Moms’ Night Out Aims to Support Caregivers of Type 1 Diabetes
There’s no doubt that diabetes management can be difficult for both people with diabetes and caregivers. From outsiders not understanding the disease to constantly worrying about blood glucose levels (BGLs), the journey can be exhausting for everyone.
Burnout for both caregivers and people with diabetes is real. And because of the nuances of this disease, many caregivers find joy in connecting with others who understand it. That’s why there are resources and support groups available, including a new event called Moms’ Night Out!
While diabetes management often takes a team of people, from parents to school nurses to relatives, moms may often bear the majority of the responsibility.
Moms’ Night Out has a goal of providing mothers with a break from their normal routine, meet other moms who understand what they are going through and learn new ways to care for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
What is type 1 diabetes (T1D)?
T1D is a chronic autoimmune disease where the pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin due to damaged beta cells. Without insulin, bodies can’t use the sugar in the blood stream as energy, which leads to high BGLs.
Common symptoms of T1D include excessive thirst, frequent urination, rapid weight loss, fatigue, nausea and fruity-smelling breath. T1D isn’t curable or preventable, and research suggests it is caused by a genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger.
The history of Moms’ Night Out
Moms’ Night Out originally took place in January of 2023, but organizers expanded it after hearing from moms across the U.S.
Liz Kroger, a mom who attended the event last winter, said “This must be how our kids feel at diabetes camp! So awesome to be surrounded by ‘our people’ who just get it without explanation.”
Stacey Simms is the organizer of Moms’ Night Out. She says in the 16 years since her son was diagnosed with T1D, she’s been to dozens of conferences and events. “Now I’ve taken the best elements from those events and created a brand-new experience. We have lots of diabetes technology for people to see and learn about, stress-relieving social time and speakers who will get attendees energized and ready to face the challenges of parenting a child with diabetes,” she says.
Simms shares that event organizers understand how important it is that moms of kids with T1D have a support system and access to resources. Moms’ Night Out is designed to provide both.
Three cities will host Moms’ Night Out in the coming months, with the first one being held in Frisco, Texas from October 13-14. The next two events will take place in Providence, Rhode Island (October 27-28, 2023) and Charlotte, North Carolina (February 2-3, 2024). The team is excited to bring it to more cities.
If you are interested in attending, you’re encouraged to register early. You can also sign up for informational emails here.
