Feel a bit of an imposter as I'm the mother of a 22 year old who was diagnosed with Type 1 7 weeks ago. This looks like such a helpful and friendly group - just what I need! After feeling shocked and overwhelmed, I'm now racked with worry and questions. My poor son is trying his best to get on with it, but seems to be totally overcome with exhaustion which just seems to be getting worse. I wondered how people felt recently after diagnosis and whether this is normal? He lives away from home now which makes matters so much harder: for me anyway!
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Hello!
- Thread starter Sharon T
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Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
You’re not an imposter @Sharon T and you’re very welcome here 🙂 Sorry to hear about your son’s Type 1 diagnosis. It’s a huge shock and takes a while to get used to practically and emotionally.
The first obvious question is how are his blood sugars? Is he stressed at all and that’s affecting his sleep? I do remember feeling ‘not myself’ for a few weeks - quite weak and tired. It was a long time ago now but I think that feeling reduced after the first month or so. Some of the tiredness was the mental load of it all.
The first obvious question is how are his blood sugars? Is he stressed at all and that’s affecting his sleep? I do remember feeling ‘not myself’ for a few weeks - quite weak and tired. It was a long time ago now but I think that feeling reduced after the first month or so. Some of the tiredness was the mental load of it all.
Thank you, Inke, for welcoming me and responding. It is a shock and very overwhelming in every way. I think he is a bit stressed, and that’s partly because he’s sooo tired and lacking in energy that he can’t keep up with things, especially his studies. Then it’s a vicious circle…
His blood sugars have largely just about been in his target range, but they do fluctuate quite a lot and that’s something I’m not sure about. Although his range is 4 to 9, he does go up and down between these a lot and has had a few mild hypos every day for the last few days as well as a couple of times over 10. What do you understand to be be “steady” and “stable”? I think if the range was less extreme, he’d start to get some energy back, but that’s what I’m not sure of. I do agree that in the very first few weeks, the sheer amount of knowledge to consume and detail needed for the management of this type of diabetes is exhausting in itself! Never mind the emotional impact.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I assume you mean he is away at Uni so I hope he has made them aware of his situation as he might be entitled to extra support whilst he gets things more stable and used to everything.
Cherrelle DUK
Much missed Online Community Coordinator
Hi Sharon T, welcome to the forum.
Sadly the overwhelm is very common as people are usually just given a diagnosis and left to get on with it.
We've got some really useful info within our learning zone that will tailor the info to his needs so may be worth sharing with him. https://learningzone.diabetes.org.uk/?_ga=2.239174208.274182585.1624276913-340228507.1611583699
This page has various links that are super helpful including how to manage whilst away from home https://www.diabetes.org.uk/type-1-diabetes. Getting to know his numbers and how to manage changes in his blood glucose is important and our main site includes all of the resources needed.
It's natural to be worried and you're more than welcome to be here so feel free to post any questions or concerns you may have.
Sadly the overwhelm is very common as people are usually just given a diagnosis and left to get on with it.
We've got some really useful info within our learning zone that will tailor the info to his needs so may be worth sharing with him. https://learningzone.diabetes.org.uk/?_ga=2.239174208.274182585.1624276913-340228507.1611583699
This page has various links that are super helpful including how to manage whilst away from home https://www.diabetes.org.uk/type-1-diabetes. Getting to know his numbers and how to manage changes in his blood glucose is important and our main site includes all of the resources needed.
It's natural to be worried and you're more than welcome to be here so feel free to post any questions or concerns you may have.
Yes, he’s studying for a masters and his uni have been very supportive, but he puts a lot of pressure on himself.
Thank you, Cherrelle. I’ll take a look at these.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Even if he was doing brilliantly and had T1 for 40 odd years - you'd still worry - comes with the territory, doesn't it!
Between 4 and 10 are the usual parameters most of us are told to aim for - NOT to absolutely glue ourselves between, 24 hours of the day 365 days of the year. Which is just as well cos here I am 49 years in front of him, and I still don't get much more than 70% within those limits for very long time periods. (If he ever gets pregnant he'd be well advised to be stricter, but ......
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He should try and aim for whatever limits his team have set him of course - but shouldn't panic if he hasn't got there yet - and neither should his mum - because these things take TIME.
Between 4 and 10 are the usual parameters most of us are told to aim for - NOT to absolutely glue ourselves between, 24 hours of the day 365 days of the year. Which is just as well cos here I am 49 years in front of him, and I still don't get much more than 70% within those limits for very long time periods. (If he ever gets pregnant he'd be well advised to be stricter, but ......
)He should try and aim for whatever limits his team have set him of course - but shouldn't panic if he hasn't got there yet - and neither should his mum - because these things take TIME.
Aaah, thank you. Yes, it’s my job to worry! It’s not so much his levels/numbers that I’m worried about, but more whether the fluctuations are causing his intense fatigue. Can you tell me ONE thing that time has taught you about managing your diabetes? Maybe something from early on, if you can remember?Even if he was doing brilliantly and had T1 for 40 odd years - you'd still worry - comes with the territory, doesn't it!
Between 4 and 10 are the usual parameters most of us are told to aim for - NOT to absolutely glue ourselves between, 24 hours of the day 365 days of the year. Which is just as well cos here I am 49 years in front of him, and I still don't get much more than 70% within those limits for very long time periods. (If he ever gets pregnant he'd be well advised to be stricter, but ......
He should try and aim for whatever limits his team have set him of course - but shouldn't panic if he hasn't got there yet - and neither should his mum - because these things take TIME.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Blood sugars soon after diagnosis can be harder to control because the person still probably has a few of their own insulin+producing cells left, randomly squirting out insulin. This can make results more erratic. When I was first diagnosed, I was told 12 or under for the first week or so, then under 11 for quite a few more weeks, then finally 5-10. Note the 5 - that was to avoid hypos. Then that changed to 4-10 when things were more settled.
To help steadiness, I find having basically the same breakfast and lunch most days helps a lot. It simplifies things and gives consistency. Is your son carb-counting? That will help enormously too. The ups and downs of blood sugar can make you feel rough, but they’ll gradually be smoothed out as he learns more. Although this sounds trivial, eating well and getting enough sleep helps a lot too. It’s like a recuperation almost.
That makes perfect sense, thank you. Maybe we are expecting too much, too soon. I like the advice you were given which was a little more lenient to start you off!! He is having the same breakfast most days, but even this can give him random numbers, maybe because of his still alive Beta cells! Good idea to have same lunch every day for a while. That could really help. He is carb counting but has gone to stay with his partner’s family and things have gone backwards. I like how you describe a “recuperation” period. Think it would be good to think about this stage like this and almost stay in a little bubble for a while to get things calmer. Thanks so much - really practical advise.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
My main advice to anyone new is ask, Ask, ASK! - and never stop asking. I haven't stopped yet and no plans to do so either .....
He could do a lot worse than join the forum himself cos we have got hundreds of years of lived experience between us and there's very little we won't have a jolly good stab at answering - sensibly!
He could do a lot worse than join the forum himself cos we have got hundreds of years of lived experience between us and there's very little we won't have a jolly good stab at answering - sensibly!
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Sharon T
Glad you have found the forum. Hope it helps YOU come to terms with your son’s diagnosis as well as provide reassurance and a few pointers to help you provide him more practical support.
This ‘diabetes etiquette’ card might be a thought-provoking suggestion of better ways to have conversations around diabetes in more supportive ways:
Glad you have found the forum. Hope it helps YOU come to terms with your son’s diagnosis as well as provide reassurance and a few pointers to help you provide him more practical support.
This ‘diabetes etiquette’ card might be a thought-provoking suggestion of better ways to have conversations around diabetes in more supportive ways:
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