Does anyone have young children with type 1 diabetes!

Hildy - posted on 04/25/2009

My parents are the only people I have ever trusted to watch my girls not only because they are as OCD as I am with their diabetes but because they have really learned how to take good care of them and when they're not sure they call and ask. It's just going to be hard because we're moving in a year so I can go to Law School and they will be on the other side of the country. So the little break I get now I won't have anymore. But I guess that's the price I have to pay to become a civil rights attorney and a lobbiest.

Jeniffer - posted on 04/25/2009

It took me a while to "trust" my family and friends to take care of my daughter too.... and I still have some trouble at times. It does get a little better. Atleast you have some support, but there will always be the worry... (you are a mom after all!) :)

Hildy - posted on 04/25/2009

Quoting Jeniffer:

I completely understand. My 12 year old daughter was diagnosed with diabetes 4 days after she turned 8. It is a very stressful thing to go from thinking your child can do whatever the other kids can to having to worry about if they will have sudden drops of blood sugar levels at any time during the day or night. I have helped some of our closer friends to understand how to monitor and administer her medications and in doing this she has actually gotten to spend the night at a friend's house. I still get the phone calls and the costs of supplies are still outrageous, however, we just take it day to day. I have my cell phone with me at all times so people can get ahold of me incase anything is needed and this allows me to get together with a friend now and then. That helps to reduce some of the stress.

At least now I know as my girls get older there is so hope for them to become semi-independant but I'm so OCD when it comes to diabetes that I still won't get a good nights rest.  My parents take my girls on the weekends and I call at all hours to make sure their sugar's are being checked.  Maybe with a little more Xanax someday I'll be able to relax a little more.

Jeniffer - posted on 04/25/2009

I completely understand. My 12 year old daughter was diagnosed with diabetes 4 days after she turned 8. It is a very stressful thing to go from thinking your child can do whatever the other kids can to having to worry about if they will have sudden drops of blood sugar levels at any time during the day or night. I have helped some of our closer friends to understand how to monitor and administer her medications and in doing this she has actually gotten to spend the night at a friend's house. I still get the phone calls and the costs of supplies are still outrageous, however, we just take it day to day. I have my cell phone with me at all times so people can get ahold of me incase anything is needed and this allows me to get together with a friend now and then. That helps to reduce some of the stress.

Karrie - posted on 04/17/2009

i have a girl who was 3 when got type 1 diabetes, naw she is 6 and a half, i understand what you mean 100 % , my girl wants to play out and i have to say no, she wants to sleep out i have to say no, i get the phone calls as well, before she got diabetes i use to go out with friends down town, naw i dont, i dont drink any more just mybe a glass of wine because you never know what kind of night you will have, i had to put my girl on a pump because her levels was bad

Angelia - posted on 04/17/2009

I feel your pain, or atleast 1/3 of it. I have a 14 yr old with type 1 and sleepless nights are uncountable. We just had a roller coaster night lastnight. It was going up and down which is a new one for us, It is usually one way or another not both. He was diagnosed about 2 months prior till his 9th B'day. The school has been a nightmare in itself. He was out of school for 3 weeks after he was diagnosed just because I was fighting the school to take all precautions of saving my sons life if need be. In the beginning all they could do was call 911 if he went down and teachers told if they injected glucagon they would lose their job. How heartbreaking is that? A teacher faced with letting a kid die or lose her job?!?! I do have a question for ya, how do you make the other kids understand when you have to put so much money and time into the diabetic? I have 2 younger sons and sometimes they show their jealousy when he gets to stay home or gets a snack right before dinner. They have even started noticing how much money we have to spend on his supplies and I feel they are resenting him for it. Any suggestions?