything else that is going on.

What diabetes-related, non-profit organizaation, if any, do you support, and why? We support JDRF and ADA to some extent. I feel it's important to follow them and see what progress is being made for Type 1 diabetes. We also have several family members who have Type 2 diabetes as well.


Do you have a blog about diabetes? No
Facebook profile? Yes, you can find me here
Twitter? No
Facebook FanPage? No

What advice would you give to a family newly diagnosed? The most important thing for them to know is that this disease is manageable, and that their child will be able to do the things he/she did before diagnosis. While it's not easy sometimes, it does get easier with time and just becomes part of your life. I would also stress that belonging to a support group is a great way to get help and just hear that you are not alone and that the things they are experiencing have been experienced by others with kids with diabetes.

What 3 things would you like more families not living with Type 1 Diabetes to know?
  1. It's a 24 hour, 7 day a week job- I never get a break from it, and he doesn't either.
  2. He can eat whatever he wants, but he needs a shot for the carbohydrates he eats.
  3. Without insulin, my son would die.

Do you work outside of the home, work from home, or are you a stay at home mom? Both my husband and I work full time out of the home.

A great recent photo of Alex!

Thank you so much Kim for allowing us to get "Inside your Sugar Free Mind" and interview you! We enjoyed learning more about your, and Alex's, story!

Would you, or someone you know like to be featured on Sugar Free Candyland and share your story with us? CLICK HERE to find out how you can be featured, or how to nominate someone you know to be featured here! "D-moms", "D-Dads", and adults with T1 are welcome!

*Featured* Inside The Sugar Free Mind Of... Alexis Newell



Alexis Newell & her son Justice

 This week, we travel "Inside The Sugar Free Mind Of..." Alexis Newell!

Alexis is a devoted wife; mother of a Type 1 Diabetic son, Justice; blogger; volunteer for the JDRF; and the 2011 Walk Chair!

Her son, Justice, is a youth ambassador for the JDRF; active, fun loving Type 1 child!

This is their story...

Can you tell us about when Justice was diagnosed? How old was he at diagnosis? Justice was diagnosed on 10/21/08, just 4 days after his 6th birthday. Days before there were no signs. He was looking great and enjoying life as a 6 year old child. We had decided to go back home to NY for his birthday. We caught a red eye flight and I worked the night shift so the boys ended up not sleeping before we got on the plane. So, when Justice wet his pants on our flight, I didn't give it too much attention. The rest of the night went well, or so I thought. Over the next 24 hours his urination and thirst became outrageous. Next came tummy aches, vomiting, and exhaustion. We honestly thought jet lag and maybe a stomach bug. But when he woke the next morning after 14 hours of sleep, not feeling any better but actually slurring his words, we knew it was something more serious. I called 911 and an ambulance took us to the ER. EMT was clueless, but the nurse in ER knew right away. "I smell the ketones on his breath, he's diabetic right?". Her words changed our lives, but her fast assessment saved his as well. Justice was admitted to PICU with a blood glucose level of 490 and in DKA (Diabetic Keto-Acidosis).

What emotions did you go through when he was diagnosed? I was terrified, sad, angry and felt like my whole world shattered. My little rambunctious healthy boy was no more, our lives as we knew it ceased to exist. As crowded as that hospital room was, I never felt more alone.

How has his diagnosis changed your life? Your Family? Your marriage? We don't sleep. Every decision we make for our day or our life generally is based on that readong on the meter. Some days are harder than others. No matter what is going on, Diabetes is present. It's a frustrating disease, seeing my son cry or get angry because he is feeling low or high, or cant do what he wants at that moment. I fear losing my son in his sleep; I fear future complications. My days are filled with this. But, my family unit is stronger, my marriage is stronger, I honestly have an amazing  husband who is a wonderful co-pancreas, my younger son Synsyre is Justice's biggest supporter. We have over time learned to not let Diabetes stop our happiness or us from living our lives. Its a huge part of it, but it doesn't rule us anymore.

Did you have a good support system when Justice was diagnosed? Honestly, no. We had just moved to Las Vegas a year before, so we didn't have many friends or family. But, since then a lot has changed! :)

Did you get involved in a diabetes support group soon after he was diagnosed? If so, online and/or offline? I didn't find the DOC (Diabetes Online Community) until April of 2010.

What online diabetes communities/support groups, if any, would you recommend, and why? Personally I love twitter, facebook, and blogging. I have found the best support through these outlets.

What part of the world are you from? I reside in Las Vegas, NV (United States)

If someone reading this interview post who lived in your state/providence was living with Type 1 Diabetes and wanted to connect with  you for support, would you be OK with that? If so, how could they contact you? Anytime! Email at justicespancreaticavengers@yahoo.com

In your opinion, what is the hardest part about living with Type 1 Diabetes, and why? The inconsistency. The never ending changes in insulin needs. The fear of lows. Trying to find that happy medium. Seeing my child hurt.

Can you say/think of anything positive you have found about living with Type 1 Diabetes since diagnosis? Nothing about the disease itself, but it has connected me with the most amazing people ever. I have gained a second family.

What can you think of that you do/allow, despite of caring for a child with Type 1 Diabetes? One thing we thought  we couldn't do which Justice loves is the buffets in Vegas. But, we do. Scale and all! There's very little we allow D to stop us from. Of course, there are things we still aren't ready for. Like sleep-overs or going to a friends house without me.

What diabetes-related non-profit organization, if any, do you support and why? Justice is a youth ambassador for JDRF and I am a volunteer. I was recently named this years Walk Chair.

Do you have a blog about diabetes? I blog at Justice's Misbehaving Pancreas
Twitter? @Sugar_nova 
Have a Facebook FanPage? Justice Against Type 1 Diabetes

What advice would you give to a family newly diagnosed? Take it day by day, number by number. Let your child know it's not their fault and always be a team. And please, no matter what your child says, be part of their Diabetes management and let them know they're not alone.

What 3 things would you like more families not living with Type 1 Diabetes to know? Type 1 cannot be prevented. It can happen to your child. My son can eat the same as yours, just more work to do so.

Are you a stay at home mom, work at home mom, or do you work outside the home? I am a stay at home mom and volunteer for JDRF. I am the 2011 Walk Chair

T1, JDRF Junior Ambassador, Justice Newell

Thank you so much Alexis for allowing us to get "Inside your Sugar Free Mind" and feature you here on Sugar Free Candyland! You're right, Type 1 Diabetes can be scary and frustrating, but with a little diligence, laughter, and support, we can do it! Congratulations on making the JDRF 2011 Walk Chair, and congratulations to Justice for becoming a JDRF Junior Ambassador! You guys rock!

Would you, or someone you know like to be featured on Sugar Free Candyland and share your story with us? CLICK HERE to find out how you can be featured, or how to nominate someone you know to be featured here! "D-moms", "D-Dads", and adults with T1 are welcome!

Inside The Sugar Free Mind Of... Bridget Winter



Bridget Winter, and her son Clifford, dxd at 6 yrs old.

 D-Mom, Bridget Winter has agreed to talk to us today about her son, Clifford's (aka Cliffy), diagnosis story.

Bridget is a Work-At-Home-Mom with a company called ChaCha, and a company called Demand Studio, and she's an IBO with Amway Global. She is an avid advocate, diabetes supporter, and a wonderful friend.

Cliffy was diagnosed at the tender age of 6 years old. He is a strong, bright little boy with the most adorable smile! He never lets his Diabetes defeat his wonderful spirit!

Here is their story:

When was Cliffy diagnosed? Cliffy was diagnosed on Feb. 28, 2010. He was 6 years old.

What emotions did you go through at diagnosis? At diagnosis he was in DKA (Diabetic Keto-Acidosis), and unresponsive the first day. I was a big ball of mess. Didn't know what to expect or what was really happening.

How has the diagnosis changed your life? Your Family? Your marriage/relationship? I am in constant worry about him, if h e will wake up, if he drops low at school, it's gotten better but not easier. On the pro side we now eat better and more healthier, and are more aware of the symptoms of T1. Chad and my relationship was only a little over a month new when Cliffy was dx'd. But, he stuck right by him and I and has been a huge help.

Did you have a good support system when diagnosed? Our system at dx included Chad, (in person at the hospital), my mom ( via phone), Chad's mom, sister and brother-in-law, step-dad, friends from work (via phone, online), my family (via phone, cousins, aunts)

Did you get involved in a diabetes support group soon after diagnosis? If so, online and/or offline? Didn't find the DOC (Diabetes Online Community) until around April when I first met DIane Ranaghan. She talked to me online when Cliffy was life flighted to Children's due to passing out from a hypo.

What online diabetes communities/support groups, if any, would you recommend and why? CWD online site, Type 1 Hangout via FB. Both great and supportive groups. Type 1 has done the card exchanges which the kids have enjoyed.

What part of the world are you from? Deep Freeze Pennsylvania

If someone reading this interview post who lived in your state was living with Type 1 Diabetes and wanted to connect with you for support, would you be OK with that? If yes, how could they contact you?  Yes, via Facebook or email is fine.

In your opinion, what is the hardest part about living with Type 1 Diabetes and why? The hardeest part is knowing right  now I can't cure my son of this disease and it takes over his body daily. I can only "manage" it and some days even though I'm trying my hardest, I feel like a failure.

Can you say/think of anything positive you have found about living with T1 Diabetes since diagnosis? Healthier lifestyle, better outlook on life and how precious it is, take it one day at a time.

What can you think of that you allow, despite of caring for a child with T1? Clifford does everything he used to with the exception to indulging in candy and cookies :)

What diabetes-charitable organization, if any, do you support and why? DRI (Diabetes Research Institute) and Dr. Faustman's research

Do you have a blog about diabetes? Bridget Writes
Facebook profile? Yes, CLICK HERE
Facebook Fan Page? Yes, CLICK HERE

What advice would you give to a family newly diagnosed? Hang in there, it does get better even though it might seem like your world has come crashing down, the sun will rise again and you will just have a new "norm".

What 3 things would you like more families not living with Type 1 Diabetes to know? 1.) Diabetes is an unpredictable disease, 2.) My son can still eat things normal kids can. 3.) His Type1 diabetes cannot be reversed /and or he can't grow out of it.

Do you work outside the home, work from home, or are you a stay at home mom? I am a work at home mom at ChaCha and Demand Studios, and I'm an IBO with Amway Global


Thank you Bridget for being our First Ever "D-Mom" to be featured on our blog and allowing us to get "Inside YOUR Sugar Free Mind"!! Thank you for sharing Cliffy's diagnosis story with us, for striving for a cure, and for being a wonderful, supportive friend!

Do you want to be a featured "D-Mom", "D-Dad", or T1 here?  Would you like to get your diagnosis story heard? Want to be interviewed? Then shoot me an email at T1DTeamLenny@gmail.com with the subject title: "Interview"!

A Funny Story, and New Announcement!

I just had to share this funny story with you all!

Last night, while my husband and I had dentist appointments, we were sitting in the office room waiting for the doctor to come back in. Lenny somehow starts talking about teeth falling out.

So, we go into the story about the "tooth fairy" with him, and explained to him that she gives him money for every tooth he looses!

Without missing a beat... the first thing out of his mouth was:

"Money that I can donate for a cure??"

This little guy, he never ceases to amaze me!

We told him that if he wants to donate his money to a cure, he can. Or he can use it to buy a toy, or save it, or do whatever he wants with it... its his money!

Earlier in the visit, as he was talking to the nurse and doctor while I was getting some dental work done, out of the blue he told them that he has diabetes. All I could do was smile. I am so proud of him for being willing and brave to tell even perfect strangers that he has diabetes!

Now, for my exciting announcement!

We have a new project launching soon, right here on Sugar Free CandyLand!

We will be interviewing one D-mom, (and dads!!!), as well as adults with Type 1 Diabetes! We will feature one person living with Type 1 every Thursday, so be sure to drop by and check out what other parents and adults with Type 1 have to say!

Would you like to be interviewed, too?

Email us at T1DTeamLenny@gmail.com with the subject title "Interview" to express your interest in sharing your story with us!