One of the key issues to overcoming the initial shock of knowing your child has been diagnosed with a lifelong condition is to
gain as much knowledge as possible. For managing diabetes .. knowledge is power.
As you gain more knowledge then your initial fears will subside, you will gain in confidence and ultimately you will realise that this condition can be controlled so that your child can indeed live a long and healthy life and it should not stop them doing anything they wanted to do.
That has been my attitude, and although I've been T1 for 43 years, diagnosed in the late 1960s when the medication and technology was very basic compared to today, I've never let my condition restrict what I wanted to do in anything .... relationships, family life, career, travel and leisure pursuits. I took my diabetes seriously, I controlled by diabetes and didn't let it control me! So after more than four decades I have none of the complications that can occur from poorly controlled blood glucose over an extended period. Gaining knowledge, and then using it to maintain good blood glucose levels, was key to my strategy.
So where to start to gain this knowledge?
Documents available on the internet:-
Note: if your child is still young then the concept of carb counting and associated insulin adjustment may not yet be appropriate, but eventually this will be needed, since all adult T1 diabetics should be using carb counting in order to get good blood glucose control.
Note: Ensure that you consult your DSN before making any changes to the current insulin and diet regime. They are medically trained to answer your queries and should always be consulted on such issues, particularly in the early days during the steep learning curve.
I hope you find these references useful, and I wish you and your child every success on your long journey ...
Knowledge is power for diabetics and so I strongly recommend that you read carefully the following documents and books …
Key points to good control: - Get used to detailed carbohydrate counting and insulin adjustment.
Documents available on the internet:-
A. An introduction to carbohydrate counting and insulin dose adjustment
https://shop.diabetes.org.uk/store/literature/information-books/carbs-count-e-book.aspx
An excellent introductory document from Diabetes UK that covers all aspects of diabetes, and the method of carb counting, insulin adjustment and insulin-carb ratios is covered in Chapter 2 (Carbohydrates) and Chapter 3 (Insulin). Even if you are not doing carb counting, you should definitely read this!
B. Adjusting your Insulin when results are too high or too low:
A detailed guide, with plenty of examples, to assist you in making required insulin adjustments. Download it and print it out so it is readily at hand after blood sugars have been made & recorded.
http://www.diabetes-scotland.org/ggc/documents/pdf files/Insulin Dose Change.pdf
C. Children with Diabetes in the UK (online support group)
http://www.childrenwithdiabetesuk.org/
Books you should consider purchasing:-
1. Carbs & Cals: A Visual Guide to Carbohydrate & Calorie Counting for People with Diabetes (Chris Cheyette)
Buy this excellently illustrated book that provides clear pictures, portion sizes & weights plus carbohydrate values of nearly every food you might need.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0956443052/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01
2. Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults (Ragnar Hanas)
A comprehensive book with great detail in all aspects of managing diabetes with emphasis on children. This is easily the best book I have ever read about managing Type 1 diabetes, so if you only buy one book …. this is the one.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Type-1-Diab...8&qid=1365159336&sr=1-1&keywords=Ragnar+Hanas
Best of luck ...
Jonty
