A New Normal

Karen Hargrave-Nykaza’s 10-year-old son Joel was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on October 16, 2003. Since that time, Karen and her husband, Kevin, have done what they can to learn as much as possible not only about the disease itself and how to manage it, but how to deal with the disease while maintaining a “normal” life for Joel, and their whole family. After Joel’s diagnosis, Karen began searching without success for the unique information needed by the parent of a child with diabetes .When she didn’t find that information, she found her own way through dealing with the school system, kids’ birthday parties, finding support as a parent, and educating friends and family members about diabetes. After she had done that, she came to the conclusion that she was the best person to write the book she had searched for and imagined was a parent who had just muddled her way through all those things and more. She decided to offer what she had learned with other parents when she wrote My Child Has Diabetes. Her book was published by iUniverse in April 2006 and is available on www.barnesandnoble.com.

Karen’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Art from Nazareth College of Rochester, New York and a Masters Degree in Human Services Counseling from Oswego State University. She also completed a Masters Level Program in Art Therapy at Hillside Children’s Center in Rochester, New York. She currently works as a full-time mother while running two small businesses from her home. She also works as a Rape Crisis Advocate and Volunteer Mentor at her local Rape Crisis Center.

Karen resides is upstate New York with her husband, who is a New York State Trooper, and their two sons Joel and Casey. She brings to the dLife community her column, A New Normal, the unique perspective of a mother raising a son with diabetes. Through her column, Karen will share her no nonsense approach to life and parenting, as well as her thoughts about living a new normal, a life that includes type 1 diabetes, but is not limited or defined by it. It is a life that includes as much fun, humor, and the many activities her son and family enjoyed prior to the diagnosis of diabetes.

Reaching Out
The risks are well worth the rewards.

Parenting 101
Setting ground rules for a healthy perspective on food.

A Countdown of Lessons
Ten things I have learned from my child’s diabetes.

Finding the Balance
Understanding how to manage diabetes as a team.

Change of Shift
Handing over the responsibility of diabetes management to your child.

Wanting the Best for Our Children
Looking at ourselves is the first step towards cultivating a healthy attitude.

Just How Far We’ve Come
Learning, growing, and thriving in spite of diabetes.

Teaching the Basics
Preparing your child, your child’s school, and yourself for back-to-school.

Connecting with Others
Finding a support system makes all the difference.

Future Tense
Test to predict diabetes may be more trouble than it is worth.

Join the Crowd
Support groups great prescription for struggling families.

Taking Care of You
Managing your child’s diabetes requires the occasional time out.

Emergency Tactics
Keeping your cool in a crisis best bet for your kids.

Each One, Reach One
Connecting with another parent can be a rewarding experience.

On Being a Diabetes Advocate
Battle for field trips a small victory in ongoing war.

Becoming Dr. Mom
In a world of medical professionals, the real expert is you.

The Questions I Keep Asking,
One mother asks the question, “How much is too much?”

Learning a New Normal
Diabetes diagnosis can send whole family into tailspin.