The holidays are right around the corner and parents are starting to think about what their children want for Christmas. If you have a kid living with type 1 diabetes, you may want to get them a gift or two that would enhance their life with T1D. This post offers some good holiday gift suggestions for the type 1 warriors in your life. Some might be great as a stocking stuffer and others as a wrapped present. You decide!
Listen to Episode 49: Holiday Gift Ideas for your T1D
The I Heart Guts Plush Pancreas
I mean, who doesn't love a stuffed, plush organ?! And what better gift for your child with diabetes than replacing the organ that isn't working with one they can snuggle with? Check out this adorable Plush Pancreas. So cute.
The I Heart Guts Plush Insulin Droplet
Same company as above, different adorable plush item. This one is a stuffed insulin droplet. Sure, it may look like a tear drop, but we shed plenty of those as parents of T1Ds, too.
A Journal
If you have an older type 1 kid who loves to write about their T1D journey or life, in general, gift them a pretty journal or diary so they can put their feelings and emotions down on paper. Bonus if the journal or diary comes with a lock or key of some sort. Kids seem to think those are super awesome!
Decals or Overlay Patches for Pumps, Pens, and CGMs (and more!)
Type 1 Diabetes is hard, y'all. Real Hard. But you know what helps? Pretty and fun decals for pretty much every T1D gadget on the market. Now Insulin pumps, insulin pens, glucometers, and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can be dressed up in style! What a great way to brighten up their holiday and make life with T1D more colorful. Here are a few of my Favorite Places to Buy these things!
*If your child has insulin on board and is going to be very active, make sure you monitor them very closely with the help of a continuous glucose monitor or frequent finger sticks. Most forms of exercise can drop blood sugar levels quickly especially when there is already insulin flowing through their system.
Bath Bombs or Bath Foam
One of my favorite tricks to treat a stubborn high is to draw a nice, warm bubble bath for my type 1 kiddo. Perhaps it's the warn water that improves circulation and gets insulin moving. Or maybe a nice bath brings stress levels down which can decrease insulin resistance. It's probably both working together! Regardless, I find it works like a charm every time! Take their bubble bath to the next level this year by stuffing a can of bath foam or a few bath bombs in their stocking.
*If your child has insulin on board and is going to take a bath, make sure you monitor them very closely with the help of a continuous glucose monitor or frequent finger sticks. Warm water can drop blood sugar levels quickly especially when there is already insulin flowing through their system.
A New Go Bag
Diabetes goes everywhere with us so having a good go-bag to hold all your supplies is key. Maybe your kid's current one needs an update or an upgrade? Maybe they've grown out of their old one? Either way, a new, fun or fancy go-bag makes a great holiday gift for the type 1 warrior in your life. Personally, my favorites are the mini backpacks and the sling bags.
A New Supply Organizer Case
Of course their going to need a new supply case to go with that new go-bag. You know what they say... you can never have too many bags within bags (within bags) to hold stuff. And, as we're all aware, type 1 diabetics have to lug around A LOT of stuff. My two favorite places to get supply cases are Sugar Medical and Myabetic.
A Type 1 Book
There are so many cute type 1 diabetes books out there for children! Pick one or two and wrap it up with a few other non-T1D books they would like. Some of my favorites include I'm Still Me Can't You See?, The ABCs of Diabetes, Teddy Talks and The Ups and Downs of Audrey May.
If you have an older teen that's getting ready to launch off to college or life on their own, consider getting them a T1D management book that they can refer back to if needed. My favorite is Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner.
Novelty Pancreas Items
I can't imagine managing T1D without a sense of humor. These random, novelty pancreas items like this pancreas keychain and these pancreas socks make a hilarious stocking stuffer ideas and are sure to make the family laugh a little about a disease that is otherwise not so funny.
Doll Accessories
Now the doll lover in your life can have a constant companion with all the same T1D gadgets as them! I love that this company, Deck My Diabetes, is helping to normalize T1D for young children. So far they offer the Dexcom G6, the Omnipod pump and PDM, and the Tandem T-slim Pump accessories. These doll accessories are pretty life-like and would be such a great addition to your holiday gift ideas list. Bonus: they can also be placed on a stuffed animal!
Stuff their Stockings with their Favorite Low Treats and Free Snacks
Low treats (for when your T1D is having a low blood sugar) and "free" snacks (for when your kids just wants to eat without bolusing) disappear like water around these parts. Shove a few of their favorites into their stocking or wrap them up as a surprise. Some of our favorites include Skittles, candy corn and Craisins (for lows) as well as zero carb beef jerky as a "free" item.
Nice Medical ID Bracelet
There are all different types of T1D Medical ID bracelets. If you have a teen, perhaps they would like a nicer bracelet that actually looks like a decent piece of jewelry. If they are younger, there are several made out of flexible silicone that come in multi-packs.
Whatever you do, don't let T1D steal your Christmas joy! I hope these gift ideas help to make your holiday with Type 1 Diabetes a little merrier and brighter this year. Always remember, kid first... diabetes second.
