Standing With California Families: What I’ve Learned From Parents Navigating Type 1 Diabetes
In California, thousands of families live with the daily realities of pediatric type 1 diabetes (T1D). Nationally, more than 300,000 children and adolescents under 20 have T1D, with nearly 20,000 new cases diagnosed each year (source). For parents, the diagnosis brings not just medical complexity but also emotional and social challenges - from sleepless nights to stigma at school.
At Adhera Health, we are AI-native, building companions that combine intelligent digital agents with human coaching and community support. Our flagship, the Adhera Caring Digital Program (ACDP), delivers evidence-based, personalized support for families managing pediatric chronic conditions.
Recently, we launched our T1D beta program, and I had the privilege of interviewing parents participating in it. Their voices continue to guide how we design meaningful support.
What I’ve learned from these conversations:
Emotional support matters deeply. Parents often described overwhelm, grief, and fear after diagnosis. One mother told me, “Letting out my voice gives me relief.” Another said, “This came at the right time after a very dark moment.”
Education is power. Families praised step-by-step guidance on CGM use, carb counting, and school communication. Bite-sized lessons were described as “clear and easy” and “more than I expected.”
Community brings comfort. When caregivers connected with peers, the impact was profound. “I felt love from people I didn’t even know,” one parent shared. That sense of belonging is something no algorithm alone can provide - it’s the human layer that makes AI support real.
Families want child-inclusive tools. Parents of older children voiced a desire for features that help kids take more responsibility, building both confidence and independence.
These reflections align with what our peer-reviewed research in JMIR Pediatrics & Parenting has shown: family-centered digital interventions can reduce caregiver stress and improve adherence in pediatric chronic care:
Our beta shows that impact is not just theoretical - it’s happening in real homes, with real families.
As we deepen partnerships with California payors, children’s hospitals, and advocacy groups, our goal remains clear: support families with tools that combine the best of AI and human care, improve outcomes for children, and lower long-term healthcare costs.
I’m also excited to share that we are preparing to launch our beta program for families managing pediatric obesity, further expanding how we support families across conditions. And later this month, I’ll be attending the California Association of Health Plans Annual Conference in Desert Springs, CA, meeting with executives from California health plans, Medi-Cal, and others to discuss the results we’ve been seeing with families - and what’s next.