It's a balancing act: thinking about work when you have a newly diagnosed T1D kid

Sweet Talk for Parents of Kids with Type One Diabetes

I loved the conversation I had for today’s podcast episode. It touched on a topic that no one has ever asked me about, even though I know it affects many of us: the difficult balance of managing work responsibilities while caring for a child diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

I’m talking with Nikki, a mother from the UK whose 6-year old daughter was diagnosed with T1D about a year a half ago. As Nikki learned more and more about diabetes after her daughter’s diagnosis, she started to recognize that she needed to make significant adjustments to her work life in order to truly meet her daughter’s needs. The lack of support and understanding from her employers compounded her feelings of guilt, overwhelm, and depression. Ultimately, Nikki made the tough decision to step back from her job, allowing her to provide the dedicated care her daughter required.

Nikki’s work/life balance ultimately has a happy ending—she started her own business where she works less and earns more. But it prompted her to think about the kinds of support that T1D parents need: Her journey heightened her awareness of the precarious nature of balancing professional obligations with the demands of caregiving.

In many ways, Nikki’s story is not unique; many parents face similar struggles as they take on the often crushing burden of managing their child’s T1D — and many parents adjust their work schedules to accommodate these needs. But it’s a lonely and hard decision, so I was grateful to Nikki for coming forward to explicitly name how challenging it can be. We have a brief, but wide-ranging conversation.

Listen to hear more about

*My thoughts about how some of the work/life balance parents need help with is actually a political issue

*Some clear ideas about mourning and challenges parents face when their child is first diagnosed.

*Starting to create some community around T1D

Hope you enjoy the show!