Motherhood With Type 1 Diabetes

Being a mom is hard enough without Type 1 diabetes in the mix. Here’s what daily life actually looks like: the toddler chaos, the workouts I squeeze in, and the tech that helps me keep up. Start with the posts below.

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My motherhood story

Learning to Put Myself on the List

Motherhood has a way of making everyone else’s needs feel urgent.

There are meals to make, things to clean, routines to follow, questions to answer, and a toddler who somehow manages to need something the moment you sit down.

It can be easy to keep saying:

I’ll take care of myself later.

But later doesn’t always come.

I’ve had to learn that taking care of myself isn’t selfish. Eating properly, moving my body, getting some quiet time, taking care of my diabetes, and doing things that make me feel like myself are all part of being well enough to show up for the people I love.

I’m still learning this.

Some days I do it well.

Some days I don’t.

And that’s okay.

Motherhood doesn't pause Diabetes

Before becoming a mom, diabetes was already part of almost every day of my life.

Motherhood didn’t change that.

There are still highs and lows. There are still unexpected numbers, insulin decisions, supplies to remember, and days when diabetes takes more mental energy than I’d like.

The difference is that now I’m managing all of that while raising a child.

Sometimes I have to check my blood sugar while my toddler is asking me to play.

Sometimes I have to stop what I’m doing to take care of myself.

And sometimes I simply have to accept that the day isn’t going to go according to plan.

I’ve learned that good motherhood doesn’t require perfect diabetes management, and managing diabetes doesn’t require being a perfect mom.

Both are works in progress.

Breastfeeding for Two Years

Breastfeeding became a huge part of my early motherhood experience.

I breastfed my son for two years, and that chapter brought some of the most meaningful moments of motherhood, but also a lot of exhaustion.

For a long time, I focused so much of my attention on caring for my son.

My days revolved around feeding, routines, naps, bedtime, and simply being available.

When that chapter eventually ended, I found myself asking a question I hadn’t really stopped to consider:

What do I want for myself now?

It wasn’t that I didn’t love being a mom.

I did.

But I was ready to reconnect with the part of me that existed outside of motherhood.

Finding My Way Back to Myself

After two years of breastfeeding and the enormous transition into motherhood, I started noticing how different I felt.

My body had changed.

My routine had changed.

My priorities had changed.

And I missed feeling strong.

I started with Zumba and eventually moved toward strength training.

I wasn’t trying to become someone completely different.

I simply wanted to feel stronger and healthier in my own body.

That experience reminded me that taking care of myself could be something enjoyable rather than another responsibility on my list.

Movement became one small way of reconnecting with myself.

Finding My Own Rhythm

I’ve stopped expecting motherhood to feel perfectly balanced.

Some days are mostly about my son.

Some days I have more time for myself.

Some days diabetes needs more attention.

Some days everything seems to happen at once.

I’ve learned that balance doesn’t necessarily mean giving everything equal attention.

Sometimes balance means recognizing what needs you right now and letting something else wait.

That’s especially true with motherhood.

I’m not trying to create a perfect routine.

I’m trying to create a life that works for the people in it, including me.

Motherhood in Real Life

Motherhood doesn't look perfect and it doesn't have to.

This is the part of Lady Clay where I want to talk about the everyday reality of raising a child.

Not just the picture-perfect moments.

The routines. The messy meals. The toddler phases. The questions. The activities. The bedtime struggles. The little victories. The moments when you wonder if you’re doing this right.

And, importantly, the person behind the title of Mom.

Toddler Life

Everyday routines, activities, behavior, food, sleep, independence, boundaries, and the little challenges and joys that come with raising a toddler.

I’ll share things I’ve tried, what has worked for us, what hasn’t, and the everyday moments that come with raising a growing little person.

Taking Care of Mom

Fitness, wellness, confidence, self-care, body changes, and finding time for yourself while caring for someone else.

Because motherhood shouldn’t mean putting your own well-being permanently on hold.

Motherhood + Type 1 Diabetes

The realities of managing Type 1 diabetes while raising a child.

From diabetes technology and everyday routines to finding time for your own health when someone else needs you constantly.

These are personal experiences, not medical advice, but hopefully they make another mom with T1D feel a little less alone.

The Mom I'm Becoming

My son has changed me in ways I never expected.

He has made me more patient in some ways, more aware in others, and much more conscious of the example I want to set.

I want him to grow up knowing that taking care of yourself matters.

That being strong doesn’t mean doing everything alone.

That it’s okay to have dreams and interests of your own.

And that loving your family doesn’t mean disappearing inside the role of being a parent.

I want him to see his mom taking care of herself, too.

Not perfectly.

Just honestly.

Motherhood Is Still a Work in Progress

I don’t have a perfect formula for motherhood.

I don’t think one exists.

What I have is experience.

Nearly two decades of living with Type 1 diabetes.

A pregnancy that changed my perspective.

Two years of breastfeeding.

A little boy who changed my entire world.

And a growing understanding that I don’t have to choose between being a good mom and taking care of myself.

I can do both.

Some days better than others.

I’m still learning.

Still adjusting.

Still becoming.

And maybe that’s the beautiful, messy part of motherhood:

Becoming someone new without completely losing yourself along the way.

A note from Lady Clay:

The Motherhood section of Lady Clay is based on my personal experiences as a mother and someone living with Type 1 diabetes.

I’ll share what our everyday life looks like, including toddler life, routines, food, activities, fitness, wellness, self-care, and the ongoing process of finding balance.

These stories are meant to be relatable and useful, but they aren’t a substitute for professional medical, parenting, or mental health advice. Every family and every child is different.