Tools for sleep and sanity. One Family’s Strategies for Raising Two Kids with Type 1

Episode 63 of Think Like a Pancreas-The Podcast is part two of a two-part series with clinician, Kathryn Gentile-Alvarez and Ali Adler. Ali shares how her family can remain sane despite having two young children with type 1 diabetes. Her oldest son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 2.5 years old and his younger brother one year later when he was just 18 months. Learn about the support systems that they have put in place that improves the health and well-being of the entire family.   MEET YOUR HOST AND HER GUEST: Kathryn Gentile-Alvarez, MS, ACSM-CEP, EIM II, CPT, CSNC, CDCES is the Director of Exercise Physiology, Teen/Young Adult Specialist for Integrated Diabetes Services. As a Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist and Exercise Physiologist, she specializes in sports performance, technology integration—including open-source and DIY systems—and counseling young people and families affected by type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed herself at age twelve, Kathryn holds degrees in Exercise Physiology from Ave Maria University and West Chester University, and certifications from ACSM and ISSA. Her work focuses on using advanced technology and personalized exercise prescriptions to help people with diabetes manage their health and thrive. Ali Adler is a devoted mom who is navigating the extraordinary challenge of raising two young children with type 1 diabetes. Her journey began when her oldest son, Tom, was diagnosed at just two and a half years old. Drawing on her experience from her brother’s diagnosis during her teenage years, Ali recognized the signs and acted quickly. One year later, her youngest son, Joe, was also diagnosed, making diabetes management a central part of family life. Ali shares her story to help other parents find strength, create systems that work, and embrace resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: ✔️Diabetes always goes wrong right before an appointment with a specialist. ✔️A bad diabetes day is often just a day. ✔️ Mistakes can happen to the best of us.   ✔️ Don’t skimp on your sleep. CHAPTERS 00:16 Welcome and introductions 01:34 Tom and Joe’s diabetes diagnosis 05:23  The struggles around finding diabetes care 08:20 Investing in an Au Pair 11:58 Other childcare options 13:18 There is no way to speed up the grief process 15:38 The silver lining of a type 1 diabetes diagnosis 17:27 And then there was celiac disease 21:51 Diabetes always goes wrong when you need it to go right. 22:56 Re-evaluating a negativity bias 25:33 The need to be “on” all of the time 26:14 How IDS helped them to sleep safely at night 30:20 The most important tool in their diabetes management system RESOURCES: TrialNet      https://www.trialnet.org/ https://integrateddiabetes.com/how-to-start-the-process/ Three moms and a diabetes diagnosis.  Joanne Milo, Empowered Aging. Proactive Strategies for Seniors with Type 1 Diabetes CONNECT WITH US 🔵Website: integrateddiabetes.com 🔵 Follow on Social Media: @integrated_diabetes_services and @ integrateddiabetesservices on Facebook WORK WITH US: If you’re looking for real, personalized support for life with diabetes, you’re in the right place. Our team brings 269+ years of lived experience and 172+ years of professional expertise to the table—and we don’t say “we get it” lightly. Nearly 90% of our clinicians live with type 1 diabetes themselves, so when we talk about carb counting at midnight or troubleshooting a stubborn sensor… we’ve been there. If you want guidance from people who understand the science and the lived reality, give us a call or schedule an appointment anytime: https://integrateddiabetes.com/appointments/ SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW If you enjoyed this episode subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform to ensure that you never miss an episode. Also, leave a review to let us know what you think, and share this episode with others who will enjoy it as well!   Disclaimer The information contained in this program is based on the experience and opinions of the Integrated Diabetes Services clinical team. Please discuss any changes to your treatment plan with your personal healthcare provider before implementing.