Summer Updates, Curveballs, and Small Victories
The school year is officially behind us, and what a finish it was. This year came with a slightly heavier backpack than most—not just filled with school supplies, but with sensors, pump supplies, snacks, and a lot of resilience. Finishing the year felt like a win in more ways than one. Managing type 1 diabetes alongside schoolwork is never just “normal”—it’s constant decision-making, math in your head, and listening to alarms that don’t care if you’re taking a test or sitting in class. He did it. With the help of amazing teachers, an amazing school nurse, and lots of mom checking in.
Baseball is now in full swing. Hitting can be an unexpected adventure, especially when a solid swing leads to pain because the pump canula gets pulled out. Now, there’s a routine of packing extra pump supplies—backup for backups—just in case. Long days with multiple games and the heat bring a unique challenge. He can show up with numbers perfectly in range, feeling confident and ready to play, and then out of nowhere, a low hits. It’s one of the hardest parts—how unpredictable it all is. Even when we plan ahead, adjust, and try to stay one step ahead, diabetes doesn’t always play nice. It’s not always smooth, but his determination to keep playing, adapt to this new situation, and keep adjusting is what makes it worth it.
Then there’s swimming—one of the best parts of summer but so far has proven to be a little tricky. When the sensor is underwater, you can’t see the numbers. No quick checks or alerts, and the pump has limited communication. All of this can lead to lows sneaking up unexpectedly.
It’s a constant balance—making sure things are steady before jumping in, taking breaks to check levels, and sometimes just getting out of the water when things feel off. It’s not perfect, but it’s part of learning how to live fully without ignoring the realities of T1D.
Device Frustrations Are Real
Technology is supposed to make this T1D life easier but it hasn’t always felt that way lately. CGM sensor issues, pump failures, leaking canula’s and recalls have added another layer of stress: wondering if your equipment will work like it’s supposed to.
These are the moments where T1D feels less like something you manage and more like something that manages you. One workaround after another we’re still figuring it out.
The Bright Spot: Support That Makes It All Possible
If there’s one thing that stands out the most this season, it’s the people.
His friends have stepped up in the best possible way—not just by being there, but by learning. Learning what the numbers mean. Learning what to watch for. Learning when to step in and help. Those friends have amazing parents who also have jumped in to learn and help with monitoring. That kind of support changes everything.
More confidence. More “normal” moments.
And that’s really the goal—to make space for a childhood that feels full and joyful, not defined by diabetes but simply lived alongside it. There are going to be more tech failures, more unexpected lows, and more trial-and-error days. There will also be more games, more swims, more laughter, and more moments that make all of this effort worth it.
MyT1DGuy 