Meet T1D Momma, Leyna C.

Motherhood, working, and living our lives

I’m a mother to an adorable 7 year old, who keeps me busy with dance recitals, school activities, homework, and weekends running around! I’m thankful to be on a pump that does quite a bit of thinking for me as it can be easy to forget about my diabetes when it comes to motherhood, working, and living our lives.

I was diagnosed with T1D 30 years ago. I learned to live a life of shots, daily lows and highs, and frustrations of being different than other kids. I hid my diabetes from everyone. I would mask my lows in front of others as feeling randomly hungry. I would eat quickly in hopes to return to normal as soon as possible before anyone would notice. I would go wash my hands before dinner at a restaurant, and also take my shot before the meal arrived and hoped it would not take so long that my blood sugar would dip. There was always extra thinking and planning involved on how to hide what I had. In my childhood my A1Cs would run in the 7s. I never really felt amazing with my fluctuations but I got used to living my life as just “ok”.

I transitioned to a pump before getting pregnant. I didn’t enjoy being chained to a device but I learned to live with it too as another thing to hide in life from others. Though it was another thing to manage, I did notice my sugars were stabilizing. A few years ago I moved to a pump that has a partial closed loop system and my A1CS are now in the 5s. I feel great! I can’t believe it! I feel more passionate about making healthy meals and daily exercise a part of the routine for my daughter and I. I exercise every day with daily power walks or working out in my home gym. I  do yoga and stretching at home with my daughter in the evenings. I also do sit-ups with a medicine ball. 
I didn't have any diabetic friends till I was pregnant in 2013. By chance my endocrinologist told me about the Sugar Mommas so I reached out to the founder, Brooke. I still remember the first time I met Brooke, Steph, and their kids for lunch. We all took out our pumps to bolus for our food! It was the strangest feeling to see others just like me. And these ladies were managing it just fine with their kids running around! I was so impressed with both of them for rocking it. It gave me hope that I could make it work too. 

Today, my friendships with the Sugar Mommas are my most cherished friendships.

Today, my friendships with the Sugar Mommas are my most cherished friendships. They don’t let their diabetes get in their way. With all our get togethers and friendships, I have learned from them to be comfortable with my diabetes too. I reach out to them any time and they are here for me. They helped me feel proud to be diabetic and healthy. I have stumbled on this tribe and it totally works for me! 

Now fast forward, 7 years later, I manage my diabetes just fine alongside motherhood. My pump, my sensor, and exercise has become a part of our routine. She [my daughter] joins me for yoga and stretching. She helps me put my sensor on and picks the spot where it goes. She knows I am a Sugar Momma! We run around our local park and just love being outside together! Our health is a part of our family life. I feel wonderful being in good blood sugar control so that I can focus my energy where it needs to be - on everything else!  I am grateful for my friendships with my fellow Sugar Mommas who inspired me to get there.