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Episode 52 - Raquel's Sister!
210 Plays4 months ago
This week Raquel's younger sister, Sophie, is on the pod talking all things T1D sibling life! Spoiler alert - it wasn't too bad other than snack time ;)
Raquel is currently in a contracted agreement with Tandem Diabetes.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/typeonetogether/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@typeonetogether
Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/typeonetogetherWebsite: www.typeonetogether.comT1D Diagnosis: Made Simple (The Course): https://typeonetogether.thinkific.com/courses/t1ddiagnosismadesimpleT1D Babysitter List: https://stan.store/typeonetogether/p/t1d-babysitter-resource
Team Together: https://www.typeonetogether.com/teamtogetherSuper Parents Community: https://honeyhealth.app.link/28gQmJjyDsGFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/typeonetog
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Transcript
Introduction and Diabetes Disclaimer
00:00:00
amandacberg
Hello and welcome to the 108 podcast. I'm Raquel and I'm Sophie. This is my sister. We're bringing her on today. It's just Sophie and I today to talk about T1 sibling life. Obviously type in the others, not give medical advice, all that good stuff. I am in a contracted agreement with tandem diabetes right now, but Now that that's all out of the way, we're just going to chat about all the things you all
Meet Sophie: Background and Banter
00:00:27
amandacberg
submitted questions. But first, I just kind of want to hear a little bit about Sophie, because I don't know her at all. I feel like we're going to end up just laughing this whole time. So I apologize in advance. Did you say that was a joke? Clearly. She's visiting me in my new home in San Diego now for the first time. It's been so fun. But I'm taking her to the airport right after this, which is very sad. um But yeah, Sophie, what
00:00:52
amandacberg
do you do? What is your life? What tell us all the things? Well, first of all, thank you for having me. I'm really excited to be here. Welcome. Welcome. Thanks. We're sharing a microphone. So we'll see how the sound quality is. Yeah, hopefully it's good. We'll see. Um, all right. So a little bit about me. I am the younger sister. We're about like four years a part of it five. Yeah, four to five, depending on the month. Okay. I told you we're not cutting any of this. so Um, yeah, she's always been the younger sibling, but she is much taller than me. And we've been asked lately so so much if we're twins, which is hilarious. it So weird. Yeah, I mean, Raquel is beautiful. So I'm honored. But anyways,
00:01:47
amandacberg
Um, a little bit about me. I'm currently living in Charleston, South Carolina. I just graduated college. Very exciting. Graduated with a communication degree and I minored in entrepreneurship and leadership for sustainability. Whoa, you're so smart. Well, thank you. um So I had a great time, but I'll be staying and working there. And I'm going to be a leadership development coordinator for one of the departments in the college. So it is going to be a great year. I'm really excited.
Balancing Attention: Childhood Memories and Diabetes
00:02:20
amandacberg
And Raquel will have to visit me. Yes, Charleston is such a beautiful, unique place. So I want to go there as much as I can, although it is very far away from me now, which is pretty sad.
00:02:30
amandacberg
um I'm so happy for you and excited and I just can't believe that you graduated college. That is so weird to me and I'm sure I know it's weirder for our parents who are listening. um But yeah, so we're gonna get into the diabetes things. I mean, I feel like Sophie and I both don't remember as much as we wish we did, but I think that's also a good sign that she remembers more about life and less about diabetes and I feel the same for myself. So we'll just get into the questions. um So let's see, where do we want to start? Do you feel like our parents loved the type one? So me more.
00:03:12
amandacberg
I really feel like they treated us so equally. Obviously, there were moments where you got snacks and like, I maybe wanted your snacks. I don't know. I honestly never really noticed that. I don't think so, which I really do appreciate. We really, I really believe that my parents, anytime Raquel had to have a snack or something, I'm just saying snack as an example, because that was really the most
00:03:44
amandacberg
kind of prevalent thing to me as a child because I'd see her like eating something and like I would want it. um But I really feel like a lot of times if they got her a snack they would get me a snack too, which I appreciate and I really feel like it was pretty equal. I think that I had a really great understanding of diabetes to a certain extent. I mean, when I was younger, it was harder for me to probably understand, but I knew that there was something different. And so I i think I kind of respected and I knew that Raquel maybe had to do some things a little bit differently than me. But I don't think that that reflected on how I viewed my parents at all. Yeah.
Growing Up with Diabetes: Dynamic and Observations
00:04:29
amandacberg
Okay. So I just, so everyone knows I was diagnosed when I was five. Sophie was born in October of 2001 and I was diagnosed in January of 2002. So I was a baby, baby, baby, baby. Do you remember ever being told or ever having the realization that I had diabetes and that that was different or was it just kind of naturally molded into life? I think it was pretty much naturally yeah kind of molded into life. I don't think that there's ever really a moment where I was like, okay. like i don't I don't really remember like that that exact moment that I realized, but I think that I just knew from being born. Yeah. Well, yeah, you didn't know me at all without diabetes. That is so interesting. um Do you remember ever thinking, I'm so glad I don't have to do that?
00:05:22
amandacberg
Yeah, I mean at times where you'd have to prick your finger, like I remember going to the doctor when I was really really little and sitting in this giant red chair where they would give shots or do whatever and they would prick my finger and I was just like I hated it. I absolutely hated it. It was awful. So the fact that Raquel would have to do it all the time. At that time it was like 20 times a day. It was so often. Yeah. And you had your little testing strips everywhere. Like all over the floor. Everywhere in between couch cushions. But I think that those were the moments that I just remember
00:06:05
amandacberg
really being lucky that I did not have to do that because that just looked awful or like changing her sight or just doing things like that. um There were also times and during the summer, Raquel and I would share a room because we would come to San Diego visit my dad. And I really had most of my memories from that because I really saw Raquel all the time and she wasn't really ever alone. So I was by her side all the time. And she would wake up in the middle of the night and have to eat a snack and like, obviously her sleep would then be disrupted and everything in those. And your sleep would be disrupted. Yeah, mine too. But I knew that you had to do it, you know? And so I definitely think that those were the moments I was like, okay, I'm really lucky. Do you remember me crying from site changes? Because I used to be a whole ordeal.
00:07:05
amandacberg
I don't think so. I think I was too young. Yeah. I mean, when you say it, like it sounds familiar, but I can just be imagining it, you know, like I don't actually know. Okay. Um, what's the worst part of being a type one sibling or what was, I guess you kind of answered that with the snack thing, but. Yeah. I mean, this is like, when I was little, like I'd want a snack, but I think that. I mean, truthfully, I don't think I have an answer. like i I think it's just been so normalized for me. If anything, it hasn't been negative for me. It's been a positive experience because I can not necessarily relate to like type 1 diabetics, but if I see someone on the street or like if there is someone just
00:07:57
amandacberg
in my life um who is a diabetic, like I have a better understanding of what they're going through. um I have a ah topic of conversation I can talk to them about. I can talk to them about Raquel and her business and everything, which I'm so proud of. But yeah, I mean, I really, I don't think that there was really a worse part besides the snacks. And that's so silly to say. I mean, When I was little, I would definitely get upset. but um Well, okay, let's dive into that a little bit more. So now I feel like, especially if your child's on a pump, it's pretty easy to let them eat the snacks they want to eat when they want to eat it. But I was on a pretty strict regimen, especially the first few years because I was not able to get on a pump, kids weren't allowed to have pumps, I was on shots.
00:08:43
amandacberg
and I had a very strict eating schedule. It was like 15 carbs for a snack at certain times, 45 at lunch, whatever. So I think my family just tried to make it fair. Yeah. I mean, and that just reminded me, like it would kind of be the opposite also of what I am saying where I would want a snack, but I couldn't get a snack because Raquel couldn't, you know? And I mean, I think my parents were very, good about being equal about it. But I do think that there were definitely times where, like, I maybe wanted a bag of chips or a cookie or something and Raquel couldn't have it at that time. um And so I would get upset. I'm like, oh, I really want this cookie. but Would they tell you you could eat like cheese or something or no? I don't remember. Yeah, honestly, it wasn't long that I had that type of restriction. Once I got a pump, it was a lot more free.
00:09:39
amandacberg
I think. Yeah. I don't know. Maybe they just use it as an excuse to make you eat healthier. Maybe. Blaming me for it. Possible. Who knows? OK, the biggest question on here is, do you feel like I got more attention than you? And just be honest. I mean, I think the answer is yes. But it's no one's fault, right? Or how do you feel about it? I honestly feel like you were so independent by the time that I could remember. um that I mean there were obviously be times where we would be out at like the mall or amusement park or like doing something and like all of our plans would kind of stop because you would have to go sit down or get a like find a snack or like do something um and I mean I really I genuinely don't feel
00:10:35
amandacberg
like you got more attention. You didn't resent me. That was another question. No, no, definitely not. I mean, I think that from a young age, I was put into diabetes camp, which was honestly really helpful. I cannot say that I remember anything from it, but I definitely think that I learned. And I think that going to a camp and me being the minority of like someone not being a diabetic, which is obviously so different, um really made me just understand that there would be times where you would need more attention. And I think that that was fine. I also think that there were a lot of times where I got a lot of attention. And I think that my parents did a really good job at giving me it attention. Like, they would fully support me in everything that I did. that They went to all my sports games. They ah did everything. And they did the same for you, obviously. But I really don't
00:11:32
amandacberg
feel like it. I think that since I was educated and since i it was so normalized in my life, it didn't feel any like i didn't feel like you were getting more attention because you were loved more or anything like
Sibling Roles and Understanding Diabetes
00:11:47
amandacberg
that. like I really just feel like it was so normal. Yeah. I mean, when I talked to my mom about it, she just says her number one goal was to make my life as normal as possible, which I think is the goal of every type one parent listening. and I think through that she also made your life as normal as possible. And yeah, you had to stop for certain moments because diabetes is going to diabetes sometimes and there's nothing you can do about it. Um, but hopefully it sounds like you looked at it in the perspective of, okay, well I have to do this because I'm with Raquel right now, but thankfully I don't want to do this all the time. Right. Yeah. I mean, I think it definitely just makes me more aware of my surroundings. Um,
00:12:27
amandacberg
really appreciate life. Yeah, and I definitely appreciate life because I can eat. I mean, I don't really know how it is for you now because I haven't been living with you for a number of years. I don't really spend my day to day life with you too often. But I mean, it just seems like the technology has grown and just really become so much better. And so I feel like your life is completely different from when it was when yeah we were little and we were living together. So I feel like it was a lot more prevalent and then than it possibly would be now. But I also don't know because I i don't see you on a day to day basis. business um But I feel like, yeah, it definitely. Yeah, I got what you're saying. um I think
00:13:19
amandacberg
now our relationship is just not focused on diabetes at all and it never really was like I have been independent with it for so long and I just take care of it when we are together and I don't even I don't know you like you're so supportive of everything you share all the type one together stuff on your Instagram it's very cute um but there's nothing else you need to do like it's not your responsibility and Yeah, I am glad to hear that it didn't really bug you as a kid too, too much. And I think a lot of parents are probably over worried about that with their own kids. Like, of course it's going to be annoying, but it is what it is in a way. And I think that once your other siblings or your other kids who don't have type one get older, they're just going to understand and appreciate. And even if they did have a little resentment, that probably isn't going to last once they understand what diabetes really is. Yeah. I mean, I think that.
00:14:13
amandacberg
The thing that I would just say was the most helpful to me looking back on it was, I guess, going back to going to diabetes camp. Yeah, let's talk about that. The fact that I i don't remember much about it because I was so much younger. um But I do remember that the counselors had diabetes. A lot of the campers, I think I was probably in a session that are like a ah group maybe that didn't have diabetes maybe. I think so. I think you're just in your age group. Maybe I don't I honestly don't remember. um But I do remember just, it was very helpful, I think just being so surrounded
00:15:04
amandacberg
by everyone who was diabetic because then that was the norm. And I necessarily, I wasn't necessarily the norm, um but it was kind of cool to, I mean, I wouldn't say cool, but like really interesting and gave me a whole different perspective. I'm forever grateful for. And that has affected me in my adult years, just being able to really see every single part of being a diabetic and learning about it and getting really that perspective as if I were a diabetic, but I'm not. Obviously I can't really relate to what everyone's going through, but at least I can learn. Yeah. So that's a really good tip. So I went to a camp called Camp New Horizons. It still exists. It was a one week day camp, not overnight.
00:15:54
amandacberg
a little bit outside of Dallas, Texas. So if anyone is there, it's a great option. It's not a super immersive, intense camp. Like some of the ones, like we talked about Camp Sweeney on here, that is another Texas camp that is a sleep weight camp. It is multiple weeks, I believe. And it's awesome. Like, well, I never went, but I've only heard amazing things about it. Um, type one siblings can go there, but apparently they make them, uh, prick their finger and like check their blood sugar and do things like the type ones, which is super interesting. So it definitely depends on what kind of kids you have, but I think that this one week camp was a really great option for me because I didn't want to be super involved at the time, but it was still a really healthy way for me to get involved. And then also to have Sophie come for a week for a couple of summers in a row. That's all it was. It just wasn't too much. I don't think it wasn't overwhelming. And even when you were at camp, maybe 10 to 15% of the camp had to do with diabetes, maybe less than that. It was like, you're playing games all day. You're outside, you're running around, you're doing all the normal camp things. You're swimming.
00:16:53
amandacberg
And then they would throw in like a little class on nutrition with diabetes or whatever it was. I think it was also helpful being able to see how diabetes affects different people because like obviously I'd only be with, I'm saying obviously a lot, I apologize. It's your first time podcasting. Yeah, it is. We recorded some honey health videos earlier for the Super parents community. So that was her first intro to the social media world. Yeah, check it out. Anyways, I only have spent my life with Raquel and so being able to see how diabetes affects other people was definitely very eye-opening and I really recommend just sending your kids to some camp. um I think that that was just a really great experience and something that I'm grateful for to this day.
00:17:46
amandacberg
Yeah. So we did that. And then we would do the JDRF walk every single year. and My whole Girl Scout troop would do it. It was super fun. I really loved it. And I don't know if your friends ever came too. No, I don't think so. We had family that would come and we would all walk together. And it was really just those two things for a long time that we would do. And I feel like that was a really great balance. And I would imagine that if Our family had forced us to go to too many diabetes things at the point that I didn't really want to. I'm not sure you would have really enjoyed that either. No, I think that the amount we did was perfect because it already was prevalent in the day to day life because you have it and we live together and I saw you. Um, but I think that if we were to be doing something extra and more than the camp and the diabetes walk and everything that it would just be.
00:18:36
amandacberg
a little too much and then there would be a chance that I would feel, I guess, a little less connected or yeah feel not as seen, even though that's weird to say because I'm the one not as the diabetic, you know? but no But you have, I mean, all your feelings are valid too. So one of the biggest questions we got was, is there anything that you wish our families did more of or would do differently? Or you could just phrase it in the way of What do you suggest type one parents do? I know you already said um maybe do a summer camp or, you know, a couple of small things here and there to involve the siblings, but any other advice for parents?
00:19:19
amandacberg
Sorry if you heard the dog barking, but if you're a regular listener, you are probably used to that by now. So I would definitely say that it was very,
00:19:31
amandacberg
helpful that my parents did a really good job at explaining everything about diabetes to me as a learning kind of, just as a ah thing to learn. And I would also, I'm a very visual learner, so I would see Raquel do doing everything, but they would also show me everything, which I appreciated. But I also think just making sure to make everything as normal as you can. I know that all of you tried to do that, which I think from my experience is just very, very helpful because it really was normalized. And I think maybe sitting down the sibling and being like, okay, this is our new normal.
00:20:20
amandacberg
um could be a good conversation to have and explain that it's not a bad thing. It's not negative. If anything, it's just making you part of a new community and giving you a lot new more and a new family. And so I think that it's just important to know that even though the sibling may not have diabetes, they can still be a part of the community and support. And um it's normal. I mean, it's it may not feel normal, but it should be normalized. And it was very normal to me. yeah So I just I think that I really appreciated that.
00:21:06
amandacberg
Yeah, that's great. So in terms of the stuff that you knew how to do, did you ever feel like, or did mom or anyone ever set you down and be like, okay, we're leaving the
Managing Diabetes Independently
00:21:14
amandacberg
baby. She was going to be here. If this ever happens, do this, or was it just never like that? I honestly don't remember. I think cause you were younger. So I don't think a lot of responsibility was put on you, but you didn't know how to use glucagon. Yeah. Yeah. I knew how to use things. I don't think I ever did. No, I definitely didn't. But I mean, I think that. they, a lot of times we wouldn't have to have babysitters for both of us. Usually you'd be the one taking care of me. Well, eventually we definitely had babysitters. No, we definitely had babysitters. But they knew about all this stuff. Yeah, and I didn't know them. Like I didn't, like I knew them, obviously. I was little, but we're at the age difference that like from when I remember it was probably you taking care of me or like one of my cousins, you know, it wasn't
00:22:04
amandacberg
like a whole new babysitter or I already was dealing with all the diabetes stuff by that point so you don't really have to yeah yeah you were very independent with your diabetes and I think you're very lucky with that I think you just you I wanted to take it over yeah I mean I was about to say you really like taking control of this hence the business. of Yeah, your sibling usually likes to take control, but you especially like to take control.
00:22:38
amandacberg
But it's no, I think that that was actually really good, though, because you were so independent, which was good. It was very good that you're so independent. I never really felt any pressure. When we would share a room and your pump would make noise, maybe the battery was low or something. Yeah. I think that at that moment, a lot of times I would wake up first and I would be like, Raquel, wake up, wake up, wake up. And then she would. It was also really annoying for me because I was sleeping.
00:23:18
amandacberg
but But i I wasn't really annoyed as much as I was concerned because I wanted to make sure she was okay. But I think that was the only time ever that I would probably have to be like very held, do something, you know? Yeah. Were you worried about me a lot or not really? Only when you're sleeping. yeah like And it would wake me up and you wouldn't wake up right away. I mean, I didn't think something was really wrong. at college, you don't randomly think about, I hope Raquel's diabetes is okay. No, because I know you and I know how in control you are with it. And also, I feel like if something was wrong, I'd see it on your Instagram.
00:24:00
amandacberg
I also know that like mom can see your numbers yeah and she gets really worried about you, obviously. Does she talk to you about it? No, no, no, no. Just like in general, like she'll check in. So I know that there are people that will check, but I also know that you're so responsible that I'm not concerned about it, ah especially at the age that you're at. Yeah. like If anything, you take care of yourself more than I take care of myself, which I need to work on it. But I mean, you eat so well, you exercise, you do everything you need to do. But at this point, you're also so involved in the community, you're such a role model for people that I just know that you can take care of yourself. Yeah. Thank you. OK, I think this is one of the last questions.
00:24:59
amandacberg
Have you ever been really worried that you were going to get type one? Not necessarily. I mean, I know what to look out for. And so I'm very cautious about it. I also and like my doctors. keep an eye out as well because they're aware but I'm not really I've never been super worried about it or anxious about it if anything I really I pay more attention to other people and other people's symptoms like for example I was a camp counselor for a couple of summers and there were a couple of type one campers
00:25:38
amandacberg
And for them, I really just wanted to take them in. Didn't they give them to you because of me? Yeah, I requested to have them. So sweet. And I just, because I, not that I don't trust other people, but I also feel like it's kind of my responsibility with the knowledge that I know and the knowledge I have to take them in and make sure they're okay and make sure they feel safe and kind of connect with them in that way. But i I definitely feel like I have more concern for other people more than myself in that way. Yeah. And I think that she did get screened, my mom screened her with, I don't know if it was trial or what when she was younger and she didn't have any of the signs or the antibodies, but that can change, I know. So, but I'm not worried about you. we We do have a cousin far away on my dad's side that does have type one, but it seems to skip a few generations, but it does seem to be on my dad's side.
00:26:33
amandacberg
Which is the most common, it typically travels through the dad side. But I don't think that, yeah, I think you're gonna be in the clear knock on wood.
Growing Closer and Adulting Tips
00:26:42
amandacberg
um Okay, well, Sophie's just such an empathetic and caring person. um And you only have such good things to say, which I feel like, ugh, if we could go back in time and I could ask you these questions when you were like eight, I really wonder what your answers would be. And I'm sure you'd be like, you're so annoying. like I want your juice box. Yeah, always the juice boxes. But I really appreciate how great of a sister you are and a great diabetes sister if that's a term. I don't know. I just feel like she's always been like there for me if I didn't need her. But yeah, I guess I do just kind of keep it to myself and
00:27:20
amandacberg
It's fine. um But it is really cool to see all the work that she's doing. And I feel like we've only gotten closer as she's gone older. So that's been great. The five years is a tough, like, distance because for so long, we were in such different stages of life. But now we're finally both. adulting So cute. She's been asking me so many adulting questions now that she's out of college. Yeah, I have no idea how to be an adult. So let me know. the let you know how to do i Go into Raquel's direct messages. ni sch yeah here d this
00:27:57
amandacberg
She'll send them to me. But if you have any tips about being an adult, yeah how to style clothing. We've been going shopping. I took her shopping for her graduation gifts. Very, very nice. um Anything, any adulting tips? Please let me know. We're going to totally change the podcast. I know this morning I had a funny idea to do like a TikTok series with you just about like adulting and becoming Yeah, getting out of college and that whole transition. And it would be so cute if you lived here to do that. And then we got on camera for the super parents videos and I was like, she needs to learn how to, like how to do these videos. I need to practice. Yes, but it's all good. Okay. I'm checking the questions one more time. Honestly, all of them are the same. Just about resentment, jealousy, attention. And I get that. But I think in conclusion, no, you don't need to worry about that as much as all of you are.
00:28:49
amandacberg
And that's coming from a family where she literally only knows me with diabetes. So yeah. um What's your favorite part about having a diabetic sibling? I mean, I don't know if it's necessarily about having a diabetic sibling per se, but I think that just seeing everything that you've done in the community you've built and I'm just, I'm very, very proud of you. You're such an entrepreneur and he says you're such a good role model for people. And I think that you have just gained this confidence and you've found to your people. And I think it's just, it's really special to see how great of a community this is because I, I had a little bit of an introduction through JDRF, but
00:29:44
amandacberg
I think it's, it's just been such a different experience seeing you create your business, create this podcast and your online presence and just really, it's been really, really cool. I mean, I think that it's a very special community. And even though what y'all might be going through is difficult and not easy at all, but there's so many people who. are there for each other. And it's really, really cool to see. It is the best.
Wrap-Up and Thanks
00:30:14
amandacberg
It really, really is. All right. Well, normally we do a blood sugar roll call. I'm 92. And Sophie's blood sugar is probably naturally also 92. I'm jealous of. All right, everyone. Well, I hope that was helpful a little bit. And yeah, I guess that's a wrap. We will see you next week. Bye. Bye.