When type 1 diabetes (T1D) joins your family

Sean and Lauren are loving parents of twin girls Allie and Ayva, who were both diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at just 18 months old.   

The family were thrown into the deep end of life with T1D when Allie became unwell with high temperatures, sweating and gasping for air. Deeply concerned they took her to hospital, and after a few tests with no conclusive answers, were sent home. Allie’s condition continued to deteriorate, so they returned the following day. Blood tests were done, and the T1D diagnosis was confirmed.  

It was a huge shock for the parents, with no family history of T1D and no knowledge about this condition.   

Allie spent a week in hospital after her diagnosis. Sean recalls this troubling time. “She was only one and a half, and she was being poked and prodded with needles. It was a scary and unsettling thing to watch as a parent.”   

Then, just five weeks after Allie was diagnosed with T1D, Lauren noticed their other daughter Ayva displaying familiar symptoms. Medical care confirmed their worst fears: another T1D diagnosis.   

Lauren and Sean found themselves with not one, but two toddlers with T1D. They faced a terrifying and steep learning curve as they adapted to their new life with an unfamiliar and chronic condition.   

“It was a lot of work learning how to manage it,” Lauren says. “We knew that if we didn’t get everything absolutely right, the girls could get really sick again. Getting them used to needles was the hardest part." 

 Sean says that adjusting to life with T1D was a huge challenge for the whole family. He and Lauren had to learn how to monitor the twins' blood sugar levels, day and night, ensuring they were given the right amount of insulin and constantly worrying if they were doing it right.    

 “JDRF were an amazing support. They gave us all the information we needed, and they checked in with us regularly to make sure we were coping okay. Both girls love their Rufus bears.”   

Lauren and Sean know that without a cure, Allie and Ayva will never lead a normal life. They have humble hopes for what the future will look like for their girls.   

“I just don’t want life to be a constant struggle for them. I want them to be free to do whatever they want, and I want them to feel included. I don’t want their condition to hold them back and I really hope that JDRF researchers can find a cure,” says Lauren.   

Lauren and Sean hope Allie and Ayva’s story inspire everyone to donate towards finding a cure for those living with T1D.