Juice Box Babies
When our daughter Maybel was diagnosed with type one diabetes we not only felt hopeless and helpless, but we also felt alone. We felt like we didn't have the right kind of support. We thought we needed a connection to someone or a community who had gone through this or was experiencing the same challenges. That's when I came up with the idea for Juice Box Babies.
The Idea
When Maybel was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 11 months old, we felt very alone. We had support from family and friends near and far, but what they couldn’t provide were the practical resources we desperately needed: how to keep a pump and tubing attached to an 11-month-old, how to keep a CGM in place, which overlay patches to use, how to safely remove infusion sets and CGMs without damaging her sensitive skin, and how to manage a toddler with T1D while still letting her live her best childhood. We had so many questions — and it took countless hours of hunting, calling, and emailing to find answers and tips from other families with T1D. It quickly became overwhelming.
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That’s when I knew I wanted to do something to help families like ours. I wanted to provide newly diagnosed families with real-life T1D support. I began creating care packages, sharing samples of overlay patches we’ve used, and compiling links to online shops for items we consider T1D necessities. Right now, I send mini care packages to newly diagnosed families I connect with through Facebook or local groups.
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I’m no guru (still learning every day!), but after four years with T1D in our family, we’ve gained some seasoned experience. I’m just a mom doing my best to help other families, and I promise to do my best to answer any questions or help with products you may be curious about. While we are currently heavily focused on Maybel’s sugar dog journey, supporting newly diagnosed families is a core value and heart for us.
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We know how overwhelming it can feel — we’ve been there, and we want you to know you’re not alone. Please reach out if your child or family is newly diagnosed and in need of samples, support, or just an ear to listen. You can fill out our form below so we know how we can best help you.
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We also have social media accounts to document our journey, share tips, and connect with the T1D community. Please explore our site, JuiceBoxBabies.com, to see our favorite resources, read our blogs, and learn about upcoming events. We update our site often and look forward to gaining more knowledge and resources to share that are readily available.
If you know a family that could use support, please share JuiceBoxBabies.com with them. And if you’re part of a T1D family, subscribe to receive updates as we continue adding new tips, links, and care package opportunities.
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If you have a resource that may be helpful to our cause, we’d love to hear from you!
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Our biggest needs right now are resources to share with newly diagnosed families, such as recommendations for local T1D support groups, who to follow to learn about events, and tips for connecting with other T1D families. Our long-term goal is to compile a multi-state map of resources so families everywhere can easily find local support and connect with other T1D families in their area.