Hello everyone! My name is Kayla and my daughter was just diagnosed almost three weeks ago. I am hoping I can find support and community here to help guide us through this huge change. My little girl is 7 and has been such a trooper until Friday. I think everything finally hit her, and man it hit hard. As a parent we try our best to fix whatever issues our kids have. This cant be fixed. It’s devastating that I cant change this for her. I know things will get easier, and we do talk through all the big feelings and emotions. But this is hard. I am hoping in this forum to maybe find anyone in our area that has kids around her age that would like to get together to let the kids play. I feel like being around someone her age that understands this would help her so much. It would help me too. If anyone is in the DFW area and would like to reach out, please do. This momma is doing her best, but it takes a village. Thanks for reading all this if you did. 
Hi @Kayladawng0 welcome to our forum and to Breakthrough T1D. The first year is going to be tough on everyone. There’s math, chemistry, and a new language to learn. This is definitely a “one day at a time” situation, do not let this get to you because your kids gauge how bad it is by your reaction (and not what you say). I’m hoping others will come forward with advice as well. There are many type 1’s here. I’ll start off with please check out potential Breakthrough T1D support chapters. Look up JDRF or Breakthrough chapters and put in your zip code. There may be network opportunities as well as a chance to fu d friends.
There are children’s diabetes camps, where they can make friends too depending on the camp they may have a minimum age but it’s worth a look.
Take advantage of the thousands of years of T1 experience we share here, ask questions and we will support you!
@Kayladawng0 Welcome Kayla, to the Breakthrough T1D Community Forum!
@Joe provide you with some good suggestions for finding Community, to that I will suggest that you personally attend any diabetes related activity you might find in you are - like a diabetes walk or bike ride even if you don’t ride. Also, look under the “Resources” link at the top of this page for much useful information.
As a parent and grandparent, I know what you say that you would do anything to help, and that there isn’t anything to take away your daughter’s diabetes. There isn’t yet, but we are getting closer and you and your daughter could be part of the Breakthrough! Watch emails for progress reports and for active studies request for volunteers. Check in with the Diabetes Exchange in Boston https://t1dexchange.org/ for open studies.
Personally, I can tell about the wonderful “good feeling” one has by participating in Breakthrough studies and experiments during my 70 year effort to live well with my diabetes.
Couple of ideas for you
- Copy your post into an an email to northtexasoklahoma@BreakthroughT1D.org The people who run the local T1D chapters are usually plugged into the local resources in your area. Northern Texas & Oklahoma Breakthrough T1D Diabetes Chapter Support
- Email your school nurse and/or principal and ask them to send your contact info to any other parents of kids with T1D in your district. Most will try to help you.
- In February next year there’s going to be a half day BreakthroughT1D shindig in Irving with info on the latest research, tech, treatments, etc. I went to one near me this year and BT1D had partnered with a local kids with T1D camp to provide activities for kids while the parents went to the sessions. There may have been more attendees under 18 than adults. Make yourself a calendar reminder to check the event page in January to see if your local Bt1D chapter is doing the same thing.
Unrelated to finding community… There’s a T1D education game that may be fun for your daughter: New video game teaches type 1 diabetes management - Breakthrough T1D And since she’s newly diagnosed check out Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Trials - Breakthrough T1D A quick search turned up an observational trial in Dallas of people with T1D Stage 2 (still producing a little insulin) who try Tzeild.