Managing T1D on My Wedding Day — A Real Team Effort
Ever since I got engaged, I couldn’t help but worry about how type 1 diabetes would affect my wedding day. This was the one day in my life where I wanted to be fully present and in the moment, which is not always possible when managing this ever-so-unpredictable disease. What I didn’t realize was how much of a team effort managing my diabetes on this day would be! Everyone really stepped up to help me have a “diabetes-free” day. It was the first day since my diagnosis where I truly felt carefree and unaware of my diabetes—the best feeling for a type 1! My blood sugars ran stable between 162-180 mg/dL9-10 mmol/L the entire day, and I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out! Here are some of the things that myself, my family and my friends did to ensure I fully enjoyed my day as a bride!
Blood sugar preparation
My husband and I were very careful with what I ate the day before the wedding. We even prepared all of our food at home and brought it to the hotel! My family went for dinner at a restaurant the night before the wedding, but we decided to eat our packed meals so that I didn’t have to risk bolusing for food that I could not properly carb count. We prepared all low (-ish) carb meals with low glycemic index ingredients to avoid blood sugar spikes. It was “safe food” that I had bolused for many times before. Eating my own packed meals really helped me start the day with in-range stable blood sugars, which I believe contributed to my stable blood sugars on the wedding day.
Assign a glucose girl (or boy!)
I assigned two “glucose girls” to watch my blood sugars via my Dexcom continuous glucose monitor on the wedding day, so that I didn’t have to. My sister-in-law and one of my best friends (Abby—who also has type 1 diabetes (T1D)) downloaded the Dexcom Follow app and watched my blood sugar for me all day. This was a game-changer, and the main reason I didn’t think about diabetes that day. As we were dancing the Horah together at the reception, my friend Abby told me what my blood sugar was, so that I didn’t need to worry about it dropping as I was dancing. She also came up to me at another point in the reception to tell me that my blood sugar was rising and I should give myself a quick correction on my insulin pump (which was on a garter belt under my dress). I took my pump out, gave a correction, and went back to enjoying my care-free night! If you use a CGM, I highly suggest having a glucose girl!
Get everyone involved
All members of the wedding party were well-prepared for low blood sugars. For the ceremony, my dad had low treatments (Dex4 Liquiblasts) in his pocket, and my wedding planner placed some under the chuppah as well, which made it into our wedding photos. For the reception, we had low treatments at the head table and in the bridal suite. My wedding planner held onto my diabetes case throughout the day and during the ceremony. Once the ceremony was over, she placed it on the head table so that I had access to any supplies I might have needed (my glucometer, extra insulin, syringes etc.). Before the wedding day, I had a lot of anxiety about my diabetes management as a bride. However, on the wedding day I was overwhelmed by the amount of support I felt from friends and family. I saw that managing this disease can really be a team effort, and I am so grateful to everyone who stepped up to help make this day amazing for my husband and me. With a great support system, diabetes doesn’t have to be a part of your special day!
