My 6 year old has just been diagnosed T1, feel like my world has ended!!

[Claire Gibbs]

My husband is T1 too and randomly checked him and he was 18, everything just snow balled from there. I spent a couple of days in hospital with him, but as he sees Dad doing it every day he is sailing through this. He has not any symptoms, his pancreas is still producing a little. He is on 3'5 Levimer and Novo rapid. Me on the other hand I'm a blubbering wreck, terrified I'm going to do something wrong, I can't add up for toffee, I'm scared I'm going to miscalculate, I want to check him whilst he's sleeping just feel so overwhelmed. Don't know about school until Monday as it's holidays etc etc just want to know he's going to be ok xx

 

[stephknits]

Hi Claire, welcome to the forum, glad you found us. It is huge thing and very overwhelming, so not surprised you are feeling like a wreck - I am sure I would too. Ask anything you like here, we are a friendly bunch. How is your husband coping? Let us know how you get on with the school, as there are lots of people with experience of getting care plans in place for their type 1s.

 

[Northerner]

My husband is T1 too and randomly checked him and he was 18, everything just snow balled from there. I spent a couple of days in hospital with him, but as he sees Dad doing it every day he is sailing through this. He has not any symptoms, his pancreas is still producing a little. He is on 3'5 Levimer and Novo rapid. Me on the other hand I'm a blubbering wreck, terrified I'm going to do something wrong, I can't add up for toffee, I'm scared I'm going to miscalculate, I want to check him whilst he's sleeping just feel so overwhelmed. Don't know about school until Monday as it's holidays etc etc just want to know he's going to be ok xx

Very sorry to hear about your little one's diagnosis, Claire There is an awful lot to take in at first (for you), but it will get better. Try to stay calm and take things one step at a time. You can always ask any questions you may have here and we will be happy to help 🙂 I'd highly recommend getting a copy of Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas, which will help you understand more about diabetes so hopefully help you cope with the new situation. How long has your husband been diagnosed?

I'd also recommend reading Adrienne's essential guide for parents of newly-diagnosed children which you may find reassuring 🙂

 

[HOBIE]

My husband is T1 too and randomly checked him and he was 18, everything just snow balled from there. I spent a couple of days in hospital with him, but as he sees Dad doing it every day he is sailing through this. He has not any symptoms, his pancreas is still producing a little. He is on 3'5 Levimer and Novo rapid. Me on the other hand I'm a blubbering wreck, terrified I'm going to do something wrong, I can't add up for toffee, I'm scared I'm going to miscalculate, I want to check him whilst he's sleeping just feel so overwhelmed. Don't know about school until Monday as it's holidays etc etc just want to know he's going to be ok xx

Hi Claire. I have been T1 since England Won the World Cup, never been unemployed in my life & still full time employed. Good luck & welcome ! (Was diagnosed age 3) 🙂

 

[Claire Gibbs]

Hi Claire, welcome to the forum, glad you found us. It is huge thing and very overwhelming, so not surprised you are feeling like a wreck - I am sure I would too. Ask anything you like here, we are a friendly bunch. How is your husband coping? Let us know how you get on with the school, as there are lots of people with experience of getting care plans in place for their type 1s.

Thanks for your kind words, my husband is doing fine was diagnosed at 30, he's very laid back and is excellent with Callen. I'll let you know what happens Monday

 

[Claire Gibbs]

Hi Claire. I have been T1 since England Won the World Cup, never been unemployed in my life & still full time employed. Good luck & welcome ! (Was diagnosed age 3) 🙂

Thanks for sharing that, although I had to ask my husband what year that was haha. Aged 3 wow you must have seen some changes over the years

 

[Claire Gibbs]

Very sorry to hear about your little one's diagnosis, Claire There is an awful lot to take in at first (for you), but it will get better. Try to stay calm and take things one step at a time. You can always ask any questions you may have here and we will be happy to help 🙂 I'd highly recommend getting a copy of Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas, which will help you understand more about diabetes so hopefully help you cope with the new situation. How long has your husband been diagnosed?

I'd also recommend reading Adrienne's essential guide for parents of newly-diagnosed children which you may find reassuring 🙂

Thank you very much, feel awful for being so stressed when Callen is doing just great. My husband was diagnosed when he was 30 is 43 now. He has been a godsend as I'd be completely lost without him. Maths is a major problem for me and I mean major, I've never read the nutritional labels before, highs, lows, too much, not enough my mind is going crazy. Will buy the book later thanks for recommending it

 

[trophywench]

Hey Claire - you are allowed to use a calculator, you know! - you may find one on your phone - or you could write yourself a list (get hubby to do it for you) with what dose of insulin to give for X amount of carbs. Especially at this side - err on the cautious side so say the calculation tells you to give 2.5 units - give hin 2units then see what his blood test after the meal tells you - if he's high then you know next time to give him more, don't you?

It's all a bit of a blur to ALL of us to begin with whether we're adult or not and whether we can do sums or not so much to remember, aargghh.

And you know what? even though you can't possibly believe it at the moment - it absolutely always does get better as time goes on. Just don't panic mum! - much the same as mum's learn not to when their kids fall over or throw up - you'll soon learn how to cope.

As another member usually says first here - no question is considered silly here - only the ones you didn't ask. We're here to ask at allsorts of hours of the day and night, 365 days a year. Somebody usually knows the answers or can at least point you in the right direction - you are NOT alone.

 

[Claire Gibbs]

Thank you so much, I really do appreciate everything you've said. I have never been on any type of forum before so feel a little silly. But having advice and words of encouragement really does help. Like I said previously my husband is a star bless him to put up with me haha thanks again x

 

[AJLang]

Welcome to the forum. I've been diabetic since I was two. I'm now 49 and have had a great life. The accu-check blood testing machine helps you to calculate how much insulin is needed - not quite that straightforward but your son's diabetes nurse will be able to help. This is a great forum.

 

[trophywench]

The Accu-Chek 'Expert' meter is the one - plus I think the Insulinx meter can calculate too can't it? Are there others that do now too?

 

[HOBIE]

Thanks for sharing that, although I had to ask my husband what year that was haha. Aged 3 wow you must have seen some changes over the years

Good luck

 

[NI-Bookworm]

Hi
My son and husband are both T1. Like you, It was good (weird way to put it) having my son so used to seeing injections etc that it made it somewhat easier for him to have someone who understands what he is going through. Also, as a strange positive, my husband has started focusing more on his diabetes to ensure he is a good influence on my son and also to manage as well as he can to try and reduce future complications. The massive changes in diabetes management and tech since my husband was diagnosed 25 years ago is immense, and to be honest we were very in the dark with it all. When my son was diagnosed we were shocked that there was a focus on carbs as opposed to sugar! My husband was still very much old school message-unfortunately in adult care as long as HBA1C is steady there isn’t really any push on education etc, so the learning to come from the very forward thinking paediatric team has had a massive positive impact on our family.
One slight negative was that my husband has a guilt that it is his fault that my son was diagnosed, and I find it hard to discuss my worries about longer term complications etc with him as I am conscious that they are a reality for him too. Only when my son was diagnosed did I start to use forums like this and the support and source of amazing information has been invaluable.
In regards to blood testing, we tried loads of different meters before settling on one. We are now on the freestyle libre (which is amazing) which we self funded for 2years and now have got it on NHS. .
Our paediatric diabetes nurse came to the school meeting with us and led the meeting when my son was diagnosed and I can’t say how helpful this was. I hope you are able to have some support at the meeting too as if you were like me, I was so fragile and teary I would have Just blubbered my way through it.
I wish you and your son all the very best
X

 

[Claire Gibbs]

Oh my goodness I cried reading this, it's as if I wrote it myself, never thought I'd ever use a forum for something so private but it really has helped me read I'm not alone. A friend of ours has also mentioned the Libra so that's something we will definitely look into. People don't realise the severity of this life changing experience we are embarking on and it just kills me to see my baby boy go through this. The fact he is sailing through is making it easier although I'm just so afraid. I'll let you know how I get on, on Monday at school. Thanks for sharing this I really appreciate it x