Caleb is my second of three children. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of three in January 2007. He has used the OmniPod Insulin Management System since April 2007 and the DexCom Continuos Glucose Monitor since September 2009. He has also used an open source version of a hybrid closed loop system known as Loop.
I am a mother, a wife, a CPA and a type 1 diabetes advocate, among other things. My son Caleb was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in January 2007 at the age of three. No one in either my or my husband’s families is known to have type 1 diabetes. We knew very little about it when Caleb was diagnosed. In the weeks following I felt very isolated.
Since Caleb was diagnosed, I have been fortunate to find the support that I need; I have found it online. I wish I had discovered it sooner than I did. I am often contacted by parents of children living with type 1 diabetes or diabetics themselves who find me through online vehicles like Twitter, YouTube or TuDiabetes. All too often I am contacted because someone is newly diagnosed and I am happy to reach out to them, to provide support and share our experiences.
I started this blog for those people. I find myself telling many of these stories over and over again. I have finally taken the time to articulate them properly. They are here for those referred to me or those that happen upon them.
Everyone who lives with diabetes has a different story to tell. I have read and heard many of them. Even though the stories and their details vary, there is a consistent theme to all of them. They are all relatable.
I share our experiences so that others do not feel isolated. Our decisions and approach related to Caleb’s care are ours and ours alone. I do not ever mean to imply that what we do is what anyone else should do. I merely share our experiences as a point of reference.
Thank you for taking the time to visit.
I wish you the best.
Lorraine
If you are wondering about the name of this blog, it comes from the first videos I made about Caleb’s life with diabetes. The opening screen of two of these videos displays the words “This is Caleb…”. Here is the first:
As noted above, I am not a medical professional in any capacity and nothing written by me is intended as medical advice or to replace the advice of your or child’s doctor.
This is Caleb... 
Wow… I am completely impressed with your blog. Well done. To have such caring and honest thoughts from a loving mother is truely insightful!
I did a video but I have not published it yet, but I basically was thanking my parents and friends that have helped me along the way with my Diabetes. So… thank you! From someone who has Diabetes to someone that cares for someone that does.
I wish you the best on your site!
Tell Caleb I said Hi!
Thanks Bill for your comments. More so, thanks for your uplifting spirit and inspiration. I look forward to that video. Have fun this weekend – I so wish we could be there. Maybe next year.
Caleb says, “hi”, back atcha with a wink. 🙂
Hi, found you page from the 1happydiabetic forums.. My daughter was also diagnosed at the age of 3 in Jan 2007. Great website you’ve made, and say Hi to Caleb from Charleigh.
http://www.teamcharleigh.com
Fred
My 3 year old son Liam was just diagnosed about 2 weeks ago and I am completely lost. I don’t even remember what site linked to your blog, but here I am, and I am blown away by how thoroughly you have researched options and how dedicated you are. It’s all greek to me at this point, but somehow seeing that you know what you do and advocate for your son makes me realize that I will one day get there. We feel so isolated in this. As much support as we have from friends and family, we don’t know anyone else with diabetes. Any advice or anything you think might help is much appreciated.
I happened upon your website and I have to comment. Your original video is AMAZING. I love it. My son Sam was diagnosed with diabetes at 2o months old (he’s now now almost 5 and also on the Omnipod) when I was seven months pregnant with my daughter and my mom was under going treatment for breast cancer. It was ridiculous, but by now I am pretty on top of things. I almost never see something that reduces me to tears, but that video – it’s just perfect. Kind of like these amazing kids. I wrote down the story of Sam’s diagnosis on our blog http://samsfriendschronicle.blogspot.com in the post titled Diagnosis Parenthood (+/- Diabetes) if you ever feel like reading about another little boy Caleb’s age.
All the Best,
Rachel
We have a 6 year old daughter who was diagnosed in late 2008 with type 1. Like you, we have felt alone in our journey to help our daughter through this. I saw on one of your videos, that you had a chart for food calculations (pasta night video). We were wondering if there is anyway you could help us with the chart you had so that we can help her manage this better. We are also looking into a pump and have narrowed it down to the Omnipod and the Animas Ping. We’ve had problems with insurance on the Omnipod but feel this might be the best for our active daughter. Does the PDM need to stay near the pod after you program in the basal or bolus. If she is out playing does she need to keep the PDM on her after the dosing is given. Any info given would be a great help. Thank you and best of wishes.
My son was diagnosed three months ago. A few weeks ago, I started a blog on wordpress trying to keep from feeling so isolated (as you described in your beginning) and I also thought journaling might be a way for me to focus, share, cope and connect. I would absolutely love to add your site to my blogroll. I found you on d-mom. I LOVED the omni video with Rufus and your sweet boy. Awesome and can’t wait to show it to my Ryan, 5. We are still in our honeymoon stage and very green at all this diabetes stuff, but my husband has already done some research on the omnipod for when the endo gives us the okay. Thanks for doing this! LOVE IT!
Amy Lederer
What you are doing on here is so great. I was actually really curious about the OmniPod, so I was on youtube and looking how it was inserted, and primed and what not and I came across a few of your son’s videos. One with the sugar low, and another of where you changed his OmniPod site. Anyway, I was diagnosed around the same time as your son. I am 20 years old, 16 when I was diagnosed. I really just wanted to say thank you for making this site and for posting videos. I know especially for me, it’s so much easier to get a sense of experiences through what I see and hear. Its so great to see how the OmniPod works and that your son is so great with having diabetes. I know it’s challenging. I come from the same experience where I am the ONLY diabetic on either sides of my family and it’s confusing and hard to take in. But, it’s totally a learning adventure and a journey that needs and takes a lot of support and love! Your son is very blessed to have you! Good luck in everything!
I was diagnosed about a year ago at age 22. I’ve had the OmniPod for about 7 months now.
I’m sure that as a parent you already do this, but find an active sport that he loves and get him to stick with it. It was hard for me to get back into Taekwondo, especially as a black belt. But now that I am, managing my sugar is that much easier. Especially with the temp basal settings in the PDM.
What you are doing on here is so great. I was actually really curious about the OmniPod, so I was on youtube and looking how it was inserted, and primed and what not and I came across a few of your son’s videos. One with the sugar low, and another of where you changed his OmniPod site. Anyway, I was diagnosed around the same time as your son. I am 20 years old, 16 when I was diagnosed. I really just wanted to say thank you for making this site and for posting videos. I know especially for me, it’s so much easier to get a sense of experiences through what I see and hear. Its so great to see how the OmniPod works and that your son is so great with having diabetes. I know it’s challenging. I come from the same experience where I am the ONLY diabetic on either sides of my family and it’s confusing and hard to take in. But, it’s totally a learning adventure and a journey that needs and takes a lot of support and love! Your son is very blessed to have you! Good luck in everything!
+1
Dear Caleb’s mom,
it is great what you are doing with Caleb, and letting the world know of what you do. by telling the world, you are helping thousands of others understand diabetes and deal with it. thank you for that.
i noticed from a different website that you were involved in diabetes art day. is that true? if so, i would like to start a discussion on the subject. we are starting a project here in Bahrain (small country in the middle east which has one of the highest diabetes prevalence levels in the world) aimed at art for diabetes.
would appreciate your guidance and feedback.
Thank you and best regards,
hisham.shehabi@gmail.com
Hi Lorraine,
I’ve been wanting to write this for some time… I just wanted you to know that reading your/Caleb’s blog has really helped me understand Type 1 diabetes. I myself have Type 2, and of course, we all get caught up in our own situations and sometimes fail to see how others deal with this illness, especially children.
I’ve been very impressed with how you and your family have worked through it and I have found a lot of inspiration through your blog. From the comments I’ve read, Caleb’s story and your articulation of it has really helped parents who have children with diabetes. By helping others, we ourselves are helped and strengthened.
Although diabetes is just one component of my own blog, I know that people are really seeking hope and encouragement and a voice telling them that anything and every situation can be improved with a change of perspective.
Just wanted to say I appreciate your efforts. I know blogging is a lot of work!
God bless you and your family.
Paul
Thank you so much Paul. Your words mean a great deal and I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
I understand what you mean – the DOC has taught me a great deal, not only about type 1 diabetes, but type 2 as well – the differences and similarities. I’m happy to have learned from so many.
Hello there! After watching Caleb’s story and reading your blog, I’m completely convinced I was supposed to meet you. I am also a type 1 diabetic, diagnosed at 8 and I’m 15 now. You are such an amazing mom keeping charts and recording every blood sugar he has. That is diligence! I don’t have an Omnipod or a CGM, but I was watching videos on Youtube, and am getting more and more curious about it. I have a Medtronic Minimed Paradigm pump. I was just curious if you felt as it there were any downsides to it, and how you would recommend it.
Caleb seems like a very nice boy and he is sure very lucky to have you as a mom.
Please let me know what you think. Thanks very much,
–Emelina
Hey Caleb!I have type 1 diabetes too! How old are you now? I’m 9. Love your videos!
thank you for this great blog. I’m 21, type 1 since 11, from Spain. I’m learning how to use the omnipod and you and Caleb give me strength to keep on with this everyday. Thanks
My son (middle child, named Caleb) was diagnosed (also in January) of 2012. We are learning so many new things. My Caleb just turned 11 in April.
Hi Lorraine, Have you had any problems with allergic reactions to the adhesive patch on the Dexcom? I have had lots of redness, itching, etc. Used Skin Tack- but allergic to the Rosin, etc. Was allergy tested this past week. I was found to have fragrance allergies and some other stuff. Using fragrance free body lotion now. Have you heard of anything that may help? Know you are not a Dr., but just curious if you heard from anyone about this. My dermatologist didn’t read the final results. Really need to use Dexcom along with t:slim pump.
Thanks so much for helping out the diabetes community as you are doing!
Oh- tell Caleb I was the only one in my family to have diabetes as well. Dr said it may have been caused by a virus that attacked the pancreas and destroyed the part that makes the beta cells (ones that produce insulin, I think.)
May you and your family be blessed abundantly.
Hi, Barb. Hopefully after nearly two months, you have found a solution. Yes, Caleb has had skin reactions to the dexcom adhesive and they have resolved. I think giving his skin a rest helped, but we also did come up with a series of steps to create a barrier for him that helped as well. We no longer need to do that, thankfully. There are others who have had issues and been able to find solutions. There’s a dexcom Facebook group that might help. Also check out sixuntilme’s post on this topic. Kerri uses J&J tough pads (I think that’s what they are called). That might help too! Good luck!