Non-Compliance In Teenage Diabetes

[mcdonagh47]

Well he successfully kicked a difficult question you asked him that required some thought, into the long grass.

 

[StephenM]

Stephen, the cynic in me suspects that you started this thread to basically say to parents that our dedication to supporting our type 1 teens is the cause of hospital admissions for non-compliance. Yet you seem reluctant to actually come out and say it. Is that your view?

I am not saying that because it is not my view. If you care to read what I said I said that there was a problem with teenage non-compliance. I also observed that there may an issue related to the tighter control and longer parental involvement causing the problem in some cases ? as the result of a stronger rebellion in the teen. In the past I have seen articles suggesting this may be the case. I expanded on this with the example of introducing small amounts of alcohol with family meals.

I rebelled at times but maybe not that badly as I had a desire to take to the road as soon as possible and was saving hard. A few days after my 16th birthday I took to the road ? the delay was sorting insurance (a totally different topic) something I had not thought of.

 

[Adrienne]

I'm not even going to begin to reply properly to the original question in this thread. I've read it all and there are only two posters who have set out to inflame a situation that one of them started anyway on another thread. I believe the original question was asked purely to ruffle feathers. There have been some great replies and heartfelt experiences but there is no answer to this at all. It is all speculative and it was indeed intended to be personal.

I ask that this thread be closed please or indeed deleted as it has helped no-one at all but has upset people completely unnecessarily

 

[Redkite]

I am not saying that because it is not my view. If you care to read what I said I said that there was a problem with teenage non-compliance. I also observed that there may an issue related to the tighter control and longer parental involvement causing the problem in some cases ? as the result of a stronger rebellion in the teen. In the past I have seen articles suggesting this may be the case. I expanded on this with the example of introducing small amounts of alcohol with family meals.

I did read what you said, but I'm unsure what you are hoping to achieve by this discussion? I think we can all agree that there are some teenagers who have a hard time with their diabetes - however what positive productive solution are you suggesting? My suggested solution is to be a supportive parent on my son's journey to independence (which concurs with specialists in the field such as Ragnar Hanas).

 

[Northerner]

I did read what you said, but I'm unsure what you are hoping to achieve by this discussion? I think we can all agree that there are some teenagers who have a hard time with their diabetes - however what positive productive solution are you suggesting? My suggested solution is to be a supportive parent on my son's journey to independence (which concurs with specialists in the field such as Ragnar Hanas).

I've yet to get a response to my question of what solution Stephen would propose. Actually, I think Lauren's experience sheds light on something not considered as this thread has developed. Her hospital admissions were not as a result of non-compliance, but an inappropriate insulin regime and poor medical support from her team. I very much doubt if there are any statistics recording whether an admission is a result of non-compliance or for some other reason. I don't think there is a solution, except to examine cases on an individual basis, since each person's experience will be unique to them.

 

[Redkite]

I've yet to get a response to my question of what solution Stephen would propose. Actually, I think Lauren's experience sheds light on something not considered as this thread has developed. Her hospital admissions were not as a result of non-compliance, but an inappropriate insulin regime and poor medical support from her team. I very much doubt if there are any statistics recording whether an admission is a result of non-compliance or for some other reason. I don't think there is a solution, except to examine cases on an individual basis, since each person's experience will be unique to them.

I agree. My son is on a pump, but if he was injecting and feeling he didn't want to at school, as Lauren described, I would want to work with him, the school and his clinic team to find a solution. Schools have a duty to provide a private place for pupils to inject if they wish (not the toilets!), and also to accommodate those children who wish to be open about injecting. As a last resort for teens who are skipping their lunchtime insulin, there may be a place for twice daily mixes. Health comes first, including emotional health!

 

[delb t]

I think we should close this thread too now-I would hate it if newbies parents or otherwise joined and felt we wernt a supportive lot!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Speaking for myself I've found a lot that has been interesting and of value in this thread. Combined with a couple of other recent 'parenting' conversations where differences of approach and opinion have been discussed I have found it very illuminating to understand better some of the reasons behind the decisions that parents of CWD take.

It seems we have reached a point of saying, "there probably isn't one answer - and what works for one child/teenager will probably not work for another" I can't say I'm hugely surprised by that. Is anyone?

Personally I think Northie and Redkite nailed it:

I don't think there is a solution, except to examine cases on an individual basis, since each person's experience will be unique to them.

My suggested solution is to be a supportive parent on my son's journey to independence (which concurs with specialists in the field such as Ragnar Hanas).

I hope that people have not been upset by the discussion. Personally I think it's important that people are allowed to have different opinions on forums like this - as long as they respect the opinions and choices of others. That doesn't mean I have to agree with them, nor does it mean that I am compelled to try to make them think the same way I do.

 

[Adrienne]

Speaking for myself I've found a lot that has been interesting and of value in this thread. Combined with a couple of other recent 'parenting' conversations where differences of approach and opinion have been discussed I have found it very illuminating to understand better some of the reasons behind the decisions that parents of CWD take.

It seems we have reached a point of saying, "there probably isn't one answer - and what works for one child/teenager will probably not work for another" I can't say I'm hugely surprised by that. Is anyone?

Personally I think Northie and Redkite nailed it:




I hope that people have not been upset by the discussion. Personally I think it's important that people are allowed to have different opinions on forums like this - as long as they respect the opinions and choices of others. That doesn't mean I have to agree with them, nor does it mean that I am compelled to try to make them think the same way I do.

I absolutely agree with you. When a discussion is even not what you want to hear that is fine as well but I still believe firmly that two posters literally will try and inflame and twist whatever a 'parent' will say and criticise unnecessarily. Its been made very clear over a few threads now. They don't have kids or kids with t1 and this was an odd thread to start by someone like that without the ulterior motive I believe there is. I am not upset, I'm angry.

The majority of people on this whole support board are just that, supportive, but for some reason a couple of people aren't towards a group of people because it is not what they think should be done as they 'survived' their way. Utter poppycock quite frankly and they should be ashamed of themselves. Its a bit like a witch hunt. They need to come back and say their piece if their children ever gets diagnosed (god forbid), I bet tunes would change rather a lot somewhat. You cannot compare any teenager with another teenager, with or without t1, you cannot compare a teenager with t1 compliant or not with a teenager even as far back as 2002 or whatever as it was very very very different and I know this because I was in the diabetes world back then also as a parent of a child with t1 so I talk from experience.

It was started as a pointless thread and whilst some posts, as I've said, are great and some very heartfelt it was started acrimoniously with not good intentions and now I have replied and I didn't want to damn ! (see I'm angry) 😡

 

[Andy HB]

As a dispassionate observer, I agree with what Mike says about the thread. There are aspects of it which I may find of great use in the future.

I just wish that people could discuss things like this avoiding upsetting others (which in some cases is because I think certain people have possibly undeserved reputations so no matter their intentions, they are always assumed to be 'stirring').

My partner and I are beginning the process of become foster parents (she has a lot of experience in childcare). In the event that we are accepted and we end up looking after a child with Type 1 diabetes. I'd like to have an insight into the potential issues involved. Granted, every child is likely to be different, but a thread like this discussing various issues and experiences would be very helpful.

Anyway, thanks to those people who have contributed in a positive way to this thread.

Andy 🙂

 

[Northerner]

OK, I think there is too much acrimony creeping into this thread and it's heading nowhere, so I will close it.