BURLINGTON - Children with type 1 diabetes have a lot to juggle when it comes to going back to school in the fall, but one Burlington family has found advances in technology have made a world of difference.
Nevada Munro’s son, Landen Munro, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2022 and is managing it as he enters sixth grade this year. Landen also has autism, making finger prick tests difficult due to sensory issues.
“It's taken a lot of time to adjust and get used to it,” Nevada said. “Life with type 1 is something that I've learned and picked up along the way. It’s something that a lot of people don't know what it is or how to manage it and the education needs to be there for them. So when it comes to the school year for him, I learned that it actually is a lot more helpful to start preparation for the next school year before the current school year ends.”
Nevada has received a lot of support from Landen’s school after his diagnosis and meets with his future teachers every year before the school year starts to ensure that everyone is aware of his needs and how to manage them.
Landen uses a Dexcom G6 glucose monitoring system (GMS), which automatically tracks his blood-sugar levels and sends the information from it to both his and Nevada’s phones, and has customized alerts for Landen’s specific needs.
“I do put a lot of emphasis on how his Dexcom and insulin pump have given him a lot of newfound independence,” Nevada said. “This last year, I’ve really seen him blossom with this and it's really helped him with his ability to manage his diabetes. It allows him to see where his glucose levels are at any given time on his phone, and that information helps him to make his treatment decisions now that he's becoming more independent, and it helps him if he goes low through the day to know what to do and when to do it.”
The GMS helps Landen be aware of his glucose levels without the need for finger prick tests, while his insulin pump reduces the frequency of insulin injections that may be difficult for children with autism.
The option to view her son’s glucose levels from anywhere has made day-to-day live for Nevada easier, as she can keep an eye on him and reach out to the school for assistance if she notices a problem, especially as Landen gets more involved with extracurricular activities, sports and sleepovers.
“It takes a huge amount of stress off of me,” she said. “Especially when he was first diagnosed, it was all very, very scary and I was learning how to manage the lows and highs. But I have the knowledge now, and as you gain knowledge you gain confidence, and honestly with all the technology I have now, I can’t even imagine being without it.”
The new technology available for Landen to use has made both his and Nevada’s life much easier and granted him a level of independence that could otherwise be difficult for a child with both type 1 diabetes and autism, and Nevada believes that every family should have the opportunity they had to access the Dexcom G6 and other similar devices.
“This kind of technology should be available to anyone living with diabetes,” she said. “If you’re taking insulin, you should have these available and we’re not quite there yet. It should be covered for all Canadians, it’s innovative technology and that should be the standard of care.”