I am happy and saddened to join such a group. It means there are many.. My daughter is type 1 and has been so from May. I have had very troubling times and I wake everyday in living like a daily de-ja-vu. That is why I was advised by a phone call whilst I was still asleep in the morning so waking up for me reminds me each day of that day. My daughter was admitted in ITU with Diabetic ketoacidosis but has recovered from that. The thing that I am mostly concerned is her upward trend insulin. Now the diabetes team are saying its normal but then they say everyone has his story so i guess there is no normal. She started lantus at 24 units and now we are up to 35 units and many internet sites say that for her weight (60kgs) she should around 12 units. I am concerned about the long term effects of this. Maybe someone can shed some clarity in my troubled mind pls? Thanks for hearing me out.
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Hello I am a Parent
- Thread starter Clyde G
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Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome @Clyde G Sorry to hear about your daughter’s diagnosis. It can be overwhelming to start with, especially when it’s your child.
How old is your daughter? I’m wondering whether the increase in her insulin could simply be due to growth or other hormones. Don’t worry about how much insulin she takes. Some people need more than others. We all need what we need.
Do you have this helpful book?:
Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas
Tagging @Sally71 who is a parent of a Type 1 child.
How old is your daughter? I’m wondering whether the increase in her insulin could simply be due to growth or other hormones. Don’t worry about how much insulin she takes. Some people need more than others. We all need what we need.
Do you have this helpful book?:
Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas
Tagging @Sally71 who is a parent of a Type 1 child.
Proud to be erratic
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 3c
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I can't help you with the specifics of T1 in Children. But there are 3 fundamentals that should reassure you:
It is natural for anyone to go in search of "better answers" and the Internet is full of self-defined experts who will tell you that there is an optimum insulin dose for a child at a certain weight. That criterion might provide a start point for a preliminary treatment path, but there are so many variables in the mix that it can't be a rule. And the energy of children can be so varied from day to day that each day can create different natural responses to the insulin they are taking, never mind the diets they enjoy or the growth spurts they experience from month to month.
One book that is commonly considered particularly helpful is Ragner Hanas's "Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People"; I'm 74 and found it great for me 4 years ago, so I think the title undersells itself.
Could I ask how old is your daughter? I am certain that others will be along soon, including parents of children with T1 as well as those who were diagnosed as a child. Meanwhile you might find the Parents Section of this Forum helpful.
It is normal for Specialists (particularly with children) to start patients on low doses and steadily increase. This is to keep them safe.
There is no such thing as a correct dose for a certain weight. Each person - child or adult - needs what they need when it comes to insulin doses.
Diabetes is "Complicated, Confusing and Contradictory" [from Gary Scheiner's Book 'Think Like a Pancreas', which I found helpful]. Diabetes is also fickle, just as you think you've got the measure of helping your daughter manage her D, the rules change! Despite this seemingly gloomy observation from me there is a huge and reassuring light and warmth at the end of this tunnel. It does take time to get the hang of things.
Welcome to the Forum @Clyde G and I am really sorry to read about your daughter's introduction to this world of Diabetes. As you have already reflected she is not alone and on this forum neither are you. You have found somewhere that has a huge breadth of experience of living with diabetes and is happy to share that experience - without trying to dictate what is right or wrong. We all know that each one of us is different in what we need and how our metabolisms can behave amazingly differently - without the fickleness of diabetes itself.It is natural for anyone to go in search of "better answers" and the Internet is full of self-defined experts who will tell you that there is an optimum insulin dose for a child at a certain weight. That criterion might provide a start point for a preliminary treatment path, but there are so many variables in the mix that it can't be a rule. And the energy of children can be so varied from day to day that each day can create different natural responses to the insulin they are taking, never mind the diets they enjoy or the growth spurts they experience from month to month.
One book that is commonly considered particularly helpful is Ragner Hanas's "Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People"; I'm 74 and found it great for me 4 years ago, so I think the title undersells itself.
Could I ask how old is your daughter? I am certain that others will be along soon, including parents of children with T1 as well as those who were diagnosed as a child. Meanwhile you might find the Parents Section of this Forum helpful.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Clyde G
I notice you are posting from Malta. I’m not sure if initiation of insulin therapy is handled differently there, but I wanted to check that your daughter had been started on a mealtime insulin as well as the ‘background’ Lantus? Lantus is designed to release slowly over 24 hours to balance glucose trickled out by the liver. It isn’t generally meant to cover meals as well in a person with T1. For hat you’d generally use a shorter-acting mealtime insulin such as Novorapid, Fiasp, or Humalog (there are many others too).
I notice you are posting from Malta. I’m not sure if initiation of insulin therapy is handled differently there, but I wanted to check that your daughter had been started on a mealtime insulin as well as the ‘background’ Lantus? Lantus is designed to release slowly over 24 hours to balance glucose trickled out by the liver. It isn’t generally meant to cover meals as well in a person with T1. For hat you’d generally use a shorter-acting mealtime insulin such as Novorapid, Fiasp, or Humalog (there are many others too).
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Sorry to hear about your daughter, from what you said about getting the news, is it right she does not live with you and is therefore is an adult.
There is often more support for children but adults are 'just left to get on with it' so it can be difficult in the early days and she still is in early days.
Did she have the tests to confirm Type 1?
There is often more support for children but adults are 'just left to get on with it' so it can be difficult in the early days and she still is in early days.
Did she have the tests to confirm Type 1?
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hello @Clyde G I read a lot about all sorts of people dealing with diabetes of various sorts and be assured that the advice you have been given is correct, there is no rule of thumb guidance possible, because insulin isn't a simple amount per Kg medication or treatment for a condition, it is a hormone supplement and as such requirements are very varied between people and situations.
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