Here are my reflections as I look back over the past 30 days of Diabetes Awareness Month, when I shared messages on social media to educate and advocate for those living with diabetes.

For Diabetes Awareness Month I chose to share 30 daily diabetes thoughts and facts, across social media platforms Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

My goal is always to reach beyond those affected directly by diabetes to help educate or dispel a myth. I know that together we reached beyond those directly affected by diabetes because the number of people that the daily graphics “reached” on social media was astronomical. They were being seen by friends of friends of friends, and hopefully, they learned something new, gained a better understanding, or just became a bit more sympathetic to those with diabetes.

I want to thank each of you who did click “share” or “like” this past month. It was you who made the daily thoughts and facts go viral.

Even though I’m on social media, most of my advocacy in person is done organically. Like at play practice when a parent asks a question. Often it’s not the parent bringing it up, but when I mention something about Q’s diabetes (volunteering backstage every night because we never know what his BGs will do), it opens the door for them to ask a question they’ve wanted to ask. For instance, a parent said her child was wondering if Q will outgrow his diabetes. It was an opportunity to explain that Q has type 1 diabetes and will always have diabetes.

I think my takeaway from this Diabetes Awareness Month is that we all have to find our niche of how we best advocate and educate. For some of us, it will be participating in online campaigns, and for some of us, it will be teaching just one person about diabetes.

And the fact remains that Diabetes Awareness Month may be over, but my child still has diabetes.

Read my 30 Diabetes Awareness Month thoughts and facts.

(Originally published December 4, 2018.)

“Diabetes is just one aspect of a child with type 1. Of course, take care of their medical needs, but try to make them feel like a kid first and foremost.”

Every day during Diabetes Awareness Month, I will share a fact, tip, or thought on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

“Though you want your child to eventually self-manage their diabetes, take back over care if it becomes too much for them or they need a break. They have their entire life with diabetes ahead of them.”

Every day during Diabetes Awareness Month, I will share a fact, tip, or thought on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

“Begin transitioning self-care by teaching them age-appropriate tasks such as checking their own blood sugars, counting carbs, or giving insulin.”

Every day during Diabetes Awareness Month, I will share a fact, tip, or thought on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

“When a child’s blood sugar is low it’s difficult for them to think. During a low blood sugar, the brain literally doesn’t have the fuel it needs to function properly.”

Every day during Diabetes Awareness Month, I will share a fact, tip, or thought on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

“When a child’s blood sugar is high or low, they may also have extreme emotions such as crying easily and being short-tempered.”

Every day during Diabetes Awareness Month, I will share a fact, tip, or thought on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.