Hi

[CH24]

I’m a mum he’s 21yrs old and diagnosed type one in AED yesterday when the GP sent us in. FYI I’m a nurse he has took it on the chin like the legend he has always been me I’ve gone to bits don’t know what to do what I am doing just know I’m heartbroken and not really sure why. He was previously 100 fit and well no family history out the blue. Feel so sad that this is his life forever now moving forward please nobody take this in offence. Apparently they think it happened as a result of recurrent throat infection sent his immune system into overdrive. Not actually really looking for support as such wanted to vent and get as much information and advice as possible (or someone to tell me this hasn’t just happened) even as a nurse my background is acute what I know about this u could write on a stamp sorry for the ramble x

 

[gail2]

dont panic or be sorry for wot u have posted wellcome to the forum im sure others will be along with some good advice soon A good place to start is to at your own pace have a look round the forumgood luck in your and yours sons jounry

 

[Leadinglights]

I’m a mum he’s 21yrs old and diagnosed type one in AED yesterday when the GP sent us in. FYI I’m a nurse he has took it on the chin like the legend he has always been me I’ve gone to bits don’t know what to do what I am doing just know I’m heartbroken and not really sure why. He was previously 100 fit and well no family history out the blue. Feel so sad that this is his life forever now moving forward please nobody take this in offence. Apparently they think it happened as a result of recurrent throat infection sent his immune system into overdrive. Not actually really looking for support as such wanted to vent and get as much information and advice as possible (or someone to tell me this hasn’t just happened) even as a nurse my background is acute what I know about this u could write on a stamp sorry for the ramble x

Welcome to the forum, there are several parents here whose children have been diagnosed at various ages from toddlers upwards but however old they are you never stop being a parent and worrying about them. You have to remember at 21 he is an adult and will be treated as such by the diabetic clinic and also may be quite private about managing his new condition.
All you can do is support him in whatever way he wants and learn as much as you can in order to do that.
The Learning Zone should be useful to you but do feel you can come and ask questions are there are many years of experience among the people here of coping with all sorts of situations.
Do you know what insulins he has been given and does he have a Libre, I assume he visited the GP as he felt unwell so had symptoms, maybe thirst, frequent loo visits etc.

 

[CliffH]

I’m a mum he’s 21yrs old and diagnosed type one in AED yesterday when the GP sent us in. FYI I’m a nurse he has took it on the chin like the legend he has always been me I’ve gone to bits don’t know what to do what I am doing just know I’m heartbroken and not really sure why. He was previously 100 fit and well no family history out the blue. Feel so sad that this is his life forever now moving forward please nobody take this in offence. Apparently they think it happened as a result of recurrent throat infection sent his immune system into overdrive. Not actually really looking for support as such wanted to vent and get as much information and advice as possible (or someone to tell me this hasn’t just happened) even as a nurse my background is acute what I know about this u could write on a stamp sorry for the ramble x

I'm so pleased that you feel able to vent. I'm also a healthworker - and like you, I knew virtually nothing about diabetes until it happened to me. I've been on this Forum for a few weeks now and have learnt loads, as I'm sure you will too.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @CH24 🙂 Sorry to hear about your son’s Type 1 diagnosis. It’s a massive shock and it does take time to get used to, both practically and emotionally.

Ask anything you want here. Nothing is silly or too trivial.

There are a couple of books often recommended for Type 1s on this forum:

Think Like a Pancreas’ by Gary Scheiner.

And Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas.

Think Like A Pancreas is American but I liked the chatty style and it contains some great information, as does the Ragnar Hanas book.

 

[CH24]

Welcome to the forum, there are several parents here whose children have been diagnosed at various ages from toddlers upwards but however old they are you never stop being a parent and worrying about them. You have to remember at 21 he is an adult and will be treated as such by the diabetic clinic and also may be quite private about managing his new condition.
All you can do is support him in whatever way he wants and learn as much as you can in order to do that.
The Learning Zone should be useful to you but do feel you can come and ask questions are there are many years of experience among the people here of coping with all sorts of situations.
Do you know what insulins he has been given and does he have a Libre, I assume he visited the GP as he felt unwell so had symptoms, maybe thirst, frequent loo visits etc.

Thanks tbh he’s insisting I am there for everything which tbh I’m thankful for! It has been quite insidious over last 12 months thinking back now as an Advanced nurse all be it acute background I’m so annoyed I never spotted all the signs sooner! Till he gave me the ball of symptoms then I arranged an Gp apt and off we flew straight to AED yesterday #bombshell!!
Our Libra is on the way and at the moment he is only on the long acting lantus till next week.
Just list at the moment glad I joined though x

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @CH24

Sorry to hear about your son’s diagnosis - it’s completely understandable to be feeling knocked absolutely sideways by it.

I’m not sure if you will find any encouragement in it, but I was also diagnosed aged 21, while I was living away studying. It hit my mum massively hard, and I think she still wonders if she could have prevented it (she couldn’t). My parents also had quite natural worries about what it might mean for me going forwards.

But more than 30 years later, I still have pretty much nothing happening in terms of long-term complications. I’m awaiting my eye screening in January to see if the ‘background’ changes in my eyes have disappeared again (as they have before). Since my diagnosis I’ve been married, repaired a house, been employed, raised kids, travelled, run my own business, run a half marathon, been to festivals, and played in a band.

T1 has always been irritating, and has been an ‘inconvenient house guest’, generally making a nuisance of itself, and meaning that some things have involved a bit more prep and thought, but it has never stopped me doing anything I wanted to do.

And modern treatment options make better T1 management more possible for more people with less effort.

Be kind to yourselves. And give yourselves time to adjust and adapt. T1 is a swine at times, but in some ways - with the experiences I’ve had directly because of it, I feel lucky that I was diagnosed. I think it’s played quite a bit part of making me who I am.

 

[CliffH]

Thanks tbh he’s insisting I am there for everything which tbh I’m thankful for! It has been quite insidious over last 12 months thinking back now as an Advanced nurse all be it acute background I’m so annoyed I never spotted all the signs sooner! Till he gave me the ball of symptoms then I arranged an Gp apt and off we flew straight to AED yesterday #bombshell!!
Our Libra is on the way and at the moment he is only on the long acting lantus till next week.
Just list at the moment glad I joined though x

Well mine came on in a quite insidious way too and I didn't realise that what was happening was the onset of diabetes, despite having worked with many people with diabetes. You're a nurse, not a mindreader or fortune-teller. Crucially, you're there for your son now - and this Forum's here for both of you.

 

[CH24]

Welcome to the forum @CH24

Sorry to hear about your son’s diagnosis - it’s completely understandable to be feeling knocked absolutely sideways by it.

I’m not sure if you will find any encouragement in it, but I was also diagnosed aged 21, while I was living away studying. It hit my mum massively hard, and I think she still wonders if she could have prevented it (she couldn’t). My parents also had quite natural worries about what it might mean for me going forwards.

But more than 30 years later, I still have pretty much nothing happening in terms of long-term complications. I’m awaiting my eye screening in January to see if the ‘background’ changes in my eyes have disappeared again (as they have before). Since my diagnosis I’ve been married, repaired a house, been employed, raised kids, travelled, run my own business, run a half marathon, been to festivals, and played in a band.

T1 has always been irritating, and has been an ‘inconvenient house guest’, generally making a nuisance of itself, and meaning that some things have involved a bit more prep and thought, but it has never stopped me doing anything I wanted to do.

And modern treatment options make better T1 management more possible for more people with less effort.

Be kind to yourselves. And give yourselves time to adjust and adapt. T1 is a swine at times, but in some ways - with the experiences I’ve had directly because of it, I feel lucky that I was diagnosed. I think it’s played quite a bit part of making me who I am.

Thank you so much this was exactly what I needed to hear! I think he is relieved if I’m honest as he has felt so awful in various ways for over 12 months and now he knows why me on the other hand I see my boys life changed forever and for a guy that was the picture of health before it’s killing me he is a boxer hobby wise and once he knew Mohammed Ali was a type 1 the world was all good
It’s me this is all me and he knows nothing of me feeling this way or being on here at the moment I’m just trying to get my S@@t together so I can be there for him ‍♀️