Hello I am a mother who's son has been diagnosed (April 14) with Type 1 at age 18. I thought he was doing well and had come to terms with his diagnosis but I have found out that over the last few months he has not been checking his blood glucose levels at all. I have mentioned this to his GP and his specialist at the hospital and they don't seem to be over-worried about it both have said "he's a teenager and will grow out of this" and "at his age it is the worst time to be diagnosed" . My son has now been diagnosed with clynical depression and doesn't seem to want to leave the house or do anything with his friends - it is heartbreaking to watch this lovely once out-going bubbly teenager turn into a virtual recluse and shut himself away from the world. I have tried to speak to his phsycologist but I have been told that as he is classed as an adult now she cannot discuss anything he tells her without his permission (which he won't give) and that the only person that can help my son is - my son! I just feel very let down by the healthcare professionals. Can anyone relate to this or give me some advice please?
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AndreaW
- Thread starter AndreaW
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Bloden
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Andrea. Sorry to hear your son's having such a tough time. Can the psychologist talk to you about your son in general terms, nothing specific to his particular case? Eg Perhaps s/he can give you some info on living with depression at least. 😱
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Andrea - sorry to hear this.
I understand where you are coming from of course. But say you were depressed and your son was worried about you - you've told the doctor or psych all about it, maybe it includes I dunno, problems with him or you've gone off sex with your husband - do you want them to tell him?
It works both ways doesn't it? So they haven't let you down - they are just doing their job.
Maybe you being over-protective is one of the probs? (I haven't a clue obviously so don't think I'm accusing you of that)
However suddenly being told you have T1 is one HELL of a lot to take on however old you are. If you have classic symptoms, in one way it's a relief to be diagnosed in that it means you might feel better and frankly you'd let them cut your hand off if it did - but then you swiftly realise it's a Life Sentence - if you have more than one brain cell. I was 22 and had been married a year, own house, good job etc - in those days you were automatically admitted to hospital, so I was there for nearly a fortnight and then came home where I was of course alone as my husband also had a job.
My eyes went haywire so I couldn't read, knit, sew or watch TV.
Anyway (not given to weeping unless suddenly injured painfully) I cried off and on for about 3 weeks. After that, it became sporadic until eventually I no longer had any 'Why me?' days (as I used to call them) - but that takes years.
Then of course for the rest of your life (quite seriously) 50% of people you meet tell you their aunty's next door neighbours cousin's brother had that and he went blind/his legs dropped off etc etc. This cheers you up no end.
Could you pass a message onto him? Difficult, I know. BUT I've been diabolic (well clearly the Devil did it) (NB I'm not religious!) for 42 years now, never been that obsessed with control though I never didn't jab and I never didn't test though tempted, always too scared not to - and I haven't any complications. Yet.
It may be because I'm lucky, who knows? But equally - he could be too - and he might only need to pay it little more than lip-service - just like you do your parents!
Any probs with the D itself - high BG, low BG - can ALL be sorted out. Usually by doing something fairly simple - just that you didn't know how at the time.
He needs to convince himself that HE is better than diabetes - and HE is in control of it - not IT in control of HIM.
As my parents used to say to me when I was growing up - I suggest you give yourself a good talking to, my girl! (Lad)
I understand where you are coming from of course. But say you were depressed and your son was worried about you - you've told the doctor or psych all about it, maybe it includes I dunno, problems with him or you've gone off sex with your husband - do you want them to tell him?
It works both ways doesn't it? So they haven't let you down - they are just doing their job.
Maybe you being over-protective is one of the probs? (I haven't a clue obviously so don't think I'm accusing you of that)
However suddenly being told you have T1 is one HELL of a lot to take on however old you are. If you have classic symptoms, in one way it's a relief to be diagnosed in that it means you might feel better and frankly you'd let them cut your hand off if it did - but then you swiftly realise it's a Life Sentence - if you have more than one brain cell. I was 22 and had been married a year, own house, good job etc - in those days you were automatically admitted to hospital, so I was there for nearly a fortnight and then came home where I was of course alone as my husband also had a job.
My eyes went haywire so I couldn't read, knit, sew or watch TV.
Anyway (not given to weeping unless suddenly injured painfully) I cried off and on for about 3 weeks. After that, it became sporadic until eventually I no longer had any 'Why me?' days (as I used to call them) - but that takes years.
Then of course for the rest of your life (quite seriously) 50% of people you meet tell you their aunty's next door neighbours cousin's brother had that and he went blind/his legs dropped off etc etc. This cheers you up no end.
Could you pass a message onto him? Difficult, I know. BUT I've been diabolic (well clearly the Devil did it) (NB I'm not religious!) for 42 years now, never been that obsessed with control though I never didn't jab and I never didn't test though tempted, always too scared not to - and I haven't any complications. Yet.
It may be because I'm lucky, who knows? But equally - he could be too - and he might only need to pay it little more than lip-service - just like you do your parents!
Any probs with the D itself - high BG, low BG - can ALL be sorted out. Usually by doing something fairly simple - just that you didn't know how at the time.
He needs to convince himself that HE is better than diabetes - and HE is in control of it - not IT in control of HIM.
As my parents used to say to me when I was growing up - I suggest you give yourself a good talking to, my girl! (Lad)
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