Daughter,12, just diagnoised with type 1 diabetes.

Tina - posted on 03/15/2010

My stepson was just diagnosed in October and he is 13. Our biggest issue is him not always understanding that there are behaviors he cant have anymore because it could cost his life. For a teenager we had to make sure that we didn't let him use his diabetes as an excuse to get away with things or as a way of trying to get us to let him break rules. Life goes on, we just have one more thing to think about during it.

There will be ups and downs and I don't just mean with the BS levels.

Sharron Louise - posted on 03/12/2010

awwww i remember those exact feelings and i still have them now even after 4 years later youre right they do throw a lot of info at you right at the beginning but lately they have being doing various courses in their clinics im not sure if your daughters diabetic nurse has mentioned this to you it might be worth asking her about it seen as tho you are both so new to it all. dont worry bout her not wanting to go to school our shannon was exactly the same she will be ok on that she, loke yourself, will probably be feeling a little overwhelmed i was terrified for you both when i read she was 88 that must of bn soooooooooooo horrible and scary for you i really do hope that you are both going to be ok good luck and anything you need to know if i can answer for you i will be more than happy to do so take care

Caroline - posted on 02/17/2010

As everybody else has said. It does get easier, although at first there is a lot of information to take in and I find, 6 years after diagnosis, that we are still learning. My daughter was 10 when she was diagnosed and we had no history of it in our family so the shock sent us reeling. She is now 16 and knows everything! I found that it slowly becomes a family routine, like brushing your teeth every morning but more serious and not as much fun. I would highly suggest sending your child to a diabetes summer camp if they run them in your area. It made my daughter less frightened and made her feel as if she was not alone. She really didn't want to go the first time because she was so scared to leave us (& us her - I remember crying the whole way home and not sleeping for two nights!). But when we went to pick her up at the end of the week, she was confident, smiling and it taught her that she wasn't 'disabled'. Good luck

Leanne - posted on 02/11/2010

thanks for the advice and the reassuring words.They really help alot. Life is getting back on track but the stress is there. I have to remember that i am only one person and can only do what i can do. Enlisting the help from family and friends helps a great deal. Thank you to everyone during this time.

Lori - posted on 02/11/2010

Leanne it does get easier. We just learn to deal with it. I have 2 children with this terrible disease, My older son was 10( Dx last march,) and my middle boy was 8 (dx last august). When we learned that Jeffrey had it we felt like our whole world came crashing down on us, but we got through it. Cant really remember to much details because everything was happening so fast that it was hard to breath. we had to stay at hosp 3 days to learn an enormous amount of info. We were told that there was a 5% chance that our other sons would get it. Well we should have played the lottery cause 5 months later my michael got it. We have NO family hystory of this diease and have NO idea why this has happened.By the Grace of God we manage to not let the stress get the better of us,it has just become a way of life for all of us. We have recently had a Emergency situation with Jeffrey due to the stomach virus that reeked havoc on his poor little body, his ketones were bad his sugars were bad. But the hosp staff hydrated him and fixed him all up so I could go home with my baby. Stay strong. And I hope your little girl stays healthy and tell her she can always talk to my son if she ever want some support. BENESCHBUNCH@AOL.COM Good Luck, Lori

Sheila - posted on 01/07/2010

My daughter is 11 now. She was diagnosed when she was 5. I totally understand what you are feeling. We felt the same way. It will get easier. I'm sure that in time your diabetes team will make changes to your schedule but I recommend looking into a pump once you get on a schedule. The pump totally changed my daughters life. It really gives them a sense of freedom. Being on NHP is really difficult because you have to eat at the same time every day. There are other types of insulin that will give you more flexibility and freedom with when you can eat.
I really recommend keeping your daughter in the know about how to care for herself. I have 4 children as well and my daughter does most of her own care now. I mostly help her out when she goes high to get back into range. So, it does get better. And she will get back to her "regular life" at some point if she learns what she needs to from the beginning. Good luck and if you have questions feel free to post them or email us too. Bliujay@msn.com.

Leanne - posted on 01/06/2010

Thanks for replying Kristi. We have had a nurse come in and set up a school plan, but she is still really nervous and scared. So am I. I do know that this will all get easier eventually, and I don't want her to miss out on life because of dibetes. She's a very strong willed girl who I know will be able to adjust but at times it myself that I am worried about. It is alot to take in all at once but as every day passes by now, I do feel like I am absorbing more information and things are sticking with me. thank you again and hope you don't mind, I added you to my circle of Moms. Take care.

Kristi - posted on 01/06/2010

When my son was diagnosed at age 7 i felt that my world was turned upside down. Trust me it gets easier. He is now 15 and doing everything he did before, with just a little bit of changes. When we took him in the very first time his BG# was 1640 that should have put him in a coma, but he was talking to the doctors and everyone else in the ER. They were amazed. They thought he just had a bad csse of the flu. He slept for the next day and a half off and on. You need to talk to the diabetic educator about coming to the class room to expalin the change wit your daughter. it lets others know what is going on and gets everyone involved at school. Then you need to fill out a care plan for the school on what to do in emercencys. If u have any questions feel free to email me ill be glad to help and if ur daugther has questions ill have my son answer those for her throught the email 2. purppansy@yahoo.com