EP054: An Interview With Dr. Patrick Rowe
Type 1 Diabetes at Home: How Dr. Patrick Rowe Turns Chaos Into Confidence
“This doesn’t change your child’s future. With attention and support, they can do anything.”
Type 1 Diabetes can feel loud and busy. Alarms. Snacks. Shots. Numbers that jump up and down. Today we share what we learned from our talk with Dr. Patrick Rowe. He teaches Health Sciences. He has lived with Type 1 Diabetes for almost 40 years. He is also a dad of two kids with Type 1. This is a guide for real life at home—simple, kind, and clear.
Meet Dr. Patrick Rowe
Professor at Santa Fe College.
Lives with Type 1 Diabetes since age 13.
Dad of two kids who also have Type 1.
Loves biking and teaches anatomy and physiology.
His big idea: Attention beats perfection. You do not need a perfect day. You need to notice what is going on and act with care.
Daily Life: Let Kids Be Kids, With Guardrails
Dr. Rowe learned that caring for himself is not the same as caring for kids from “arm’s length.” Kids want to do kid things. Parties happen. Snacks show up. The lesson:
Set the tone without shame.
Ask curious questions later. Try “How was after-school? What snacks did they have?” not “Why did you choose that?”
Keep the focus on insulin and timing, not “good” or “bad” foods.
Tip: Post simple “checkpoints” where kids look often (fridge door, phone case):
What’s my number now?
Did I pre-bolus?
Will I be active soon?
Words Matter: Talk About Food Without Shame
In Dr. Rowe’s home, the talk is simple and kind:
Food is not bad.
We match food with insulin and timing.
We notice how some foods raise sugar fast and some do not.
Why this works:
Shame shuts learning down.
Curiosity builds skills.
Kids start to use simple “nutrition” words the right way, without fear.
Homeostasis: The “Cockpit” Picture
Dr. Rowe teaches the word homeostasis with a picture kids get. Your body is like a cockpit with many dials. The goal is the “green zone.” With Type 1 Diabetes, the insulin dial is on “manual.” That means:
We help the body stay steady with insulin, food, and timing.
We do small checks all day instead of big panics later.
Tech That Helps: CGMs and AID Systems
Tech is a safety net, not a “set and forget” fix.
CGM (like Dexcom or Libre) shows trends at a glance. Parents can follow from their phones.
Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) can lower or raise insulin in the background.
What tech can do:
Pause insulin if low is coming.
Nudge insulin up if sugar is rising.
Help on busy days when you miss a beep.
What tech cannot do:
It does not replace pre-bolus for meals.
It still needs good settings (carb ratio, insulin sensitivity, basal rates).
It needs check-ins and updates as kids grow.
Pro tip for new AID users:
Insulin has a delay. Rapid insulin often starts working around 15–20 minutes and peaks later. Do not “stack” dose after dose too fast. Give the last dose time to work.
Sports and Play: Movement Is Doable With a Plan
Dr. Rowe’s family stays active. Here are simple rules that help:
Plan your insulin early. If possible, lower basal about 60 minutes before exercise (work with your care team on amounts).
Start with stable numbers. Avoid a big meal and a big bolus right before a workout.
Carry fast carbs. Always bring glucose tablets or juice.
Consider a steady-carb source for long activity. Dr. Rowe uses a slow-release cornstarch drink (like UCAN) during long rides. It gives a gentle, steady background of glucose.
Morning workouts can be smoother. Less “insulin on board” may mean fewer lows.
For some sports, short wind sprints at the end can help reduce late lows.
Type 1 Diabetes vs. Type 2 Diabetes (Simple View)
Type 1 Diabetes: Autoimmune. The pancreas makes little to no insulin. Insulin is needed to live.
Type 2 Diabetes: The body does not use insulin well and may make less over time. Some people can avoid or delay insulin with lifestyle and medicines.
Why this matters in a T1D home:
Your child did nothing “wrong.”
Insulin is a hormone, not “just a drug.” The goal is to use the right amount, at the right time.
Curiosity Is a Superpower
The most powerful skill Dr. Rowe sees is curiosity.
Ask why the number moved.
Ask what food did.
Ask how sleep, stress, or sports changed things.
Write it down. Small notes lead to smart changes.
Community Shortens the Learning Curve
You should not have to “re‑invent the wheel” alone.
Learn from other families who are doing well.
Join a group, class, or online meet-up.
Share real details (not just “hugs”). What time did the low happen? What did you eat? How much insulin was on board?
A simple wish for new families:
Meet two or three families who have managed T1D for years and are doing well. Seeing their kids play, learn, and grow brings real hope.
Simple Scripts You Can Use Today
Party script: “Have fun. If you want a snack, check your number and give insulin if you need it. I can help.”
Morning check: “What’s your number? Any alarms last night?”
Post-activity talk: “What did your number do at practice? What helped? What should we pack next time?”
Re-frame slips: “That was a tough spike. What can we try next time? Maybe an earlier pre-bolus or a different snack.”
Quick-Start Guide for Parents New to Type 1 Diabetes
Step 1: Breathe. Your child can live a full life.
Step 2: Learn your tools. CGM basics, how to treat lows, how to pre-bolus.
Step 3: Set simple routines. Numbers before meals, pre-bolus when safe, bedtime checks per care team.
Step 4: Make a sports plan. Pack fast carbs. Adjust insulin before activity. Log what happens.
Step 5: Build your team. Find a curious clinician. Find two mentor families. Share real stories.
Step 6: Update settings. Kids grow. Review carb ratios, sensitivity, and basal with your care team.
Step 7: Keep language kind. No food shame. Connect choices to insulin and numbers.
Step 8: Always carry fast carbs. Everywhere.
Dr. Rowe’s Big Takeaways
Attention beats perfection.
Tech helps, but you still steer the plane.
Words shape how kids feel about food and diabetes.
Curiosity and community turn fear into skill.
Movement is possible with planning.
Frequently Asked Questions (Simple Answers)
Q: Can my child with Type 1 eat birthday cake?
A: Yes. Match with insulin and timing. Watch the trend. No shame.
Q: Do we need an AID system?
A: Not required, but many families find it helpful. It is a safety net, not a full autopilot.
Q: Why did my child go to bed at 120 mg/dL and wake up at 190 mg/dL?
A: Hormones and the liver can raise sugar overnight. Look at evening food, insulin timing, and your basal settings. Ask your care team about pattern changes.
Q: How do we avoid stacking insulin?
A: Wait long enough for the last dose to work before adding more. Use your pump’s “insulin on board” info. Ask your educator for safe timing rules.
Q: What is one thing to do this week?
A: Find one mentor family and swap two real-life tips each.
Final Word
You can do this. Your child can do this. Keep the language kind. Stay curious. Use tech as a helper. Ask your community for real details. Small steady steps make strong families.
As always, if you need additional help or support, contact us at [email protected].
Take courage! You can do this, and we can help.
Disclaimer
The information in this blog post and podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not replace a one-on-one relationship with your physician or qualified healthcare professional. Always talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or care team before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, exercise plan, or nutrition plan—especially if you have diabetes, prediabetes, heart, liver, or kidney conditions, or take prescription drugs like metformin or insulin.
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