I am a nurse and mom to a type 1 diabetic, sensory seeking toddler with an autism spectrum disorder. I started this blog with the intention of support and connection amongst families going through similar endeavors to feel less alone navigating their new normals.
We started Early Intervention services at two years old after my son’s Mother’s Day Out teacher expressed concerns he could have a sensory processing disorder. Then, at 3 years old, in August 2023, my son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Our world was completely turned upside down trying to navigate both complex realms of our new normal. We entered Pre-K3 a month after our diabetes diagnosis, which proved to be too much, too soon. The complex factors of having a newly diagnosed diabetic, sensory seeking toddler attend preschool proved harder than imagined. We made the difficult decision to pull him from preschool to focus on his diabetic and sensory needs while pursuing a Developmental Pediatric evaluation. In April of 2024, our son was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, after displaying mild characteristics, consistent with his behavioral concerns over the past year.
Even with my background in nursing, I felt confused, overwhelmed and alone throughout this process. Everything felt out of control and I yearned for connection with someone who truly understood the impact and challenges of both type 1, sensory life and autism. Social media & the internet fostered a community & support system which encouraged & motivated me. With time, I gained confidence, knowledge & experience to advocate for my son, make confident decisions for his diabetes management, and support his needs. His autism diagnosis is still very new to us and we’re still learning. Finding other families navigate similar situations makes the overwhelming unknown more manageable, and I hope sharing our experience can help others.
Through literal blood, sweat and tears, I acknowledge the challenges presented with these diagnosises. My why comes from the struggles we faced early on and the feeling of isolation, feeling like no one truly understands these hardships and how to navigate a new normal you’ve never walked before. Overtime, with a conscious effort, I learned it is possible to navigate the challenges and triumphs with joy and that it’s ok to acknowledge and understand that this is not the path you intended for your child and family. My goal is to empower newly diagnosed T1D, sensory seeking and autism families to confidently manage their care while finding joy in the chaos with a community of support behind them.
I’m so glad you joined me!
– Dana
T1D Sensory Squad 