Part 1 The Beginning

By Lana Smid

When we first faced diabetes in our family, it felt like being hit by a truck. I cried daily for weeks, overwhelmed by the fear, uncertainty, and endless decisions that came with managing this new reality. The grief of losing the life we knew and the anxiety about what lay ahead felt impossible to navigate.

Diagnosis

My son was diagnosed at 7 years old in October 2018

My daughter was diagnosed at 7 years later the next year in December 2019

Their story will be for another day….this is MY story as their mom.

As a mom to two children with Type 1 Diabetes, the weight of caregiving has consumed me. My mental and physical health took a back seat as I prioritized their needs above my own. But after years of running on empty, it became clear: I couldn’t continue this way. My stress levels skyrocketed, and I hit rock bottom back in 2022 when I went on a 10-month stress leave following a series of traumatic diabetes-related events, including a seizure and an accidental insulin overdose.  

The day of the accidental overdose (putting the amount of carbs into the unit section of her pump) was when I went off work and started to rewrite my story.  I knew something had to change.  I no longer wanted to live in a feeling of anxiety, stress and overwhelm.

 It wasn’t a quick fix or an overnight transformation—it was a journey of small, intentional changes that allowed me to go from a mom hiding in her room crying to a calmer, more balanced version of myself. It started with acknowledging that my health and well-being mattered too.  It has been steps forward and then steps backwards.

The Transformation

The first step was reclaiming my mental health. I booked an appointment with my family doctor and a psychologist.  My doctor asked me what to do I do for fun…I had no answer.  My psychologist asked what I do for exercise…my answer was nothing.   So I decided to start.  I set up a workout space in the garage and it was my time to get myself out of my funk. I started getting together with a friend instead of isolating myself.

I began incorporating daily exercise into my routine, not just for physical fitness but as a way to manage my anxiety. Movement became my therapy, a way to recharge and I would always feel better the days I exercised. Gradually, I started to feel stronger, both physically and emotionally.

I started taking a cortisol lowering drink called Happy Juice. Targeting my gut with strain specific probiotics clinically proven to lower stress, improve mood and many other benefits. I drank it daily for about a year!

Soon after I went on stress leave we had our first diabetes family camp.  If you are in Canada registration is opened soon for this summer….find more info here for D-Camp! While I was embarrassed to share about our struggles it did help.  It helped my kids to be at the dining table and see all these other kids doing their carb counting and insulin injections.  During that camp I had signed up for zip lining. 

It was a humbling experience because of the weight I had gained I physically struggled to climb up the stairs and pull myself up to the platform.  But I did it and for that I am thankful.  I was so scared to jump but did it and screamed the whole way.  Sometimes we need to give ourselves a bit of a push to start building momentum.

Fear had been a big trigger for me.  Fear of low blood sugars. Fear of complications.  During counselling this was something that we worked on a lot.  With my PTSD diagnosis we did a lot of EMDR therapy.  My affirmation I tell myself is: “I am safe.  My kids are safe”

I worked on finding balance and also acceptance. I realized that while diabetes would always be a part of our lives, it didn’t have to define every moment. I began setting boundaries, asking for help, and creating a support network. This wasn’t easy at first, but it was essential. By leaning on others, I learned that I wasn’t alone—and that it was okay to need support. Having diabetes in our lives is now a part of us. I might as well learn what I can so that we live the live we always wanted…just a bit differently.

What’s Next?

This blog is the first in a 3 part series.  Today I talked about the “Beginning”. Come back next week for part 2: The Middle! And if you’re ready to take the next step in your own journey, connect with me on Instagram for tips, updates, and inspiration. Let’s create a future where we thrive, not just survive. 💙

Lana Smid