Doing Diabetes Different: Finding Joy and Reducing Stress

This summer has been one of the most challenging yet when it comes to managing diabetes. My son had a seizure at Disney, a traumatic experience that shook me to my core and reminded me just how unpredictable life with Type 1 can be.

On top of that, my daughter has struggled since going back to injections after using her pump. Her numbers haven’t been great, and it’s been a stressful adjustment for all of us.

Through it all, I’ve been reminded of something important: we can choose how we respond. My daughter has decided she is willing to try something new, and that mindset has been inspiring. I’ve reached out to our clinic about trying Omnipod and looping to help make her diabetes management smoother. Change isn’t always easy, but it opens the door to solutions we might not have considered before.

Starting today September 1st, I’m embracing a renewed mindset. This isn’t about perfection, its about intentionally creating space for joy, reducing stress, and focusing on what matters most: our family, our health, and our energy. Things don’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. With patience, planning, and a willingness to try something different, things eventually turn around.

That constant mental load has made me rethink what I want from my work life. I’m feeling genuinely excited about a new opportunity that allows me to travel more and earn income from home. The idea of flexibility, freedom, and being able to show up fully for my family and my health is incredibly energizing. I wont quit nursing but am looking forward to being casual again.

“Doing diabetes different” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a commitment to approach each day with curiosity, creativity, and compassion for ourselves and our kids. It’s about celebrating the wins, learning from the challenges, and remembering that even after tough seasons, brighter days are ahead.

This September, we’re stepping forward with hope, determination, and a little more joy in our journey with diabetes.

5 Ways to Bring More Joy and Reduce Stress

Celebrate Small Wins – Even a day of your kiddo remembering to bolus, a full night sleep, knowing that someone from school is helping to care for your child. Every little win adds up.
Try Something New – Whether it’s a new device, app, or routine, be open to experimenting. Doing the same thing over and over if it is not working is so frustrating. New strategies can reduce stress and improve control. Or bring back something that had worked before. For us we used to be diligent with looking at Clarity. I plan to bring back my scheduled time once a week to analyze.
Simplify Where You Can – Focus on the essentials, not perfection. Making similar meals week to week, decluttering your house. An organized cabinet of diabetes supplies brings me joy! Little things can bring joy!
Traveling – Travel creates joy by opening our minds to new experiences, cultures, and perspectives. It breaks the routine of daily life and replaces it with adventure, discovery, and connection. Whether it’s tasting new foods, meeting people from different backgrounds, or simply witnessing the beauty of a new landscape, travel sparks a sense of wonder and appreciation. I am planning a lot more travel through my new travel club. If you want to check it out you can take a peak HERE and get savings for 2 nights at a hotel.
Plan for Support – Reach out to your clinic, join community groups, or lean on friends/family. Having a support system reduces pressure and gives you space to breathe. (Our next monthly meet up is September 30, 2025…Click HERE to join…hope you can come!)

💡 Takeaway: Diabetes will always have its challenges, but how we respond is a choice. By trying new strategies, celebrating wins, and creating space for joy, we can transform stress into empowerment—and approach each day with hope.

July 14, 2025

Rewriting My Story: Part 3

Creating a Vision for the Life I Want

So I wrote part 1 and part 2 and then I froze, procrastinated and was unsure of what I wanted to do for Part 3. I knew it was going to be about the future…but I could not make the decision of what was going to be the future.

Part 1 was about the beginning when we first had Type 1 Diabetes come into our lives.

Part 2 was about the present (a few months ago) and this one is about the future.

There was a time when I was just trying to make it through the day. I didn’t have space or energy to think about a bigger picture—I was reacting, surviving, and doing what needed to be done.

But over time, I realized I didn’t want to just “survive” anymore. I wanted to create a life that felt aligned with who I am now. Not the version of me from 10 years ago. Not the nurse who worked full time. Not the mom trying to hold everything together at the cost of herself. Not the mom that felt so much guilt and so much anxiety over trying to manage diabetes for her kids.

I have found my new favourite podcast and want to share my favourite episode with you. Listen to “Don’t Break Promises to Yourself” the Calm and Confident podcast by Trina Gray. I am also in a mentorship group with her and have learned so much from her!

Creating My Vision: What That Really Means

When I say “vision,” What do I mean?

A clear sense of what truly matters, and how I want to feel while I’m living it.

I want to feel peace, not panic.
I want presence with my kids, not perfection in their numbers.
I want connection with my husband, not separation
I want to support other moms, without burning myself out.
I want movement, growth, and rest—in balance.
I want to live aligned with who I am today, not just who I used to be
I want freedom to have flexibility in my work and not burn myself out.

To help me stay grounded, I’ve started thinking in terms of a simple map. Not rules. Not checklists. Just guideposts.

Here’s what mine looks like right now:

How I want to feel every day:
Calm. Energized. Happy. Connected. Confident

How I want to show up as a mom:
Present over perfect. A safe space. A role model for self care and to help them with their own struggles of growing up and becoming independent.

How I want to show up as a wife:
I want to be intentional with affection, appreciation, and not letting stress overwhelm us.

How I want to impact others:
By helping others dealing with either diabetes or mental health struggles feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Tools That Help Me Stay Aligned

Daily Movement – I’ve been consistent with my workouts using the Bodi platform, and that structure helps anchor my days. When I move my body I feel less anxiety.
Mindful Nutrition – I’m actively working through my challenges. I am a stress eater and have struggled with just wanting to “eat it all” – especially sweets. It’s a process, and I’m being gentle with myself while also staying committed.
Quiet Mornings – I try to journal every day, even just a few minutes. I’ve found that being the first one up in the house gives me the quiet space I need to breathe, reflect, and start the day with intention. That time has become something I truly value.
Routine & Self-Care – I’m focusing on building a routine that supports me physically, mentally, and spiritually—not just in survival mode, but in real, sustainable care.
Supportive Community – Surrounding myself with people who get it has been huge. Other T1D moms who understand the emotional weight of this journey, and other moms in business who are walking their own path of growth and purpose. I don’t feel alone in it—and that’s everything.
Supplement Help– One of the ways I will be supporting my mental clarity and mood is by being intentional with remembering my daily supplements. I’ve re-added Happy Juice to my daily routine—Working on the health of my nervous system to not be as reactive and to feel calmer. It’s not a fix-all, but it’s one more way I can support my body and brain as I navigate the daily stressors of life, motherhood, and diabetes care. Find the details for HAPPY JUICE HERE

A Vision for the Future That may Evolve (And thats’ OK!)

One important thing I’ve learned: my vision can change—and that’s a good thing.

I no longer judge myself for outgrowing things I once wanted. Like when I thought the diabetes clinic job was my dream, only to realize it wasn’t the right fit. That wasn’t failure—it was information. It was redirection. It was part of the rewrite. Vision isn’t a one-time thing—it’s something you revisit and reshape as life changes, as you change. We can change our minds!

Right now, I’m working as a nurse in transition services. It’s a temporary role, and when that ends, I’ll go casual unless there is another part time position that comes up.. That’s what works for me in this season. I’ve come to fully accept that full-time nursing doesn’t fit the version of life I want or need today—and I no longer feel guilty about that.

With working part time I can create space for other things that interest me with out feeling burnt out.

And two things keep pulling at my heart:

Helping others navigate life with diabetes, especially parents of kids with T1D who are overwhelmed and feeling alone.
Supporting those struggling with their mental health, because I’ve been there—and I know how much of a difference it makes to feel seen and supported. I also know that for adults living with diabetes this is a lacking resource in the health system depending where you are.

I have been a nurse for 25 years now and it is a part of who I am. I want to be able to integrate my own lived experiences to help others. The things that have happened to me have shaped my identity, my passion, and my purpose. Last year I completed my holistic nurse coaching and consulting certificate. Holistic nurse coaching is about supporting the whole person—not just physical health, but also your mindset, emotions, and everyday stress. I see myself doing this sometime in the future…but not sure when.

My goal is to help people find practical ways to feel better, cope with burnout, and create routines that actually work in real life. It’s not about fixing you—it’s about walking with you, helping you feel more balanced, and giving you space to focus on what really matters. At the moment I need to still work on my own mental wellness and make sure I am filling my cup and not burning out.

Years ago, I was involved with a mental wellness company that helped people work on their mental wellness, nervous system and had products that focused on the gut/brain axis. If their are others feeling the way I did several years ago they need to know there is hope to feeling better. I had been at my rock bottom before joining the company and it helped give me tools to fight back!

So no, I don’t have it all figured out. But I’m okay with that. Because I know what matters to me. I know the kind of impact I want to have. And I trust that by listening to that, I’m rewriting my story in the most meaningful way possible. Even if it means I may pivot again in the future!

A Simple Vision Exercise (For You reading this!)

If you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start, try this:

Vision Check-In Prompt:

Grab a notebook and answer these three questions honestly:

What do I want more of in my life?
(Energy, peace, support, time for me…)
What do I want less of?
(Guilt, chaos, resentment, constant urgency…)
What’s one small step I can take this week to support that vision?
(A 10-minute walk, asking for help, saying no, journaling before bed…)

Rewriting my Story: Choosing HOPE over FEAR.

Rewriting our story doesn’t mean we pretend the hard parts didn’t happen. It means we acknowledge them, own them, and carry forward the wisdom they gave us. It means holding space for the truth of our pain and the possibility of healing. It’s about believing that the next chapter doesn’t have to be shaped by fear, exhaustion, or survival—but by hope, choice, and clarity.

Another piece I’m holding onto? Hope. This was my “Word for 2022” I am bringing it back for 2025 as I feel hopeful for the future. Even when things felt impossible and I was at the bottom I still held out hope that things would get better. And they did. Right now I have been struggling more. I have been more anxious, I have slammed some doors and I have been moody. I know that things will improve…I just need to reset and keep working on things!

I am also holding on to hope for my kids’ future. Hope that their lives with type 1 diabetes will give them strength. Hope for a cure. I carry that hope with the love of being a mama bear and will always do my best to protect them and to love them unconditionally. Our story with diabetes is part of us—but it doesn’t define us and there is so much more to our lives. This is what rewriting my story looks like right now: choosing to be intentional in how I live, love, and lead… even when the road is bumpy and imperfect.

January 14, 2025July 15, 2025

Rewriting My Diabetes Story

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