The World’s Worst Diabetes Mom: A Book Review
Familiar face
If you have been an active (or even not so active) follower of the type 1 diabetic (T1D) online community in the past few years, you have likely heard of Stacey Simms. Stacey is a radio host, T1D mom and blogger turned host of the popular podcast Diabetes Connections.
But recently, she’s added a new title to her repertoire: author. Her new book is titled “The World’s Worst Diabetes Mom.”
“This isn’t the book I set out to write,” Stacey immediately notes in the introduction. What was initially intended to be a book based on past blog posts turned into something much more unique when measured against other diabetes related books that came before this one. After an offensive comment made against her parenting skills on social media, Stacey realized that she needed to write a book that acknowledges not just the T1D successes in life, but perhaps moments of pure screw-up that all who deal with diabetes know too well.
This is exactly what Stacey’s book does—and beautifully so. “The World’s Worst Diabetes Mom” does not glamorize the life of a parent of a child with type 1 diabetes or the struggles of a child. The book, in a way, celebrates that the idea of perfection is simply not a “thing” that can be attained while managing type 1 diabetes. Stacey is unapologetic and honest about the lessons she has learned as a T1D parent in a way that makes the reader—whether a parent themselves or a person with type 1 recalling their own early experiences —feel a lot less alone.
Stacey’s charmingly relatable book is organized into chapters based on type 1 milestones in her family’s life and other applicable issues such as: The First Night Home, Pump Start, On-the-Road Adventures, Summer Camp and Social Media Support. The T1D mom takes good care to emphasize that her opinions and experiences are not to be taken as medical advice, and she even includes “Ask your doctor” sections with helpful tips for what to address with your doctor with regard to each preceding chapter.
What makes it enjoyable
Although there are many stories and perspectives from people who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes available to us today, this book is an important window into the somewhat unexplored life of a T1D caregiver.
Every parent with a child who has type 1 diabetes will undoubtedly remember instances exactly like, or at least very similar to, the ones that Stacey recalls in each of these chapters about learning to manage her son Benny’s T1D, who was diagnosed just before he turned 2. And, even if the reader’s child was diagnosed at a much later age, the emotions that tie into each story—i.e. feelings of inadequacy or failure but ultimately becoming stronger for it—will resonate hugely.
Although the book is written by a T1D parent, people who have type 1 themselves will likely relate to the many moments of confusion and frustration, and will appreciate Stacey’s consistent ability to laugh along the way while always taking the topics seriously.
In this day and age where social media status reigns supreme even in the T1D realm, it is refreshing to read a book that encourages parents, caregivers and T1Ds themselves to resist the pressure to get it right every time. Stacey’s book is hinged on the idea that life is a journey, and that there will be bumps, and that regardless of how many bumps, it is your road to navigate. It’s about the journey.
About the Author:
Stacey Simms hosts the award‐winning podcast “Diabetes Connections,” after having hosted “Charlotte’s Morning News” radio show for many years. She has been named one of Diabetes Forecast’s People to Know, the Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and Mecklenburg Times’ 50 Most Influential Women. She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, two children and their dog, Freckles.
