Diabetics at birthday parties

(disclaimer) I am writing this post in the hopes to get awareness out, this is not intended to piss anyone off, nor upset anyone.  It is my opinion and unfortunately I have to live through daily.  

Anastasia has been invited to exactly 1 of her classmates birthday parties since starting Kindergarten last school year.  (This does NOT include the family friends parties that we have been to since her diagnosis because they are not in her school).

That's right 1, the invite for that one came 4 days before the party, via text during my chorus rehearsal.  Alex and I both had to work so I had to decline.  It got me thinking, wow, either Ana's classmates aren't having parties (which honestly I wouldn't know because they are not allowed to give out invites in class), or the parents just are unsure what to do because one of the classmates is diabetic.

I personally have not had an official birthday party for Ana since she turned 1 (I had an unofficial one when she turned 3 and that was pretty much an informal play date that I brought a ton of snacks and cupcakes to).  We generally cannot afford one so for us her birthday is when we just spend time with her and do (and eat things) what she wants.

So to those people who are wondering what it would be like inviting a diabetic to a birthday party, this is how it goes.

(I will use the example of the last party we went to for our friend's daughter at Chuck E Cheese)

We get to the party-we don't leave her there to figure out things on her own.(even if it was a place where we could I still would make sure someone who knew how to take care of her would stay).

We gathered and got our little token card and went on our way playing games.  When it was time to eat pizza we (or she) tests her and figures out if she needs a correction or can just eat.  When she's done eating she gets her insulin for her food.  She goes and plays some more.  It's cake time...another finger prick, another correction and she eats some more (or doesn't in this case).

She plays until its time to go home.

I would NEVER expect another parent to have to take care of my child's illness especially when it is so overwhelming.  I would always ensure that myself, Alex, or even Aunt Jenn could be there to care for her.  All I ask in return is that if something is packaged, save the nutritional info so I can make an informed decision on how much insulin I need to cover what she ate.

I truly hope that the kids in her class haven't had parties but in the back of my mind I am always thinking well she's probably not being invited because of the fear of diabetes.