August’s “Heart to Heart: T1D Caregiver Spotlight” is on Andrea Salazar from Jacksonville, Florida! Andrea is an engineering drafter and designer, but her true passion lies in cake decorating. Dolce by Andre, her home bakery, fuses engineering precision with the artistry of sugar work.
Alongside Andrea is her husband, Pablo E., an IT Auditor, and their little sunshine, Pablo A., who adds an “extra sprinkle” of joy to their lives. In 2021, Andrea’s husband received a compelling job offer in Jacksonville – leaving behind their Gulf Coast home was daunting, but they embraced the opportunity.
Amidst the whirlwind of preparing for their move to Jacksonville in October 2021, Andrea and Pablo E. noticed changes in their son that gave them pause. Pablo became unusually thirsty, drinking bottle after bottle of water throughout the day. Pablo’s weight also began to drop, accompanied by bedwetting and extreme mood swings – this puzzled them deeply, but thought the symptoms initially seemed like a growth spurt or the stress of relocating.
During a playdate, a nurse friend detected something more concerning with Pablo and urged them to see a pediatrician. Although they were tempted to wait until they settled in Jacksonville, a mother’s intuition pushed Andrea to call their Gulf Coast pediatrician immediately – within minutes, they had an urgent appointment scheduled. The pediatrician swiftly conducted tests, including a glucose check, revealing alarmingly high blood sugar levels. With a heavy heart and a mind racing, the Salizars were advised to pack for 3-5 days and head straight to the children’s emergency room. The news hit them like a tidal wave: “Pablo might have type 1 diabetes.” Stunned and scared, Andrea rushed home to share the news with her husband. Together, they prepared for the journey to the hospital, where Pablo’s fear was palpable as doctors began their tests and treatments.
The uncertainty was overwhelming, but Pablo amazed them with his resilience and curiosity, eager to learn about his condition and meet Rufus the bear. Rufus gave comfort to Pablo – having a furry friend with type one diabetes (T1D) made him feel he was not alone. Up to this day, Rufus is Pablo’s companion, offering solace and understanding from a steadfast companion who helped explain diabetes in a way Pablo could understand.
After hours of tests, a pediatric endocrinologist confirmed the diagnosis: T1D. Andrea and Pablo E. were thrown into a world they knew nothing about: different types of diabetes, the challenges of managing this lifelong condition, and the importance of early detection to avoid diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Throughout it all, Pablo remained remarkably brave and inquisitive. At just three years old, he absorbed information about his insulin, glucose monitor, and the intricacies of managing blood sugar levels. Nearly three years later, Andrea and Pablo E. have learned how to best manage Pablo’s T1D and stood by his side to overcome any obstacle that comes his way. Below you will find some insightful, realistic advice and information from Andrea that comes with being a T1D caregiver:
Throughout your child’s T1D journey, what have been the biggest challenges you faced?
The day Pablo received his diagnosis, guilt consumed Andrea. She blamed herself for his condition—the baking, the shared sweet snacks—all of it. Her husband, too, was devastated. They knew little about T1D and their scant knowledge of type 2 diabetes turned out to be irrelevant. Their cultural love for food clashed with their lack of education about it – this became one of their greatest challenges after Pablo’s diagnosis.
“Our family had always eaten what we considered “good” and “healthy” foods, but now I immersed myself in learning about nutrition and how the body processes food for energy,” says Andrea. “I completed nutritional courses, elevating my understanding, making nutritional habits now a priority for our family.”
Yet another hurdle was injecting Pablo with insulin. Andrea and Pablo E. had never dealt with injections before, and those first few months were heartbreaking as they saw the bruised injection sites. Doubt plagued them – were they doing it right? It was an emotional rollercoaster.
While adjusting to life with a child with type 1 diabetes, are there certain things you found that helped you better manage their disease? What about something that helped give you hope when you were just getting started?
Adjusting to their new life as full-time pancreas caregivers has been a profound learning experience for Andrea and Pablo E. From initial fear and doubt, Andrea transformed into a confident and knowledgeable advocate – it’s been three years since she took on this role, and looking back, acknowledges that she’s come a long way.
“As a meticulous person, I approached my task with determination—to be the best artificial pancreas for Pablo,” says Andrea. “The hospital inundated us with information about T1D: books, pamphlets, and advice that initially felt overwhelming. Yet, over time, those resources became invaluable.”
What skills/lessons has raising a T1D child taught you? For a parent of a newly diagnosed T1D, how would you compare those feelings to now?
Upon Pablo’s diagnosis, Andrea started a detailed log, recording his initial glucose readings, the foods he consumed (complete with carb counts and serving sizes), the fast-acting insulin bolus administered, and his glucose levels 15 minutes after eating. Their feeding schedule shifted from on-demand to every 3 to 4 hours – a necessary adjustment to fine-tune his treatment.
Six months of meticulous logging yielded insights – she learned which foods caused immediate spikes (high glycemic index and load foods), which led to insulin resistance (often refined flours), and which had minimal impact on his body. Andrea became a “nutritional table-checking fanatic”, turning her grocery runs into two-hour expeditions. No label escaped scrutiny – she wanted only the best ingredients.
“My thirst for knowledge extended beyond food. They say knowledge is power, and immersing myself in the world of type 1 diabetes bolstered my confidence as a full-time pancreas. But our blessings didn’t end there,” explains Andrea. “Having a reliable endocrinologist and a team of diabetes educators—some of whom live with the same condition—has been a lifeline for us. Their guidance and empathy have eased our journey.”
And then came technology – a game changer. Before settling in Jacksonville, Pablo didn’t wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) so Andrea performed finger checks every three hours. Once they were established in Jacksonville, their endocrinologist introduced them to the CGM, and it revolutionized Andrea’s role as an artificial pancreas. Real-time glucose data allowed her to respond rapidly to hyper and hypo situations. Within the first week of Pablo wearing the CGM, they discovered he was experiencing unaware hypoglycemia.
“Our journey continues, but with knowledge, support, and technology, we face each day as a united team – Pablo, our medical professionals, my husband and me, the dedicated artificial pancreas.”
Can you touch on why it’s important for T1D caregivers to come together?
“As we sat in the sterile hospital room, the diagnosis was still echoing in his ears: type 1 diabetes. The words carried weight, like an anchor pulling him into uncharted waters. Our mind raced with questions, fears, and uncertainties,” said Andrea. “How would he manage this? What did it mean for his future? But amidst the whirlwind of emotions, one phrase stood out: ‘you are not alone’ and you have to ‘take one day at a time.’”
Those words came from nurses, doctors, advocates – they explained that Pablo wasn’t the first, nor would he be the last, to face this challenge. Others had walked this path, and they had stories to share, wisdom to impart; it was a lifeline for the Salizars – an assurance that Pablo needn’t navigate this journey in isolation.
And so, Andrea, as a mom and now full-time pancreas, embarked on this quest for knowledge. Armed with determination, she devoured books, scoured websites, and attended seminars. She learned about blood glucose levels, insulin injections, and carb counting. The more she understood, the less daunting it all seemed. Knowledge became her ally, dispelling myths and empowering her on this endeavor.
However, Andrea recognized that knowledge alone wasn’t enough to guide their family through the highs and lows of living with T1D. The Salizars needed support – the kind that transcended medical charts. Andrea reached out to Pablo’s diabetes educators, asking questions without hesitation. They patiently explained, reassured, and reminded Pablo that vulnerability wasn’t weakness – it was strength. The Salizars as a family discovered that the diabetes community was vast, interconnected. Over the years, they’ve joined online forums, where strangers become confidantes, sharing tips, recipes, and survival strategies.
“The mental toll was real – some days, frustration bubbled over like an untamed flame,” explains Andrea. “Pablo raged against the unfairness, the unpredictability… but we as a family learned to channel that energy constructively. We journaled, vented, and found solace in others’ stories. They, too, had wrestled with anger, grief, and acceptance. It was okay to feel and to acknowledge the emotional rollercoaster.”
Breakthrough T1D has many support groups for those living with T1D and their caregivers – for more information, visit https://www.breakthrought1d.org/t1d-resources/support-team/. If you’re looking for local support in the Northern Florida area, send an email to northernflorida@breakthrought1d.org and we will make sure you get connected with other families, support groups, and events we host throughout the year.
What has Breakthrough T1D meant to/done for your family?
Breakthrough T1D has become a huge part of the Salazars’ lives. They started attending T1D Community gatherings – a picnic in the park, the One Walk, a support group meeting. There, they met parents who juggled glucose monitors and snack packs, who celebrated small victories like conquering a fear of needles. They laughed, cried, and leaned on each other.
The T1D community became Pablo’s lifeline. Pablo learned that beyond insulin doses and finger pricks, there existed a network of warriors. This network of warriors fought silently, daily, armed with glucose tabs and hope; they whisper encouragement across virtual spaces, reminding the Salazar Family that they are part of something bigger – a tapestry woven with threads of courage, compassion, and camaraderie.
What is the most important thing you would want other parents of children with T1D to know?
“When we looked back, we realized that those words ‘you are not alone’ and ‘take one day at a time’ have become our family mantra,” says Andrea. “Those mantras echoed in our heart, a beacon guiding us through the highs and lows, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, there is a community waiting to catch us.”
A True T1D Champion
As Pablo continues to grow and thrive, Andrea and Pablo E. marvel at his courage and resilience in facing T1D. Pablo navigates his condition with a wisdom beyond his years, teaching Andrea and her husband about strength, acceptance, and the power of knowledge. “Our hearts swell with pride as we watch him live his life fully, embracing every challenge with a spirit that shines brightly,” says Andrea.
“Through Pablo’s journey, we’ve learned that even in the face of unexpected challenges, love, support, and understanding can turn fear into hope and adversity into growth. Pablo is not just our brave son – he’s our hero, showing us every day the true meaning of courage and grace in the face of adversity.”
We believe that because of parents and caregivers like Andrea, the children living with T1D in our community are given the support and care they need to succeed in life and in managing their disease. To anyone caring for a child with T1D, please know that you are not alone in the sleepless nights and heavy days. Breakthrough T1D Northern Florida is here to help you and can connect you with a network of other T1D caregivers to share advice, struggles, and words of encouragement.
For more information or to submit someone for our “Heart to Heart: T1D Caregiver Spotlight,” please contact northernflorida@BreakthroughT1D.org.
