12/02/2025
5-year-old Ceci was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at just 19 months old. Her mom Barb recounts their journey.
“I noticed Ceci was drinking twice as much water as her twin. After consistently noticing it, I figured something wasn’t right. Working as an overnight emergency room pharmacist, I was verifying orders one night for a diabetic pediatric patient when it clicked – maybe Ceci has diabetes. I checked her blood sugar after work that morning, and sure enough, it was over 500. In the beginning, managing her diabetes was stressful, when she was too young for an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor. We had to stick her more than eight times a day for insulin injections or glucose checks. When she was put on a pump and monitor at 2, it was a game changer. With less finger sticks and insulin injections, we felt Ceci was able to feel a sense of normalcy again. Today, Ceci is 5 years old, energetic, loving, and funny. She loves animals and hopes to be a veterinarian when she grows up. Ceci enjoys soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and swimming. She loves spending time outdoors exploring, riding her bike, playing at the park, and at the lake. Her endocrinology team has been amazing. We couldn't have asked for a better team to help us navigate this.”
