From Nanny to Coach: The Hidden Power of In-Person Diabetes Coaching + Mentorship for Kids + Families
When I first laced up my ice skates this year, I had no idea I was about to receive a divine download about the next chapter in my professional journey.
There, I was learning the foundational skills of ice skating as an adult, watching kids glide around like mini Olympians. Surrounding them were coaches—highly trained, incredibly observant, and full of encouragement. I overheard one coach charge $55 for a 30-minute session, and it hit me: What I offer families living with type 1 diabetes is no different.
⛸️ The Ice Skating Epiphany & My First Diabestie
Just like ice skating, diabetes is a progression of skills learned over time. There’s the basic balance of blood sugar management, then the twirls of emotional regulation, the jumps of independence, and the inevitable falls that teach us to get back up.
And yet, there is no formal in-person coaching role for families navigating diabetes.
That’s the role I’ve created.
My journey into this role didn’t start on the rink—well, it kind of did, actually!
See, Remy was a 6-year-old hockey goalie living with T1D when I first stepped into a nannying role with the Kuelker family. What began as a caregiving role quickly evolved into something much deeper—a unique fusion of diabetes mentorship, coaching, trauma + neurodivergent informed care, and deep interpersonal trust.
💡 From Nanny to Diabetes Coach: A Natural Evolution
As the scientist (and nerd 🤓) that I am, I began jotting down observations—how I was helping the kids develop diabetes self-management skills, improve interoception, regulate their nervous systems, and communicate about their bodies and emotions. Over time, I realized I wasn’t just watching them—I was walking with them. I was facilitating growth and laying the foundation for lifelong skills.
More about those skills in my first blog article 👉 Supporting a Child's Transition to Diabetes Self-Management
🩺 From Clinical Dreams to Coaching in Real Life
When I first decided to nanny, it was because I felt very confident in being able to manage my own blood sugar levels—enough to do it for children living with diabetes. I was strongly connected to my desire to work with people regarding health and wellness, but my perspective was limited when it came to the how. I believed that becoming a nurse or pediatric endocrinologist was the path I needed to take.
That was, until one day, my diabestie—Remy—asked me why I wanted to become a nurse. When I told him I wanted to help people live with type 1 diabetes, he looked at me with complete clarity and said:
“Bella, you’re already doing that.”
It stopped me in my tracks — kind of, we were driving. That single sentence flipped the switch though. I realized I didn’t need a title to do this work—I was already living out my heart’s work.
Remy and I became true diabesties. We spent three years together building a special kind of friendship through the lens of diabetes. He taught me how to play again and reconnect with my inner child, and I taught him how to have fun safely while living with T1D. We grew side by side—our bond became a co-creative dance of joy, trust, and mutual understanding.
During this same time, I also nannied and babysat for other T1D families across San Diego. People often told me how lucky those families were to have someone like me—a person with lived experience who could offer both childcare and mentorship. And while yes, that’s true, I learned just as much from those families as they did from me.
When the global COVID pandemic hit and schools closed, the kids and I spent nearly all day, every day together. It gave me the rare chance to experience what life with T1D is like from the perspective of a full-time caregiver—something I hadn’t experienced until then. That experience not only deepened my compassion, but it also helped heal parts of me I didn’t even realize were still aching, especially in the relationship with my parents.
Looking back now, I can say without a doubt that the period I spent nannying for type 1 children, teaching yoga, and exploring an integrative + holistic approach to my own health and wellness saved my life. It gave me the space, tools, and insight I needed to rebuild the house of Sabella—from the inside out.
I have the unique experience of truly understanding both sides of the diabetes coin: the person living with type 1 diabetes and the caregiver supporting that person. That dual awareness is rare—and it’s what fuels my passion today.
🌉 In-Person Diabetes Coach for Kids & Families: Bridging the Gap
Let’s be real: many nannies, mannies, and caregivers are already doing the work of a coach without the recognition. When I look back, that was me. I was doing far more than watching the kids—I was teaching them how to live well with diabetes.
The role of a diabetes coach isn’t about replacing a parent, educator, or healthcare provider—it’s about bridging the gap between all of them. And that bridge is built on time, trust, and training.
In-person mentorship is powerful—especially when the mentor lives it.
I’ve been living with type 1 diabetes since I was 11 years old. I experience and understand blood sugar fluctuations, tech burnout, sensory overwhelm, and the beautiful mess of managing all that as a neurodivergent human.
That’s why this isn’t just “nannying.” It’s Olympian-level diabetes coaching. Especially for families who are:
Raising children with co-existing T1D + neurodivergence
Raising highly active or athletic kids
Looking for compassionate, curious, and whole-person care
🎨 Compassion, Curiosity, Creativity, Play + Movement: The Heart of In-Person Diabetes Coaching + Mentorship
At the core of effective in-person diabetes coaching and mentorship—especially with kids—isn’t just knowledge or tools; it’s how we connect, and what that connection is built upon.
Compassion, curiosity, creativity, play, and movement are essential ingredients for effective In-Person Diabetes Coaching and Mentorship. These aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the actual vehicle for building trust, co-regulation, and relational safety between mentor, mentee, and family.
I mentioned how Remy and I became diabesties. That relationship developed through what I like to call our “playdates” (😂). We did everyday things together tailored to his interests—and it was through that process that real trust and transformation took root. This is why nannying provides such a fabulous groundwork for in-person diabetes coaching and mentorship.
I naturally integrated interoception awareness, emotional regulation tools, diabetes management skills, and confidence-building into our daily rhythm. Because I supported kids during the pandemic while they completed virtual schooling, it created the perfect opportunity to blend academic learning with diabetes care. (We all know how much math T1D requires!)
Diabetes self-management became part of our everyday lives—effortlessly woven in through conversation and role modeling. The children weren’t just learning how to manage blood sugar—they were building the mental and emotional foundation to develop adaptability and resilience. These are the exact qualities that allow diabetes to transition with them through every season of life.
Our mentorship activities — aka, playdates — often involved sports or some form of embodied movement, arts and crafts, play, and trying new things—a dynamic mix that kept the learning embodied, fun, and emotionally safe.
🌱 Nannying as a Foundation for Mentorship
One of the most important things I’ve learned: nannying is fertile ground for this kind of coaching to bloom.
It’s relational. It’s daily. And when done with awareness and intention, it becomes a profound opportunity for mentorship. Many of the skills I now teach, I learned by doing—navigating carb counts at playdates, group chats with parents and school aids, diabetes tech rescue during the school day, overnight CGM alerts, sick days with T1D, tears over pokes, and navigating difficult conversations about not wanting to live with diabetes anymore (from both the kids and parents perspective 🫂).
The beautiful thing? Many of these skills simply require emotional vulnerability, an open heart, and the rest can be taught. They can be shared with nannies, parents, grandparents, teachers, siblings, and other caregivers. I now see my role as not only coaching kids and families directly, but also being able to teach the coaches of their everyday lives.
🤝 Let’s Reimagine What Support Looks Like
The saying goes, "It takes a village to raise a child." But when a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, many report feeling that village shrinks or disappears. The challenges multiply, and the stakes feel much higher.
Together, we can rebuild that village. One family, one bright spot, one empowered child at a time.
If interested in working together or learning more about options for supporting your family in living with T1D, please email or message me on Instagram @sabellalarkin.
Let's build something beautiful—on and off the ice. ⛸️💙
