T1D Wave Rider
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Empowering children, teens, and parents who are riding the waves of glucose.
This uplifting resource includes day-to-day guidance offering insights, shared experiences, and practical advice from those riding the daily wave of Type 1 Diabetes.
Back to School with T1D
Because for some families, back to school isn't just about new notebooks or pencils- it's about stepping back into the school routine with precision, confidence, and a plan that works.
This is the part people don't always see: The quiet strength it takes to hand over your child's care to a team you've trained, briefed, and trust.
The organisation behind every hypo kit, every snack, every update to the care plan.
The calm, capable mindset that says: We've got this, and my child is going to thrive.
Care Plan Mastery
Clear, sharp, and ready to go. You don't just hand over instructions, you hand over confidence.
Hypo Kit Precision
Fast acting carbs, backups, and the snacks that actually get eaten. Prepared, not panicked.
Team Briefing
You build a circle of adults who know what to do, when to do it, and how to support your child without fuss.
Smart Snacks
Fuel for focus, stability, and the kind of school day that lets them get on with being brilliant.
Tech Check
CGM charged, pump secure, alarms set. Smooth, simple, sorted.
The Unspoken Strength
That moment after drop off where you exhale, not out of fear, but out of pride. Because you've built the system that keeps them safe and lets them succeed.
Back to school with T1D isn't a burden, it's a blueprint for resilience. It's the proof that your child can do anything, and you're the powerhouse behind the scenes making sure they can.
Strong. Capable. Prepared.
That's the T1D parent energy.
12/08/2026
🎓 Heading to university with T1D?
The first time living away from home comes with enough to think about. Add Type 1 Diabetes and the packing list gets a LOT longer.
We've picked 5 things that can make university life with T1D easier, safer, and a little less stressful:
⭐ SugarPixel- for those "Did I hear my CGM alarm?" nights
▶ Mini fridge- convenient insulin storage in your room
❄ Insulin cooling case- for long days, travel & summer
🎒 Dedicated T1D organiser- because searching for a sensor at 8am isn't the vibe
🔋Power bank- because a dead phone and diabetes tech are NOT a good combination
But that's only the beginning...
T1D Wave Rider has your University journey covered...
We've created resources specifically for students with T1D heading off to university AND the parents getting them there!
🎒 The ultimate 50 item T1D University Packing List
🌙 Managing T1D during late nights & nights out
🏡 Living independently with T1D
🍕 Food, carb counting & eating away from home
💙 Helping your teen transition from parent managed to independent diabetes management
We've got you.
T1D doesn't get to decide what your university experience looks like.
Head to T1D Wave Rider for more.
30/07/2026
Chronic Illness Awareness Month
How to support your T1D Child (Little or Big)
1. Listen First- Hear their feelings without correcting, minimising, or rushing past them.
2. It's Their Story- You guide, but they live it every day. Respect their pace and their personality.
3. Offer Choices- Even tiny kids can choose their hypo snack or sticker; teens can choose tech, routines, or strategies.
4. Stay Steady- Your calm helps regulate their fear during highs, lows, injections, or sensor changes.
5. Talk About It- Make T1D a normal part of life, not something whispered about or hidden.
6. Celebrate Progress- Every brave moment counts. Every skill learned is a win.
Supporting a child or teen with T1D isn't about perfection, it's about showing up consistently, building routines that work, and helping them learn the skills they'll use for life.
Sweat Proof, Sand Proof T1D: 7 Tips to Keep CGMs & Pumps Stuck On All Day
Hot days + sweaty kids = peeling sensors and pumps. Here are the real, parent tested tricks to help sensors and pumps stay put, even on the hottest days. 🏖
1. Start with Clean, Dry Skin
* Wash the site with unscented soap
* Wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol and let it fully dry.
* Avoid lotions for at least 30 minutes before applying a new site.
2. Use a Barrier Wipe (But Not Too Much!)
Examples that work well:
* Skin Tac (super sticky- great for sweaty sports days)
* IV Prep (lighter, good for sensitive skin)
Tip- Apply a thin ring around the site, not directly under the sensor needle.
3. Choose the Right Tape for the Job
Different tapes work better for different kids.
* GrifGrips- fun shapes, great for active kids
* RockTape H2O- designed for swimmers and athletes
* Opsite Flexifix- thin, breathable, perfect for layering
* Tegaderm- medical grade, great for full coverage
4. Apply Devices When Skin is Cool
Sweaty skin = instant peeling.
* Cool the skin with a cold pack for 10-20 seconds
* Pat Dry
* Apply the site once the skin is cool and moisture free
5. For Swimmers & Beach Days
Water + sunscreen + sweat = adhesive chaos
* Apply the sensor the night before swimming
* Use Skin Tac under the edges
* Add RockTape H2O or GrifGrips on top
* Avoid applying sunscreen anywhere near the site
6. Clothing Tricks That Actually Work
* A snug compression shirt helps keep pump sites secure
* Swim shirts prevent sensors from catching on pool edges
* Arm bands (like Bands4Life) keep Dexcoms from peeling
7. Rotate Sites More Often in Heat
Sweat breaks down adhesive faster. If you child's sites usually last 10 days, expect 7-8 on hot weeks. Shorter wear time is normal- don't stress it.
What's your go to sweaty day hack?
Find more tips and tricks at T1D Wave Rider
Summer Adventure, T1D Ready
Summer's here and the adventures are calling- festivals, camping trips, long road trip playlists, beach days, and all the sunshine soaked memories waiting to happen.
If fun + unforgettable are on your or your families summer list, T1D Wave Rider's got you covered. Our festival guides, road trip tips, camping checklists and summer insulin safety guides are built to help you pack smart, plan ahead, and feel confident wherever the season takes you.
From keeping your insulin kit cool in the heat to navigating festival days like a pro, we're here to make sure T1D never gets in the way of a good time.
Adventure freely. Dance wildly. Road trip boldly.
We'll help you ride the wave. (Link in Bio)
28/06/2026
Do you know what one of the strongest ways to advocate for your toddler, child or teen with Type 1 Diabetes is?
✨ A powerful, detailed Healthcare Plan.
Because diabetes isn't "one size fits all." Your child's symptoms, tech, routines, and needs are unique, and the adults caring for them need to know exactly what that looks like.
A strong Healthcare Plan means:
* Faster, safer responses to hypos + hypers
* Confident teachers, coaches, nursery staff + exam teams
* Full inclusion in PE, trips, clubs, sports + school life
* Protection of your child's rights at every age
* Freedom + independence for your child, and peace of mind for you
If you want your child truly supported when you're not there, this is where it starts.
Read the full guide on T1D Wave Rider (Day to Day: Navigating School) (link in bio)
13/06/2026
Stopping the stigma starts with one thing: education.
This Diabetes Week, we're raising awareness of what Type 1 Diabetes really is- an autoimmune condition that can affect anyone, at any age.
When people understand the difference between the different types of diabetes...
When they know the 4Ts...
When they see the tech, hear the stories, and learn the truth...
Stigma loses its power.
Every conversation you have- with a teacher, a friend, a grandparent, a stranger- helps build a world where T1D kids are understood, not judged.
Teach. Share. Advocate.
Together, we Stop the Stigma.
If you've ever treated a toddler's hypo in the middle of soft play, a supermarket aisle, or a cafe queue...you're not alone in that chaos.
Managing Type 1 Diabetes in public with a toddler is its own kind of wild. Fast, unpredictable, and full of moments you could never plan for.
And yet, you're doing it. Every day.
💙 When a hypo hits mid-adventure
Your toddler wants to run, climb, explore- not sit still for juice.
So those few minutes matter. Turning them into connection can make everything easier:
~ Play I Spy
~ Sing their favourite song
~ Ask what they want for lunch or dinner
~ Chat about the best part of their day
These tiny rituals help them feel safe while their body catches up.
💙 When people watch
Most are simply curious. A calm, confident: "It's their insulin, he/she's Type 1 Diabetic" is more than enough.
💙 When you're navigating soft play, parks, cafes, or long lines
These places are joyful and chaotic, and blood sugars often follow suit. Keeping hypo snacks in your pocket and checking the CGM before they run off can make the whole outing smoother.
💙 The biggest lesson every T1D parent learns quickly? Outings go better when you're prepared.
A stocked bag isn't overthinking, it's freedom. It's what lets you say yes to adventures, even on the messy days.
You can't control every variable when you're out in the world with a toddler, but you can set yourself up so that whatever happens, you're ready. And that readiness is what gives you confidence, keeps your child safe, and makes everyday adventures possible.
Want more real life tips?
👉 Read more at T1D Wave Rider (Day to Day- Sleepovers, Sports...)
👉 Find more parent friendly guides at T1D Wave Rider
09/06/2026
Because behind every sensor, pump, and carb count is a young person navigating a world that often misunderstands their reality.
T1D isn't caused by sugar
It isn't preventable
And it isn't their fault (or yours!)
But stigma?
That is something we can change.
✨ Toddlers who have meltdowns not because they're "naughty", but because their blood sugar is crashing and they can't yet explain the feeling.
✨ School-age kids who get pulled out of class for hypos and return to whispers, stares, and snickering.
✨ Tweens and younger teens who hide their kit because they're tired of the comments and jokes about needles and having diabetes
✨ Teenagers who juggle hormones, independence, exams, sleepovers, sport & peer pressure, all while managing a life affecting medical condition 24/7.
Across the world, these kids face:
🌍 Misconceptions about what T1D is
🌍 Teachers afraid of "getting it wrong"
🌍 Friends who don't understand why they need to stop mid game
🌍 Adults who judge before they ask
🌍 Healthcare systems that vary wildly in access and support
And yet- they rise.
They learn maths through carb ratios.
They develop resilience most adults never need.
They become experts in their own bodies before they can spell "autoimmune".
T1D kids aren't fragile.
They're fierce.
They're capable.
They're extraordinary.
This week, we honour them, and we challenge the world to do better.
To listen
To learn
To ask instead of assuming
To support instead of judge
Because when we strike out stigma, we make space for confidence, safety, and belonging.
💙 For the babies diagnosed before they can speak
💙 For every toddler learning to recognise a hypo
💙 For every child explaining their pump for the hundredth time
💙 For every teen trying to fit in while managing a condition that never sleeps
You're not alone.
Your community is global.
And we see you. 💙
06/06/2026
T1D CGM tech is about to level up in a big way.
Think: year long implantables like Eversense 365, needle free sensors like Biolinq Shine, glucose + ketones in ONE device from Abbott's upcoming dual sensor - Libre Duo and smaller, faster, evolving sensors like the Dexcom G7, G8 and Libre 3.
If you're living with Type 1 Diabetes (or parenting a child who is), this is the kind of progress that actually changes daily life.
We've pulled together everything you need to know, what's new, what's coming, and what it all means in one clear, easy to read guide.
Want the full breakdown? ➡ Head to T1D Wave Rider, Diabetes Tech- CGMs (link in bio).
Before you head over, we'd love to know which feature would make the biggest difference for you or your child?
👉 Longer wear?
👉 Fewer alarms?
👉 All in one Glucose & Ketone tracking?
👉 Needle free?
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