What happens now?? My 13 year old son just diagnosed type 1

[LeeLee]

The lowest carb savoury snacks that I've found are Sainsbury 6-packs of flavoured popcorn (salt/vinegar, paprika and cream cheese). They all come in under 6g per bag.

 

[MelanieG]

LOL at the Stannah Stairlifts Tina !

My mate love her mum's stairlift - she used to say it was really useful taking piles of ironing upstairs or sending her suitcase down when she was going on holiday! She was gutted after mum died and the council came and reclaimed it!

Melanie the bit I want to pick up on is this

and as he likes his crisps, I read that skips/quavers were better.

You need to start reading labels Mum! The back of almost very packet/tin of anything has the nutritional info on the back in little writing. The one thing you are really interested in is the Carbohydrate content. Ignore the 'of which sugars' - cos sugar is just a carbohydrate same as flour or spud etc.

So what's in my kitchen? Per pack - Walkers C & O are 17.1g carb, Mini Cheddars are 12.9g and Tesco's Cheesy Curls are 9.1. (these are like Quavers but in slightly snaller bags and cheaper LOL) Hula Hoops are actually 15.1 which surprised me cos I thought they were less. Quavers/ Curls are just my absolute faves so I have NP whatsoever eating them (or Cheddars) in favour of actual crisps, although I can eat more or less whatever I want cos I dose adjust.

Ok lol, I need to learn this fast then, so I'm looking for everything best in low carbs, so if there's something he likes to eat, read all the labels for the lowest it comes in.

 

[Tina63]

Re crisps - once you get into serious carb counting, just bear in mind bags that come in multipacks tend to be smaller than one off bags you buy, so therefore the carb count will be different. If you have ever done Weight Watchers, it's just like that, you get to know the value of foods and can just count as you go along. Slice of bread x amount, crisps y amount, cereal bar z amount - total carbs xyz therefore insulin units = ? You soon the hang of it, it's not half as bad as you think it will be. Do you have digital kitchen scales? If not, they are well worth the investment.

When we started carb counting, I typed a list on my computer which I then laminated and stuck on the kitchen cupboard. On there I had the carb content of all basic ingredients, flour, rice, pasta etc, then added any regular food we used, ie slice of bread, cream cracker, digestive biscuit, etc, and then any pre-packed food we used on a regular basis. Things I make myself, like for instance individual Yorkshire puddings, I calculated the carb count of the whole batch so I could then say 2 individual Yorkshires x amount. Fairy cakes too. Things like that. It's just then easier if you don't make something too often not having to always go back and start again with the calculations.

As others have said, all prepacked food has the carb content on. You just have to make sure you know if it's 'per serving' or 'per 100g'. That's where the scales come in useful. Also rice and pasta, when cooked they tend to triple in weight, so as long as you know what portion you have allowed for your son, weigh it directly onto his plate as you serve it up. It soon becomes second nature. If he eats cereals weigh them directly into his bowl. We were told to avoid any cereals where the 'of which sugars' was higher than a third of the total carb content.

Also over the drinks, beware of the acid in fizzy drinks. My lad is addicted (and I really mean that) to Pepsi Max (sugar free) but his tooth enamel is already wearing thin according to the dentist. He has backed off it a lot, but it's scary that only 2 years of drinking that, and I grant you he has drunk loads of it, but the damage is there to be seen in such a short time. I am hoping he has heeded what the dentist told him. He has definitely cut back. If your lad will drink water, or tea or coffee, or the no added squash, it is preferable for everyday drinking rather than the fizzy stuff. It's fine for occasional treats, but just beware of the impact on his teeth if it becomes a regular 'fix'.

When are you next seeing anyone? Do you get home visits or do you have to keep going back to the hospital? We had fantastic care at the start, home visits and phone calls regularly, both our DSN and the dietician, plus really regular hospital appointments. There is so much to take in though, each time they would come with a few more A4 sheets to talk us through and leave with us. I very quickly got a ring binder and filed it all so I had a little reference manual building up! There is so much to learn, but I am still learning now. I have learnt so much more from here, it's so informative, learning from people who are living with it day in, day out. It's invaluable support.

You are doing really well. Keep it up. Happy Easter.
Tina

 

[Northerner]

Something that many people find very useful, particularly when eating out, is the Carbs & Cals book - pictures of many popular meals in different portion sizes with their associated carb values 🙂

 

[MelanieG]

Ok great thank you everyone, lots to take in, I will get a ring binder and file all of the leaflets and letters in it so that I have it all stored in one place.
The nurse is visiting us at home again on Tuesday, so much to ask her now after all of your great advice!
She did lend us that carbs book last time she came, but as we had no advice on what carb levels were aiming to achieve, and not having yet seen a dietitian, it was hard to make sense of it all.
Tom likes water, the reduced sugar squash too, but is missing drinking hot chocolate and had a strop with me last week over that.
The great news is last night he did his own finger prick ( big long build up and lots of moaning) but he did that bit for himself, so we've made slight progress at least🙂
Happy Easter all x

 

[LeeLee]

Cadbury Highlights or the own label equivalents are my bedtime treat. Made exactly as directed (and I do weigh out the 11g) the carb count is only 5.4g. The Fudge one is my favourite.

 

[MelanieG]

See I've been wrapped up in looking at the sugar bit not all the carbs and getting confused, and now I'm realising what I should be looking at 🙂 great news for Tom. Thanks

 

[Tina63]

The great news is last night he did his own finger prick ( big long build up and lots of moaning) but he did that bit for himself, so we've made slight progress at least🙂

That's fantastic news. Well done Tom. Little steps eh? Just remember, Rome wasn't built in a day. Every little step is progress. Onwards and upwards!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Cadbury Highlights or the own label equivalents are my bedtime treat. Made exactly as directed (and I do weigh out the 11g) the carb count is only 5.4g. The Fudge one is my favourite.

It's all very well saying it's only, you have to remember someone with type 1 diabetes will need to cover this with insulin.

Bottom line is though Tom can eat what he did before diabetes reared it's ugly head. He just has to learn to count carbs and cover it with insulin. Obviously avoiding full fay fizzy drinks and gorging on sweets is a no no, but then that applies to anyone with a sensible diet.

Well done Tom for managing the finger test.
I hate the pokers and refuse to use them, found out a long time ago it easier and quicker to just poke finger with lancet 🙂

 

[Lauras87]

The great news is last night he did his own finger prick ( big long build up and lots of moaning) but he did that bit for himself, so we've made slight progress at least🙂

Yay!!!! Well done Tom.
You must be happier Melanie that he managed to do part of his diabetes care for himself, hopefully the rest will follow soon

 

[trophywench]

Finger pricking - try and get an Accu-Chek Multiclix finger bodger - the lancets are sheathed so you never actually see the pointy bit, plus it's by far the comfiest device I've had since they invented Glucometers (we had to boil up pee before that !)

And Tom might like to read this article, part of Alan Shanley's Blog (he's a T2 and not on insulin, but a finger prick is a finger prick for all types)

http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=painless+pricks

 

[Monica]

The device I was thinking about so he doesn't need to see the needle is the Novofine Autocover, there's a video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpfJTM8JvZE

Of course, it would be much better if he didn't need to use these, but you might like to talk to your team about them - they should be available on prescription 🙂

Hi Melanie and welcome

I've only just seen this, as we've been on holiday during Easter.
My daughter Carol was diagnosed 12 March 2007 aged 10. She hated the injections and to make matters worse, we started off with syringes. Only after 3 months it got changed to pens. I can vouch for the Autocover needles, despite being 8mm instead of 4mm. Carol used to have 6mm needles, as the 4mm ones didn't exist in those days. She preferred the Autocover 8mm to having to see the 6mm needles. Unfortunately, it took 2 years before the DSN even suggested the Autocover to us. But after that it took Carol about 3 months before she could bring herself to do it. This was also around the time before she was supposed to go on a residential with year 8 and I told her that she wouldn't be able to go if she didn't inject herself. What I didn't tell her was that school staff were prepared to do it, as I didn't think she'd let staff do it. I was the only one allowed. That summer holiday before the trip she managed it 🙂
I hope your boy will be able to get used to it soon, but don't be cross if he doesn't.

Carol is now on the pump, but I believe that if she should have to inject, she'd still need the Autocover

 

[Lauras87]

When I went for my prescription review I saw the auto covers to be prescribed.

Might be worth asking your DSN for them & having them put on your repeat?

 

[MelanieG]

Thank you everyone, I mentioned it to the nurse and she said she didn't know about them, and that she will look into it.
I've been trying with him all over Easter and he goes so clammy he can't hold the pen next week school starts back, and it looks as if I'll be going in to inject him every lunchtime, which plays havoc with my job, but we have to make the best of it. He's trying bless him, but I just can't see him doing it.
Toms had some very emotional moments too, can be very happy one moment, and very angry and upset the next. He says he wants it gone, he's had enough. It's so hard to know how to bring him out of it.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Thank you everyone, I mentioned it to the nurse and she said she didn't know about them, and that she will look into it.
I've been trying with him all over Easter and he goes so clammy he can't hold the pen next week school starts back, and it looks as if I'll be going in to inject him every lunchtime, which plays havoc with my job, but we have to make the best of it. He's trying bless him, but I just can't see him doing it.
Toms had some very emotional moments too, can be very happy one moment, and very angry and upset the next. He says he wants it gone, he's had enough. It's so hard to know how to bring him out of it.

Hi Melanie,
sorry to hear Tom is still having problems with needles.
His Mood swings are due to his blood sugars being unstable once they are better hopefully things will improve.
Have a look on line regarding the needle cover you should then be able to find the correct code to allow a prescription to be issued or even ring the company and ask them what it is.
Then go along to your GP and ask that they are put on prescription for Tom.

 

[Lauras87]

mel.

i think i have found the code you need its 08290-3293-05 for 5mm needles

 

[Adrienne]

Hi Melanie

Sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis. My daughter was 13 years old last week and has had t1 for 13 years, since she was a few weeks old.

Happy to help with anything. Carbs and cals is fab. As well as the Ragnar Hanus book it is worth buying 'Think like a Pancreas' by Gary Scheiner. I've actually met him (as have others) and he is fabulous and the book is great, think there is an updated version out of both of those books.

The carbs and cals you can get on your phones, we only use the apps now and not the book.

One of the best things to happen is for your son to meet other children around the same age with t1. It really is one of the most eye opening moments for them, as they see others have it and can cope and how they cope and what they do and that they are not alone and can be normal. That is one of the biggest things. Where abouts in Hertfordshire are you?

I can ask on the CWD email list and see if there are others in your area or any support groups and ask your DSN as well

🙂

 

[Redkite]

Hi everyone, I'm new on here, and new to diabetes.
Last week my eldest son (13) was diagnosed type 1, and we are all still in shock, and trying to get our heads around this new way of life.
He is so scared of the needles, and worried about what is happening to him, and I'm doing my best to understand what diabetes is and how we cope.
Any help would be great as its all so scary at the moment and I need to see my son smile again.
Thank you
Mel
Mum to Thomas age 13, Elliot 10, and Lucas 5.

Hi Mel,

Sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis, it must be a very hard time for you all. My son was 4 at diagnosis and I have a horrid memory of him screaming and crying and begging me to hide him from the nurse who wanted to give him his injection. The fear and anticipation is much worse than the pain though!

Have you been given a Penmate device to use with his insulin pen? This is great for people who don't want to look at the needle or physically push it through their skin. You replace the bottom part of the insulin pen with the Penmate, then dial up insulin in the usual way and pull up the Penmate to hide the needle (it's springloaded). Place it against your skin and press a button to fire the needle through the skin, then push the dialled insulin through.

Another alternative which my son used for a couple of years is Insuflon catheters (available from your hospital children's ward, not on prescription). This is a Teflon cannula which is inserted into the skin using an introducer needle which is then withdrawn (can use emla cream first for painless insertion). The cannula can stay in place for 5-7 days, and all short-acting insulin injections can be injected through this, rather than piercing the skin. Basal insulin still has to be injected separately so the two don't mix in the cannula. But this means you are down to just one injection per day (the basal insulin), plus one catheter every few days. It also meant for us that we could really fine tune my son's diabetes, because he could painlessly have injections to correct high BG levels, injections for between-meal snacks, and split injections for meals like pasta that take a long time to digest. He was having around 7 injections a day and getting much better control, but painlessly.

Hope this helps!

 

[MelanieG]

Hi Melanie

Sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis. My daughter was 13 years old last week and has had t1 for 13 years, since she was a few weeks old.

Happy to help with anything. Carbs and cals is fab. As well as the Ragnar Hanus book it is worth buying 'Think like a Pancreas' by Gary Scheiner. I've actually met him (as have others) and he is fabulous and the book is great, think there is an updated version out of both of those books.

The carbs and cals you can get on your phones, we only use the apps now and not the book.

One of the best things to happen is for your son to meet other children around the same age with t1. It really is one of the most eye opening moments for them, as they see others have it and can cope and how they cope and what they do and that they are not alone and can be normal. That is one of the biggest things. Where abouts in Hertfordshire are you?

I can ask on the CWD email list and see if there are others in your area or any support groups and ask your DSN as well

🙂

Hi adrienne,

Thank you for your advice, it's so nice to hear from other parents who are going through the same. I have now got the carbs and cals app and it is good, and is helping me understand. So I think we're ready to dose his insulin ourselves instead of the nurse setting amounts, as he's suffering lots of hypo's at he moment.
We are in Stevenage Hertfordshire so it would be great for him to meet others going through what he is.

 

[MelanieG]

Hi Mel,

Sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis, it must be a very hard time for you all. My son was 4 at diagnosis and I have a horrid memory of him screaming and crying and begging me to hide him from the nurse who wanted to give him his injection. The fear and anticipation is much worse than the pain though!

Have you been given a Penmate device to use with his insulin pen? This is great for people who don't want to look at the needle or physically push it through their skin. You replace the bottom part of the insulin pen with the Penmate, then dial up insulin in the usual way and pull up the Penmate to hide the needle (it's springloaded). Place it against your skin and press a button to fire the needle through the skin, then push the dialled insulin through.

Another alternative which my son used for a couple of years is Insuflon catheters (available from your hospital children's ward, not on prescription). This is a Teflon cannula which is inserted into the skin using an introducer needle which is then withdrawn (can use emla cream first for painless insertion). The cannula can stay in place for 5-7 days, and all short-acting insulin injections can be injected through this, rather than piercing the skin. Basal insulin still has to be injected separately so the two don't mix in the cannula. But this means you are down to just one injection per day (the basal insulin), plus one catheter every few days. It also meant for us that we could really fine tune my son's diabetes, because he could painlessly have injections to correct high BG levels, injections for between-meal snacks, and split injections for meals like pasta that take a long time to digest. He was having around 7 injections a day and getting much better control, but painlessly.

Hope this helps!

Thank you redkite,
People have mentioned these, and so I told our nurse, who said she had never heard of them, but she is looking into it for us, and also the possibility of a pump.great advice, thank you x