Sometimes, you'll need to just escape from the day-to-day tediousness of diabetes care. There is nothing wrong or abnormal about that desire, you are a parent or caregiver, but you are human as well. You will occasionally feel the need to get away. By planning ahead and using good sense, you may be able to do just that.

Far and Away

There's a legend of a couple with a small child with diabetes who cruised to Tahiti for a week (if you're reading this, you know who you are). Their diabetes-world friends marveled at their ability to make it work. It was no small feat. They found a college-age nursing student who had had Type 1 since she was a small girl. They hired her as a sitter once a week for a year, which helped their child and the sitter bond. They then purchased two wireless communication devices, such as a BlackBerry , and a computer program and trained the sitter so they'd be able to check in regularly on how their child was doing. Then, one spring day, they cruised.

Sure, it wasn't easy, and it took a major investment of smarts, time, and money. But do you think as they clicked margarita glasses at sunset, they whined?

A long trip can happen, if you have the chutzpah. Diabetes camp is a great way to make it work easily; finding a trained sitter you know well is tougher but still possible (admittedly with a bit of luck).

Short Trips

There's also the concept of just getting away for a bit. What about an overnight in a lovely hotel right in your own town? If you have a friend or family member you trust, pack your bag and spend twenty-four hours close enough not to worry but far enough to get away from it. Book a spa treatment; bring a book (but not one on diabetes!). Allow yourself one full day and night of leisure. See if you don't come back refreshed—and, having trusted your friend or family member that one night, you may be on your way to that long trip. Remember, it starts with baby steps.