Learning to Let Go: One of the Hardest Parts of Being a Type 1 Diabetes Mom
- Apr 13
- 3 min read
One of the hardest parts of being a Type 1 diabetes mom isn’t learning how to count carbs, calculate insulin doses, or stay up all night checking blood sugar levels.
The hardest part is learning to let go.
Letting go of control. Letting go of fear. Letting go—just a little—of trusting someone else with your child’s care.
The day it was time: starting school
The day we knew would come eventually—but that you’re never fully prepared for—finally arrived: starting school.
When we decided, as a family, to give our child the opportunity to experience school, my anxiety skyrocketed—quickly turning into panic.
My thoughts wouldn’t stop:
Who will take care of my child the way I do?
Will they pay enough attention if he’s not the only child who needs care?
What if something happens and I’m not there?
Those days were filled with anxiety, endless planning, and careful preparation. Because when you’re raising a child with Type 1 diabetes, nothing is left to chance.
Choosing the right environment
We decided to start with a small school, a more intimate setting where, fortunately, they had already supported other children living with this medical condition. That experience made all the difference.
At the time, my son was four years old. He was using a continuous glucose monitor, but we were still giving insulin injections manually. His care depended completely on adults who needed to notice, understand, and act.
His teacher was incredible. She listened. She learned. She showed compassion.
Little by little, she gave us something priceless: the confidence to let go.
Preparing, educating, and trusting
We didn’t let go without preparation.
We created a Type 1 diabetes manual, clear and simple, with essential information for daily care. Alongside it, we prepared a Type 1 diabetes kit—a box that included everything needed for a typical school day: insulin, glucose meter, low blood sugar treatments, snacks, and all the tools that are part of our daily routine.
And then… we trusted.
We trusted the school. We trusted the teacher. We trusted our child.
And he was happy—happy to be with other kids, to play, to learn, to experience something he also deserved.
Letting go doesn’t mean you stop caring
That was my first experience truly letting go of control. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t easy. And it wasn’t the last time.
Even today, every time my child goes to school and his care isn’t 100% in my hands, I still feel a bit of anxiety. But now I know something I didn’t know before:
It is possible to trust.
Letting go doesn’t mean you stop caring. It means allowing our children to live, grow, and thrive—even with Type 1 diabetes.
Because our children don’t just need to survive. They deserve to live.
At Pablo’s Pack T1D, we deeply believe that no family should have to walk this journey alone. We know that living with Type 1 diabetes is a constant learning process—filled with fear, tough decisions, and also powerful everyday victories. This space was created from real-life experience, from the love of a family that truly understands what it means to care, to let go, and to learn how to trust again. Our mission is to support, educate, and empower other T1D families by providing tools, knowledge, and—most importantly—hope. Because together we are stronger, and when we build community, we help our children not only stay safe, but grow with confidence, joy, and the certainty that they can live full, meaningful lives with Type 1 diabetes.
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