Meet a D-Dad: Scott of Arden’s Day

You’ve met a few D-Moms here each Monday, but today I am excited to get to know another D-Dad a little better.

I invite you to read about Scott Benner and his daughter Arden and then visit his blog Arden’s Day. He offers the unique perspective of being a stay at home father raising a child with type 1 diabetes. You can also follow him on Twitter; he’s @ArdensDay.

I’d like to introduce you to Scott of Arden’s Day.

Tell me something about your child.

Arden is a softball player and a yoga enthusiast. She is a very good student. She loves fashion, she has been picking out her own clothes and dressing herself since she was 3 yrs old.

How old was your child when diagnosed?

Arden was diagnosed almost 4 years ago on 8/22/06. It was one month after her second birthday.

How was your child diagnosed?

To read the complete story of Arden’s diagnosis, please read How Did I Know? on Scott’s blog.

How has your child’s life changed since diagnosis?

I can’t lie, nothing positive has come from Arden having type 1. Positive things have happened since that wouldn’t have happened without type 1, but there’s nothing that I wouldn’t trade for Arden to not be sick. I’m never negative about type 1, but I am honest.

Arden has an awareness about life that she doesn’t deserve to have at this age. She knows that she is sick, she feels different at times, and she can resent the hoops she has to jump through to do everyday things, like eat and run. The other day she cried and said she didn’t want to have diabetes any more – that happens a few times a year.

How has your family’s life changed since diagnosis?

More stress. Less time.

We haven’t just picked up and run out the door in years. We are always tired. We never don’t know what Arden’s BG is/was.

We’ve met a ton of wonderful people that are also effected by type 1. They are generally a strong bunch with wonderful spirits.

How has connecting online helped you cope with diabetes?

Connecting online has helped in so many ways, but if I had to choose one… Knowing that there are other people living the same life is knowledge that helps me remain centered. Not feeling alone lifted a huge burden. It’s very psychological, as it brings me no tangible improvement, but it’s definitely the best part.

How do you manage diabetes?

OmniPod & DexCom Seven Plus

What would you tell parents of a newly diagnosed child?

Not to set “timelines” for things. I had it in my mind that after a year I would feel less overwhelmed, confused, and scared. When that day arrived and I didn’t feel any better, it was depressing. Honestly, it took almost two years for me to feel reasonably in control of the situation. It gets better, but there is no way to know when you’ll feel that relief.

What do you know now that you wish you had known at diagnosis?

That everything we were being taught was subject to change without notice or reason depending on the hour.