June 13, 2015 was a turning point in our life. It was the day our 11-year-old son, Luke, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). While learning to live with T1D has taken time, we refuse to let it take us.

Why the name “Smells Like Insulin?”

After becoming a T1 family, we quickly learned the distinctive smell of insulin. I remember being at GenCon, not two months after diagnosis, and walking through a huge exhibit hall. We walked by a table of gamers, and Joel & I look at each other and say, “It smells like insulin.” It was funny to us- just one of those many things that we never would have understood before having T1D. (By the way, the large Elmers glue sticks with the purple glue inside? They also smell like insulin.)

Why do I blog?

I started this blog to document the time leading up to Luke’s Type 1 diagnosis, into his hospital stay, and the trying days after. I continue this blog to educate others about Type 1 Diabetes, to advocate for it, and to show others walking the same path that Type 1 can be done while living a completely normal, active and happy life.

Welcome.