The Silent Warriors: Siblings of Kids with Type 1 Diabetes
When one child is diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, it doesn’t just impact them — it changes everything for the whole family.
And the ones who often carry the weight quietly... are the siblings.
They watch their brother or sister get poked, prodded, and treated differently.
They hear the CGM alarms in the middle of the night.
They wait patiently through emergency room visits.
They sit quietly during carb counts, supply runs, and stress-fueled check-ins.
They don’t complain.
But they still feel it.
Sometimes, they get less attention — not out of neglect, but out of necessity.
Plans change. Priorities shift.
Family time starts revolving around insulin and sensors instead of spontaneity.
They love their sibling deeply, but still — they carry their own quiet burden too.
💬 So this post is for them:
To the kids who grab the juice box without being asked.
To the siblings who sit still while another fingerprick happens.
To the ones who cheer their brother or sister on in the background.
To those who step up, stay kind, and never say a word about all the times they came second.
You are brave.
You are important.
And you are so, so seen.
💔 A Personal Reflection...
After sharing a recent story about the friends I lost in Bali — friends who judged me for “not being there” for my daughter — I hit one of the lowest emotional points of my life.
I started questioning everything:
Was I really not there enough?
Did I make her feel unseen?
Am I failing her?
But here’s the truth:
I was doing everything I could.
I’m a single mum.
I work full time.
And I care for two beautiful, unique kids — one of whom lives with a condition that never sleeps.
I wasn’t just sitting by the pool.
I was watching blood sugars.
Waiting for a crash.
Ready to jump into action at any second.
I didn’t choose between my kids.
I was loving both with everything I had.
If someone couldn’t see that — maybe they were never really in my corner to begin with.
🌱 To Every Parent Feeling the Same:
You are not failing.
You are carrying the weight of three people on your back and still moving forward.
You deserve support — not judgment.
And your kids?
Even if they don’t always say it, they feel your love.
Let them know they’re seen:
👉 Share this post with a sibling, teacher, or friend who supports someone with T1D
👉 Explore our community and resources — where support is more than talk