Me & T1D

Me & T1D Type 1 Diabetes • Real Life • Awareness • Education • Community Born and raised in South Africa, I navigated a life marked by both triumphs and hardships.

In 2006, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a condition that presented its challenges but fueled my determination to live life to the fullest. However, my journey was also shaped by significant trauma, which further strengthened my resolve to seek a safer and brighter future. In 2018, I made the life-altering decision to immigrate to New Zealand, drawn to its reputation as a land of safety and

opportunity. With each passing day, I found solace and a renewed sense of security in the breathtaking landscapes and warm-hearted communities that welcomed me. Adding to the excitement of my journey, I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of motherhood in October 2023. I am ready to embrace the challenges and wonders of this remarkable chapter, knowing that my experiences have shaped me into a strong and loving mother-to-be. From the earliest days of my life, my unwavering love for animals has been an immense part of who I am and will continue in future generations to come. Music has also been a constant companion throughout my life. It uplifts my spirit, heals my soul, serves as a source of inspiration and solace during both joyful and challenging moments. In summary, these designs are inspired by who I am. I've never been one to follow the crowd, I embrace the freedom of self-expression and celebrate individuality as I believe everyone should!

27/05/2026

Pump Journaling – Day 8

Today's mission: Change my infusion line and site. Easy, right? 🫠

10:21 → 0.80u left
10:24 → 0.70u
10:27 → 0.33u
10:31 → 0.29u
10:37 → 0.25u

Me: "Almost there..." 🤏

13 minutes later...

10:50 → 0.74u ?????? 😤😭

So after standing there for almost 30 minutes waiting for my pump to finish giving insulin, I eventually cancelled it because I was losing the will to continue standing there staring at this tiny machine who suddenly had all this power over me and my precious time. 😂

People think an insulin pump means diabetes becomes automatic, but sometimes it looks like negotiating with a device that lives on your body and doesn't care about your plans.

Pump users... please tell me you've also had arguments with your pump because I can't be the only one. 🫣

Adjusting to my new normal... 💙Not every change with an insulin pump is about blood sugars and carb counting. Sometimes ...
24/05/2026

Adjusting to my new normal... 💙

Not every change with an insulin pump is about blood sugars and carb counting. Sometimes it's learning a whole new way of dressing, carrying things, and moving through your day.

Today's solution: Kmart waistband because it's warm, I don't have pockets, and apparently I now need real estate for a pump and a phone. 😂

If you're new to pumping, I’d actually recommend grabbing one of these little sports bands (mine was only $8 from Kmart). It's been a real lifesaver and super practical while I'm figuring everything out — especially around the house.

One small adjustment at a time.

PS: Thanks Kmart New Zealand! Turns out your sports band has more uses than I expected. 😅

For years I avoided going on an insulin pump.Not because I didn't understand the benefits.Not because I was scared of te...
24/05/2026

For years I avoided going on an insulin pump.

Not because I didn't understand the benefits.
Not because I was scared of technology.

Because I don't think I was ready for what it meant.

People often see pump content online and it looks easy. Small devices, quick attachment, smiling photos and "life-changing" captions. And for many people it absolutely is life-changing.

But I don't think enough people talk about the reality of having a tubed pump.

My CGM became something I could almost forget about. Lots of people wear them now and unless I knock it or my daughter pulls on it, I barely notice it's there.

But a tubed pump?

I see it.
I feel it.
I have to think about it.

Where do I clip it?
Where does the tubing go?
How do I sleep?
What do I wear?
What happens if my toddler pulls on it?
How do I change sites every few days?
What happens if insulin delivery stops?

And then there is another part I wasn't prepared for.

The grieving.

Because I didn't just switch to an insulin pump.

I switched to a completely different way of managing Type 1 Diabetes.

A whole new world.
A whole new language.
New settings.
New ratios.
New ways of thinking.
New responsibilities.

I wasn't just learning a device.

I was learning how to live with my diabetes differently.

And with that comes grieving your old way of doing things. Grieving what felt familiar, even if it wasn't always easier.

And then there is the physical side nobody really talks about.

You don't quite look the same anymore.

You suddenly have tubing.
A device clipped to you.
Something attached to your body all the time.

It's visible.

And whether we like it or not, it can change how you see yourself.

You wonder if other people notice it.
You wonder if they stare.
You wonder if they see you differently.

Sometimes you even see yourself differently.

I had a complete meltdown over reattaching my clip to my silicone cover the other day.

And it wasn't really about the clip.

It was about suddenly feeling like I couldn't forget I have Type 1 Diabetes anymore.

Because this thing is physically there all the time.

Before anyone thinks I regret it — I don't.

The pump has already done incredible things for my sugars and I know I am still very early in this journey.

But I think two things can exist at the same time:

I can be grateful for what technology gives me...

and still grieve the adjustment that comes with it.

If you have a pump — tubed or tubeless — what was the hardest thing for you to come to terms with?

Day 3… and the come down has finally hit.The excitement, the information overload, all the learning and everything happe...
20/05/2026

Day 3… and the come down has finally hit.

The excitement, the information overload, all the learning and everything happening so quickly… has settled now. And the reality has started sinking in.

I think the hardest part for me right now isn't even learning the pump. It’s coming to terms with seeing myself differently.

Before, diabetes was something I managed. Now suddenly there’s something attached to me all the time. You think about where the pump goes, what clothes will work, how to sleep with it, where to clip it, where to put it... and it’s strange because something so small suddenly feels very big.

And every question people ask (which I genuinely love because everyone has been so supportive ❤️), somehow makes it feel even more real when I explain it all out loud.

This was actually the part I was most scared of before going onto a pump — and I thought I had made peace with it already. But now that it's here, those feelings have come back.

Right now, honestly? It almost feels like being diagnosed all over again.

I know this is probably part of the adjustment period. I know it will get easier, and I know my brain and heart just need time to catch up with everything. But today, mentally and emotionally, it's just not a great day.

And I also want to share this part because not every step of a journey is excitement and success stories. Sometimes it's just: “Today is hard.” ❤️

Day 1 of pump training done… and wow, my brain feels FULL... 😵‍💫It’s incredible how much information sits behind such a ...
19/05/2026

Day 1 of pump training done… and wow, my brain feels FULL... 😵‍💫

It’s incredible how much information sits behind such a small little device. Today we went through the pump features, apps, settings, alarms… and then eventually filled the reservoir, connected everything and started insulin delivery.

So after 19 years and 5 months of injections… I am officially a little bit bionic now. 🤖

I also wore my “Because Having A Working Pancreas Is Too Ordinary” shirt today, which felt very appropriate for the occasion. 😁

Now we just have to figure out how people actually sleep with these things attached to them 😅 and whether my sensitive skin is going to cooperate with the adhesive.

All in all, it went well… I just feel a little overwhelmed and like my brain is overflowing with information right now. I just want to sit and think of nothing for the next 6 hours. 😂

After 19 years and 5 months of doing everything manually… my pump and supplies have officially arrived... 🙌And now… I’m ...
18/05/2026

After 19 years and 5 months of doing everything manually… my pump and supplies have officially arrived... 🙌

And now… I’m not even allowed to open anything yet. 😅

First step is downloading the CamAPS FX app and doing the in-app training, plus there’s a YpsoPump explorer app to get familiar with everything before tomorrow’s training.

So here I am… staring at all of this, knowing it’s about to completely change how I manage my diabetes… and just waiting.

Excited. Nervous. Curious. Slightly overwhelmed. 🫠

Training starts tomorrow and I’m going to document this whole journey (as best I can 😅) as I go.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s actually like switching to a pump after years of injections… stick around. 🤓

I tried to be productive and vacuum the house today… 🧹My Type 1 Diabetes had other plans. 🫠My sugar dropped FAST 😵‍💫One ...
16/05/2026

I tried to be productive and vacuum the house today… 🧹

My Type 1 Diabetes had other plans. 🫠

My sugar dropped FAST 😵‍💫
One minute I’m cleaning, next minute I’m shaky, not feeling great, eyes going a bit white…

So naturally…

Out comes the “emergency treatment”. 😂

My daughter’s chocolate,
My husband’s biscuits,
…and chips — because at that point we’re not thinking, we’re just surviving. 🙈

No calculating.
No patience.
Just “eat now and survive”.

Consequence loading… 😅

Because honestly… nothing says experienced Type 1 like rage-treating a low and getting impatient when your sugar doesn’t come up fast enough. 🙌

Question:
If you’ve ever seen a Type 1 treat a low… what did they grab first and how was their mood? 🤔

Happy Mother’s Day! 🩷Type 1 Diabetes changes what motherhood looks like.For some, it means raising a child with T1D —lea...
10/05/2026

Happy Mother’s Day! 🩷

Type 1 Diabetes changes what motherhood looks like.

For some, it means raising a child with T1D —
learning everything, carrying the fear, doing the checks,
being “on” all the time, even in the middle of the night.

For others…
it means being the mom with Type 1.

Managing your own sugars while raising little ones.
Correcting highs while packing lunches.
Treating lows while trying to stay present.
Running on empty, but still showing up.

And then there are those doing both in one way or another —
because Type 1 doesn’t just affect one person… it touches everyone around them.

The strength it takes?
It’s not always loud.
But it’s constant.

The late nights.
The early mornings.
The mental load.
The “just keep going” even when your body and mind are tired.

Today is for all of those moms. 🩵

The ones who care.
The ones who carry.
The ones who fight quietly every single day.

You are strong.
You are resilient.
And you are doing an incredible job — even on the days it doesn’t feel like it.

🤗

05/05/2026

I always feel guilty for looking after myself first, especially when it comes to my daughter. In the past I would try to "push through" at work because I felt too guilty and judged for taking a "break" I already had to treat a low...

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