advice needed

[Ellie Jones]

Whether to inject insulin and when is difficult to say..

When I drank I never injected for carb's in my larger (rarely drank spirit's) and I would miss my night Levimer (I used spilt injections) yes my levels would hit 15mmol/l but then plummet over night when I stopped drinking and I spend the next morning fighting hypo's hence why I'd never used to inject my night time split of Levimer.

I don't drink now as too much hassle the next day,

However my husband used to inject a small amount of insulin before he started to drink, take his background etc. Which works for him

And yes get his DSN to run through safe drinking practices so he knows what he needs to do to remain save, they really won't dam him or yourself for under age drinking... They are fully aware that there ain't many 16 years who haven't had a alcoholic drink..

 

[novorapidboi26]

For beers a pint/can usually contains 10g or so, so if he plans to drink 6 say, then he should think about injecting for them, at whatever ratio he is on a that time of day..............

the unpredictability comes after the drink. For 6 beers it would be good to have a packet of crisps and fun size chocolate bar in between, this is just a rough guide so trial and error is needed [yay, more booze].......

A reduction in basal insulin will almost certainly be needed, a total missing of it seems strange to me as the liver doesn't shut down completely, but everyone is different........

Again, all trial and error............I drink spirits quite often and the need for basal reduction is much more and lasts well into the next day.........

 

[trophywench]

I just have this picture now of the rehearsal, with No 1 son up the corner, can/bottle in one hand, snogging the other arm .......

After all, it has to be realistic !

Actually if my grandson and his group are anything to go by, they haven't 'paired up' - they are all just friends, just some of em are girls. And if they did 'have a snog in the kitchen' SOMEbody would be bound to take a photo and it would have gone viral on Facebook by 8am on Sunday morning !

 

[Tina63]

You're actually very lucky your son is so compliant. My son does not drink at home - I was the same, actually wanting to see his first time of drinking so I could see the effects, but he simply refused to. Said it didn't feel right at home! He used to take all his testing gear and pens with him, but most certainly wouldn't test or inject whilst out, heaven forbid!! In fact, the time he did get properly drunk he couldn't even remember if he took his Lantus or not. The DSN on looking at his book decided he must have done, or his levels would have rocketed the next day and they didn't. Boys eh?

 

[delb t]

mmm starting to stress now - party is this saturday- so cant really have a practice run fri eve -plus angelic son is becoming more miffed that he isnt staying -half of me feels I should let him as to be honest he has been a star since dx the other more sensible me thinks lets just get him home!-cant talk to the party girls dad -as doubt the info will be handed over ! which ever way we jump will bound to be the wrong way!

 

[RuthieG]

I sort of agree with a bit of each of the posts here but here is my two penneth (and i have a tendency to err on the low side of BG readings so am not usually an advocate of running them high):

Eat a normal dinner and inject nromally for that.
DO NOT inject for the alcoholic drinks. I think this risks hypos far too much, especially first time he is out drinking
An odd little snack might be worth trying and definitely a couple of slices of toast before bed.
I would inject normal Basal too, or maybe a little less than normal but not none
Get him to remember (if he can) what he did foodwise and insulinwise for next time.

I would say again - don't inject for the alocoholic drinks as I think the alcohol content will balance out the carbs. He may run a bit high throughout the evening but it will level out.

Then he should be able to go and have a good time🙂 (he should test regularly throughout the evening but he can easily do this in provate in a bedroom or bathroom)

 

[Tina63]

I so totall know where you are coming from, having been through this so recently ourselves. Is the party pretty local? Do you drive? At least in this day and age with mobile phones, you can keep in contact and as long as you are prepared to drop everything and go at a moments notice I would actually say consider being brave and let him stay over.

Does anyone else at the party know about his diagnosis? If a trusted friend could 'keep an eye on him' as far as they are able with drink involved, and just remind him to eat occasionally and especially before bed (without injecting) I am sure he will be fine. Slip some cereal bars and coke in his bag too, and in theory he should be able to cope with anything.

Could you bargain with him - you will let him stay over IF he promises to respond to any texts you send and let you know if he feels unwell and wants to come home? The first few times my son went out after diagnosis he simply didn't drink, but of course felt awkward and wanted to come home by 11. This last one I did reluctantly agree to him drinking and still he phoned me at something like 1.30am to go and collect him as he had been sick (along with loads of the others by all accounts) and everyone else was either out of their tree on alcohol or asleep. It was a great relief to get him home, but I realise I can't hold him back forever. That doesn't mean it will be any easier the next time he chooses to do it, but luckily I drink very little alcohol so can almost always guarantee being fit and able to go and collect him at any hour.

It will be tough for you, whether you do it this week or in a couple of years. If you feel brave, let him go, he probably feels a little anxious about the effects himself too. Just warn him he could end up going low the next day too, so to be extra vigilant and test more often the following day.

Good luck!

 

[delb t]

thanks for your replies- if he was allowed to stay -which at the moment he thinks im not going to let him- im sure he would agree to any thing i asked him to do-the party is about 20 mins drive away- most of his school mates are aware- one friends dad is type1 also- so he is aware of hypos!- methinks I will have to cross this bridge at some point!