How Diabetes Can Change a Family: We often hear about how diabetes affects the individual, and we are very aware that it does, but what about the family that loves and cares for them? This is a family story where diabetes affects multiple aspects of life and challenges the way a family responds.
BND.com describes Parker Weiss as a kid who enjoys sports, bike riding and the family trampoline, but like many Type 1 diabetics he has to monitor his blood glucose levels and he absolutely must watch what he eats. Says Parker, “On my birthday, I had a couple desserts, and I threw up that night. I had too much junk.”
Parker has been living with the disease for two years now and was diagnosed after flu like symptoms and an unhealthy desire to use the restroom.
He plays sports, raising money for Type 1 diabetes research, but this story is less about Parker and more about the family who calls him son and brother.
Let me introduce you. Parker’s dad is Jason and his mother, Amber. He has two younger brothers, JJ and Killian. The BND.com report says, “The Weisses have made dramatic lifestyle changes, especially when it comes to food. They prepare meals that fit with Parker’s diet and limit everyone’s portions to keep him from feeling so restricted.”
Jason Weiss said, “We cut out 100 percent of grazing between meals, and we started measuring our servings. And when you measure servings, you lose weight.” The family takes a nutritional pocket guide with them everywhere they go to help Parker deal with his disease. The difference is what is good for Parker becomes good for the family – what’s bad for Parker is not allowed by the family. They have decided to identify with their son’s disease in a very personal way.
The BND.com report talks about Parker’s brothers. “They rarely get to drink soda, eat candy or go out for ice cream, but they have healthier eating habits than most kids.” Their father says, “It affects them in a good way because they’re not getting as much junk.”
Parker’s grandparents own a winery and a special tasting is set aside each year with funds going to benefit Type 1 diabetic research. This event has raised more than $20,000 over the last three years.
Amber Weiss explained the change in their family by saying, “You hear of people going through things like this, but our family has never had any health problems.”
It can be easy to think of diabetes as being something that happens to someone else or to another family. There is never the expectation that this is something that will happen to you or someone you love, yet the Weiss family has purposed to support Parker by ensuring that things seem relatively normal for their oldest son because it has become the norm for the entire family.
BND.com reports, “The Weisses try to keep a positive attitude and know things could be worse, but they speak honestly and openly about the realities of their son’s condition.”
Those conditions are being bravely faced by every member of Parker’s family. The support they are providing Parker comes with a personal price tag, yet their sacrifices are also serving as a springboard for inspiration among those who know them, and those who read their story.