Hi Mrs Boyle,
I was diagnosed at the age of 3 too. I imagine it was horrible for my parents at the time - must have been terrifying. The responsibility of a child is heavy enough, without controlling their diabetes aswell. Big hugs to you.
I think honesty is always the best policy - mummy simply doesn't know. Nor do the doctors or nurses. It just happens to some people, and it is unlucky, but mummy & daddy are here to help. Like everyone else has said, lots of hugs.
I can honestly say that I don't remember my diabetes bothering me all that much when I was a child. It was just a fact of life for me. My parents must have found hypos upsetting - but I really didn't. I knew mum & dad would look after me and that everythng would be okay. That was pretty much as far as my thought processes went. I suspect that when Dylan asks why he has diabetes, he's mostly just wondering... Like when children wonder why the sky is blue.
I wanted to let you know that you're doing an amazing job. I think, although it is horrible for you, it's a good thing for Dylan that he's been diagnosed so young. I've always felt grateful for a young diagnosis. It meant I grew up with it just another part of my life, and now don't remember a time when I didn't need injections or to think about my diet. I have also always been grateful to my parents - for learning all the ins and outs, carb counting, insulin doses, site rotation, etc. They were then able to teach me when I was old enough, rather than a strange nurse I didn't know. And they had my control as good as humanly possible, which meant that when I took over control at about 13 it didn't seem like such a huge task as it would have done had I been diagnosed then.
I know things must be difficult for you now - but Dylan will be incredibly grateful to you when he's older.
Just wanted to give you my experience as a child who's been there. Hope this helps.
Em
x
