New to type 1 diabetes

[Mon]

Hi everyone I'm a mum to a beautiful 9 year old been diagnosed with type 1 last Thursday. Stayed at the hospital for two nights and now trying to work out a routine of food and insulin. Some days are easier than others but then I have nights like tonight when I can't sleep and constantly watching over my child to make sure she's ok. If only I could check hypo by just watching over her. Wondering whether I was woken up because I should check her blood sugar or am I just worried. I've had bad experience first few nights coming back from the hospital when I couldn't get any blood out of her tiny fingers even after 4-5 tries and now I feel as if there's some resistance developed in me to check her blood sugar at night. Her BG has been between 9-13 during most days and tonight before bed was 6.8 which made me so happy.
I'm so thankful for this forum because reading other posts helped during my tough times. Any other people out there who struggled with having to check for hypos at night please help me....

 

[Owen]

Hello and welcome, I work nights and I am also a first responder, so if ever you need to shout at anyone or let of steam then feel free.

 

[Mon]

Thanks Owen for responding to my post. I joined the forum while I was at hospital but didn't have the courage to post here. But after reading a few posts I found it to be a support network and I need all the support right now. Im more of a suffer in silence kind of person but this situation requires me to ask for help and I decided to post here. Taking each day as it comes. Children are so resilient and deal with things perhaps better than adults and I'm trying to make this as normal as possible but I know it'll take time. I have good days when I'm rested and take good care of my daughter but I woke up an hour ago and sleep seems to have abandoned me. Dealing with lots of anger which I'm projecting onto others but hopefully not so much that I don't isolate myself as it won't be healthy for me or my daughter. Funny how life is....you never know what's around the corner. It'll take time to work through this trauma!

 

[bilbie]

I think it's pretty normal to be worried sick. The kids adapt a lot better than parents.
There is nothing wrong with checking BG when you get up for a wee, till you are confident the basal dose is set right. Odds are the child won't even wake up after a week of doing it.

I don't know how much reading they gave you but these may help

There is an online course for background and an idea to it. Free to register
http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/

This set of workbooks is worth reading. Don't change without nurse approval.
https://www.scribd.com/document/321434824/9225-Carbohydrate-Counting

the next step
https://www.scribd.com/document/321435068/9226-Carbohydrate-Counting-the-Next-Steps

 

[Owen]

Just

Thanks Owen for responding to my post. I joined the forum while I was at hospital but didn't have the courage to post here. But after reading a few posts I found it to be a support network and I need all the support right now. Im more of a suffer in silence kind of person but this situation requires me to ask for help and I decided to post here. Taking each day as it comes. Children are so resilient and deal with things perhaps better than adults and I'm trying to make this as normal as possible but I know it'll take time. I have good days when I'm rested and take good care of my daughter but I woke up an hour ago and sleep seems to have abandoned me. Dealing with lots of anger which I'm projecting onto others but hopefully not so much that I don't isolate myself as it won't be healthy for me or my daughter. Funny how life is....you never know what's around the corner. It'll take time to work through this trauma!

A quick tip, warm fingers are easier to test. Also recommend using fastclix lancet. Much kinder than the one I now have.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome!

 

[Annette]

Another tip re blood tests-if you have the funds-look into the Freestyle Libre system of 'blood glucose' testing - works by just 'flashing' a reader over a sensor on the upper arm. Quite alot of us use it, most have good feedback - but not all - be aware that there are a few people on here who have real problems with it before you fork out for it. Do a search on libre to see our views, and google it to see the company's view.

 

[Mon]

Thanks everyone for responding so kindly with useful information. I knew I'd pay for a sleepless night and today was difficult. Even more difficult was arguing with my ex which didn't help our daughter. It left me totally exhausted as he's still in denial and wants me to try all herbal medicines to kick-start her pancreas. But so far I've only understood that there is no magic remedy found for type 1 and like it or not, we'll have to accept the situation and deal with it by taking insulin. I feel isolated and don't want to talk to anyone, the anger and sadness is all too consuming today!!

 

[Martin Canty]

Hi Mon, you are not isolated, you have a community here who will always encourage, support & advise you....

herbal medicines to kick-start her pancreas

I'm glad you don't want to go there, accept the fact that she is diabetic & give her the best care that you can. Best of luck.

 

[Owen]

I will get in trouble for this, DO NOT MESS with diabetes in children. Stand your ground. Historically before insulin therapy, it was treated by diets until death which could be quite quick. My sister died from a heart attack and poorly managed T1. She was diagnosed at 9 and never managed her diabetes until it was too late.

Please remember. 111 , don't be afraid to call, they are there so the time for advice or if need be escalation.

 

[Mon]

Thankyou Martin I feel a bombshell has hit my world and it's come to halt while everyone else's life carries on. I'm feeling resentful of my close family members carrying on as if nothing has happened and call me to tell me about their daily events and then finally ask how my daughter or I are feeling! I'm feeling a lot of anger at unsupportive family and sadness due to the feeling of being alone amongst them. Perhaps I'm also creating my own loneliness that's why I feel that may be this community will understand the roller coaster of emotions I'm feeling right now and help me understand it better

 

[Martin Canty]

I feel that may be this community will understand the roller coaster of emotions I'm feeling right now and help me understand it better

I can assure you that we will be supportive..... I'm not a parent but can still emphasize, there are many parents in this group who will be able to share their experience & support you with more practical advice from the point of view of a parent.

 

[Mon]

Thanks Owen that's what I'm trying to do is stand my ground because my gut instinct isn't allowing for herbal medication to be used. She's only been diagnosed last Thursday. It's such early days to see how she's responding to insulin which I'm trying to focus on. It's not a common cold that'll go away with plenty of rest and ginger tea. It's entirely different and never in a million years did I expect to hear such news but it's so time and energy consuming trying to explain it to someone who doesn't want to accept reality and maybe that's his way of dealing with the shock

 

[Mon]

I can assure you that we will be supportive.

Thankyou Martin

 

[Owen]

Don't resent your family, everyone had their own way of dealing with life. Diabetes is not terminal, the important thing, is good control. Expect the unexpected and remember, if you do not look after yourself then you cannot look after your child. Give DUK helpline a call, I have several times. Sometimes it is good to just talk with people that know your situation.

 

[Owen]

Thanks Owen that's what I'm trying to do is stand my ground because my gut instinct isn't allowing for herbal medication to be used. She's only been diagnosed last Thursday. It's such early days to see how she's responding to insulin which I'm trying to focus on. It's not a common cold that'll go away with plenty of rest and ginger tea. It's entirely different and never in a million years did I expect to hear such news but it's so time and energy consuming trying to explain it to someone who doesn't want to accept reality and maybe that's his way of dealing with the shock

Don't forget that you may have a honeymoon period kick in soon which will give some temporary relief from insulin therapy. But don't be fooled thinking it is cured, this is quite normal and will only be temporary.

 

[bilbie]

I would ask the nurse of there is a T1 education course you and your x can go to separately. He is going to need to get terms with it and understand how to manage it, when in his care.

 

[Marsbartoastie]

Hi there and welcome to the forum. I have no experience of T1...so there are lots of people better suited to giving you support and advice re managing the condition. I can, however, give you the germ of an idea about how you might manage your wider social circle.

My friend was working off the beaten track in Africa when she had her first child. Her neighbours and family were tremendously supportive, but she had concerns about several things that she decided to address. She therefore got them together for a little 'party' during which she gave a short talk about how she'd like things done...and why. It quickly became apparent that they saw things from very different perspectives. They didn't believe that there could be anything living in apparently clear water, for example, until they were shown it under a microscope.

I understand that it's 'early days' and that you need to focus on learning how to best manage your little one's condition. However, when you've come back down to earth, perhaps you'll feel able to teach your friends and family a bit more about diabetes. You write very lucidly...so perhaps an initial email wouldn't be a bad idea.

I hope this is helpful.