Revisiting Episode #1521, Fueled By Anxiety

Lexi’s son Hayes was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes four days before his second birthday. Within three weeks she had him wearing a Dexcom and an Omnipod because she didn’t want daycare staff handling syringes.

To keep every caregiver calm, Lexi wrote a postcard-size “low card” that lives in Hayes’s supply bag. It says:
“Under 85, give one Smartie. Under 70, give two Smarties. Anything else, call me.” She made different versions for school, church, and grandparents, each trimmed to the exact numbers and actions that group needs.

The same year Hayes was diagnosed, Lexi and her husband welcomed four-year-old twin foster children who arrived with unknown medication patches on their backs. Handling those unknowns reminded Lexi that every family carries hard things; diabetes is just one of theirs.

Lexi also wanted teachers and babysitters to feel confident when insulin had to be given from her phone. She practiced remote dosing while Hayes was upstairs so she could run up if something felt off, then chose an easy-going friend for the first real test. The friend watched a quick glucagon demo, shrugged, and said, “Got it.”

Quick checklist you can copy:

• Stop low-blood-sugar panic: use a postcard “low card.” First step: write one card for the next playdate.

• Free up caregivers: enable remote overrides. First step: practice a remote bolus while your child is nearby.

• Keep family plans big: build Plan A, Plan B, Plan C. First step: list your top three worries and a simple fix for each.

Takeaway: Break diabetes care into small, clear steps and more people will feel ready to help—freeing your family to do everything you want to do.