Blue November Prep

While I am still getting ready for Halloween, I’m also looking forward to our diabetes awareness efforts for November. We participate in Project Blue November by wearing blue on Fridays and posting on social media. Last year I painted a craft pumpkin with the international symbol for diabetes, a blue circle. We collected all of Grasshopper’s used diabetes supplies and empty packets of Annie’s Fruit Snacks in the pumpkin to show all of the supplies and low blood sugar treatments he used.

First of All, It Was October…

Every autumn Bartlett Ranch, a working horse and cattle farm near us, hosts an evening celebrating Alabama farmers. It is always a fun time and sure sign that the endless Alabama summer is finally waning.

We had a great evening at Bartlett Ranch! Arrows were shot, turkey feathers found, and apples were pressed.

Calves, goats, cows, and snakes were admired. Balloons were acquired. Firetrucks were explored. We Sugar Surfed our way through a hotdog (1 gram of carbohydrates), hotdog bun (21g carbs), chips (15g carbs), and Chips Ahoy cookies (15g carbs).

Halloween with T1D

Yes, Grasshopper can and does eat candy. If his blood sugar goes too low he HAS to eat something sugary to bring it back up. Juice, Annie’s Fruit Snacks, Lifesavers Gummies. Sugar can literally save his life.

by Erin

The assumption often is, “Grasshopper can’t eat candy because he has type 1 diabetes.”
The short answer is, “He can and does eat candy. There are times sugar can literally save his life.” The long answer is, “It gets a bit complicated.”

The Teal Pumpkin Project

by Erin

It’s not the candy, it’s the carbs.

After Grasshopper’s diagnosis of type 1 diabetes I was so worried about Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, Easter… all these holidays that focus on food, lots of food, lots of carby goodness like mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pies, rolls, and candy everywhere.

First Halloween

Halloween was a hallowed tradition in my childhood, as it was and still is for millions of American children.

by Erin

I was always so excited to create my costume for that one spooky night. When I became a parent I was thrilled at the prospect of sharing all of that excitement with my child.