New Member

[swoodym]

Hi
My son was diagnosed in Nov 11 with type 1, he is 13 and has not accepted having to do his injections very well at all. He refuses to do his injections even though he knows what will happen if he doesn't take his insulin. It was diagnosed when he became ill and was hours from going into a diabetic coma, but still he refuses to do his injections. I'm at a loss of how to deal with getting him to take his insulin without turning each conversion into a battle. :
Any advise would be good.

 

[Northerner]

Hi swoodym, welcome to the forum. Very sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis and his subsequent difficulties with accepting it. It is, unfortunately, quite common fr this to happen especially at his age. I can't offer any personal advice as I am not a parent and was diagnosed aged 49, but we do have lots of parents here and people who have grown up with diabetes who will hopefully be able to help.

What insulin regime is he on? Does he test, even if he is reluctant to inject? There are a few additional resources that may be of help: You might be interested in getting a support and information pack for people with a recent diagnosis of type 1 diabetes from JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), and I would also recommend joining the Children with Diabetes organisation, who have hundreds of parents who can offer advice via an email list (many of them are also members here). If you can, get hold of a copy of
Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents by Ragnar Hanas - an excellent, well-written book covering all aspects of Type 1.

Does he have a fear of needles, or is he in denial of his diabetes? Are you in regular contact with his DSN and diabetes care team?

 

[Robster65]

Hi swoodym. Welcome 🙂

I can't really add anything to what Northerner has said. Hopefully the DSN at your local clinic/hospital will be able to offer support.

I was diagnosed at 13 but was very compliant so I can't really offer any suggestions.

There is a lot of anger and resentment that comes with a diagnosis. It's a grieving process and the emotions need to come out somehow. If you could get him to speak to a specialist psychologist (who may be attached to the clinic), it may help him to come to terms with everything.

Rob

 

[AlisonF]

Hi Swoodym

I was diagnosed aged 4 so didn't have to deal with the nightmare of diagnosis and adolesence at the same time, but have been through the whole accepting diabetes as a child thing. The thing that helped me most was to meet other kids with diabetes. It helped me realise I wasn't alone, and it really gives you a kick up the bum when you realise an 11 year is doing their injections and you're not!

Diabetes UK run brilliant weekends for families with diabetes, and also week long holidays for kids with diabetes. My advice would be to go on one. Detail on the events is here http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Care-events/

And my views on why I'm such a fan of them are here: http://www.shootuporputup.co.uk/2012/02/diabetes-uk-camps-and-family-events/

 

[delb t]

our son was dx in dec 2011 at 15- he was not admitted which perhaps was easier- as if any of it is!- the nurses came to our home and sat with him whilst he injected-I seem to recall at different mealtimes over the next couple of days- and then we did the lantus for him- wasnt great as I'm needle phobic! soon had to get over that!. I can only suggest that you speak to your team and perhaps suggest a home visit at a mealtime-they do have devices for needle phobics- I think they are jet injectors dont know much about them though- we also bit the bullet and made ourselves eat out in public quite early on- armed with various lists -subway kfc pizza express- so that in the future he could eat out with mates etc- none of it was easy but I think we made ourselves do it- and now he will pretty much discretley inject most places - even on plane back from hols -The teams im sure will want him to be independant and so I would contact them asap for advice -how does he manage at school mealtimes?