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Boabster67

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Hi, our 14 year old was diagnosed last week with type1. We were blown away as no type of diabetes history us in the family. We feel gutted for him and the changes he has to make now. We don't feel we will ever get out the bit and will constantly be living in this bombshell for ever. He seems to be taking things in his stride. Not wanting pity or fuss.
We have positive days and then the what if days !

Please give us some reassurance that he can live a happy normal life..

Thank you
 
Welcome to the forum Boabster. There's nothing your boy can't do now that he couldn't do before, he'll just need to plan some things in advance that he wouldn't have done in the past. There's a good few parents on here who can give you their view on things, but he might want to take a look at JDRF (Junior Diabetes Research Foundation). There's a wealth of information there for him and for you.
 
Hi Boabster67, welcome to the forum 🙂 Very sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis. I can reassure you that it does not need to stop him from living a full and active life, enjoying whatever it is he wishes to do. There are people at the top of their profession who are living with Type 1, including a large number of top athletes. Many of the members here were diagnosed as children and have lived with it for decades. The main thing they have noticed is that more is known and treatments are a world away from what they used to be, offering much better odds for maintaining good control and avoiding risks.

I would highly recommend getting a copy of Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas, by far and away the best book covering Type 1.

What insulin regime is he on? Please feel free to ask any and every question you may have. There is a lot to take in at first, and things won't also go te way things are planned. Have a read of Adrienne's post in the parents section, a guide to what you can expect in these early weeks and months, and be assured that what you are feeling is perfectly natural.
 
Welcome to the forum Boabster67, your son will be able to cope admirably from what you say, yes he will have to make changes to manage is diabetes but it shouldn't stop him from doing anything he wants with as Alison says a bit more planning then usual. You will get lots of advice on here from other parents....Tintin
 
Hiya and welcome your son to the Club no-one wanted to join!

You will get your heads round it, if for no other reason, because you have to! Do read that book - but don't ever feel though that at some point you will know everything - I have been T1 for 42 years and I still reckon I learn something almost every day. You can save time though with the book LOL - there were only medical textbooks in my day.

Oh and by the way I have no diabetic complications - yet ! At this stage of my life I'm far from complacent about it - still think one day I may wake up and find they have all arrived at once. So really, it's still up to me whether they do or not so I'd better do my best to stave off that day.

No doctor or nurse can treat diabetes for a person - only provide the tools and some of the info for the person to use to their best ability and advantage for themselves.

That's why forums like this are so very useful - you can ask any question you want and time you want to.

No question is regarded as silly - only the one you forgot to ask !
 
Hi and welcome to the forum 🙂

Sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis, and I can well understand how it's turned your lives upside down. There's a grieving process you need to go through, but let me reassure you that the future is bright, and your son will still be able to lead a full and happy life. 🙂. My son was diagnosed aged 4, and is now 13.5, so a similar age to your son. He mostly sees his diabetes as just a tiny part of who he is. It takes a fair bit of planning ahead sometimes (hard to be spontaneous with type 1), but for example he has just passed his black belt in taekwondo, and last night he performed a guitar solo in front of 400 people at a school concert, despite nerves/adrenalin causing his BG level to soar into orbit. The key thing is to make the diabetes fit into his life, never make your life fit around diabetes!

Do get the Ragnar Hanas book - this is full of useful information, and written in an upbeat can-do style. Also, although your son is 14 and will be doing much of his diabetes care himself, I'd advise you as parents to get as educated as you can, so that you can help him when he needs help, because although teenagers want to be independent, they also need more support than they think! 😉
 
Hi and welcome to the forum Boabster 🙂🙂
 
Hello and welcome Boabster67 🙂

There are great ways to manage diabetes these days and technology is moving rapidly on all the while. It is one steep learning curve initially but gradually diabetes and all its many facets start to become things you just do to keep enjoying a normal, happy life.
 
Flower said:
Hello and welcome Boabster67 🙂

There are great ways to manage diabetes these days and technology is moving rapidly on all the while. It is one steep learning curve initially but gradually diabetes and all its many facets start to become things you just do to keep enjoying a normal, happy life.
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Thank you all so very much. Your replies are all great and very positive and we now appreciate we are not alone and you all have been there. Like all of you we just want him to grow up with his big brother and sister, hopefully get married have kids etc, maybe I am thinking too far ahead.
Even worrying about going on holiday abroad. I really just want him to be normal.
My hope is that provably like you all. Your hope was this was a bad dream and you wake up.
Anyway thank you all. I will look into the book.
He is doing well. Although doing the injections himself just now is a struggle and we are doing it. But he will start during the now summer holidays.

Let's pray for a medical breakthrough, thank you !!
 
Hi Boabster

Like everyone has said, you will get used to this and so will your son. It just takes a bit of time to start learning what you need to know. You say you want your son to be normal, well he is! He just has something extra to manage and get used to. I was diagnosed when I was four so don't remember much before that but then my younger brother was diagnosed at 16' just before taking exams. He took the whole thing in his stride, got top grades and said nothing was going to stop him doing what he wanted to. Give yourself and your son time to adjust and I think you'll see it will be alright.
Holidays abroad - just a bit more stuff to take (always in hand luggage) and go and have a great time. Not many years after diagnosis my brother took himself off to Qatar to work for several months with no problems. Your son will be fine.🙂
 
Holidays abroad - Rules LOL

1. Always take twice as much of everything as you think you'll need. OK so you'll bring tons back with you, but that beats the alternative and insulin just isn't available anywhere as far as I know, without a prescription.

2. a) take a list of medications - do you get a tear off strip on scrips, which show all your listed 'repeats'? - if so, that will do fine, otherwise a letter from GP on their notepaper.
b) also take a letter from GP (or hospital) saying that you will e carrying sharps. Cos when you get to check-in they will ask you if you are carrying anything sharp. You will say Yes, and then they ignore it in my experience. If not, produce letter. Mine is 16 years old this year LOL

3. Invest in a Frio or two in case you don't have access to a fridge - big one for supplies and small one to carry with you for short acting pen. Need to be rehydrated every day or two, leave the one in your accommodation in the coolest darkest place - I have found right at the back of the wardrobe is usually that place on most holidays. http://www.friouk.com/ The are re-usable, my first ones lasted 20 years ! On the second now.

4. When it's hot, insulin is absorbed MUCH more quickly than normal, especially if you are doing stuff like swimming and other activity - including dancing, but of course that might be doubtful given his age! Therefore you need to test test test, and also have hypo remedy immediately to hand at all times. 100ml of full sugar Coke = 10g of Carb. Available everywhere!

5. Enjoy yourselves and don't panic !
 
Hi Boabster and welcome- our son was dx at 15 now almost 18- it is hard at first but will get easier- honest.Agree more planning needed but youve found a great forum and someone will always help-Weve holidayed abroad/also ski hols- many times and not encounterd any problems [ I am ultra organised though !]-H ran his first half manathon last october and have to say hes not done anything he didnt do before.One thing we always did was eat out and get used to carb meal guessing and injecting in public- which I think was a good idea-welcome again
 
Trophywench the way you put that is lovely. Wow no D complications that is wonderful. Your support and others on here is invaluable 🙂
 
Thank you again, all your experienced responses are very encouraging, a Thank You.
I will look into the book and the frio. I am so happy I joined.
You have all been through what we are going through and you will know you just think it's you!

Thank you all
 
Boabster67 said:
Hi, our 14 year old was diagnosed last week with type1. We were blown away as no type of diabetes history us in the family. We feel gutted for him and the changes he has to make now. We don't feel we will ever get out the bit and will constantly be living in this bombshell for ever. He seems to be taking things in his stride. Not wanting pity or fuss.
We have positive days and then the what if days !

Please give us some reassurance that he can live a happy normal life..

Thank you
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Hi folks,
He will cope with it better than u. you are fearfull for him. he will grow with it and learn to adapt. Be as normal as u can and please do not stop him from doing anything he wants to, even if it means u have to pick up the bits afterwards.
 
Hee hee Laura, if my mother was my mother now, and I was her daughter, I'd report her to the NSPCC for mental cruelty.

We were NEVER allowed to make a fuss about anything healthwise - my mother was NOT to be 'shown up' so you put a brave face on stuff otherwise you'd just get a smack. I don't mean she beat us or anything, it was just a case of it it has to be borne, just get on with it. If you make a fuss, it will still have to be borne so why prolong the agony? so to speak. If it was bad and you didn't make a fuss there was also a good chance you'd get a sweetie, so it could be worth your while.

So I tend to just get on with whatever life decides to chuck at me.

And then find the funny side after the event, so when I tell people it sounds like fun !!

Of course when I was first diagnosed I used to have downers, but they stuck you in hospital then and I was lucky enough to get the end bed as I didn't need nursing LOL and there was a 'late middle aged' (she was 58) lady called Brenda in the next bed, recovering from a heart attack. She was as sarky as me and we had the same sense of humour, which was also shared by the ward sister - about 30 and really the whole thing could have been a lot worse. She wangled it so we were both discharged the same day, as she know we'd both miss each other if we were left there on our own! So the attacks of the 'Why me's' didn't happen until about a fortnight in. And then I noticed they waned, the longer I'd been diagnosed the longer between them I went until they stopped.

But you see, my mate Brenda was already telling me when she'd been in Intensive Care just after her heart attack, they were marvellous and absolutely did everything, just everything for you. Each night the nursing staff would have changed and when they came to settle her down for the night, if she was drowsy they even used to try and take her false teeth out for her, less them. However as she still had all her own teeth, and you can't tell people that when their hand is in your mouth .......

See what I mean?
 
Boabster67 said:
Hi, our 14 year old was diagnosed last week with type1. We were blown away as no type of diabetes history us in the family. We feel gutted for him and the changes he has to make now. We don't feel we will ever get out the bit and will constantly be living in this bombshell for ever. He seems to be taking things in his stride. Not wanting pity or fuss.
We have positive days and then the what if days !

Please give us some reassurance that he can live a happy normal life..

Thank you
Click to expand...

Hi Boabster and welcome to the forum.
It sounds to me as if things are normal ie the why me why my son and the guilt feeling. :(
Please don't feel guilty, you or your wife did not give diabetes to your son 🙂
Your son can live a perfectly normal life with diabetes, like everyone including non diabetics he will have his ups and downs but that is life in general.
There are many people who have lived normal lives with diabetes and life expectancy is about the same as non diabetics now a days.
I've had type 1 for 49 years with no complications and live life to the full doing as I please :D
 
welcome to the forum, this is great source of support.

Your son will be able to continue to do what ever he wants to. Take it from me. I have managed after being diagnosed pretty late in my 20s. I still hold down a career in the Army although it coming to an end now, It's time for a new challenge for me.

Ask away any questions or concerns you may have and these guys here will be right there with you.
 
I do see what you mean Trophywench and i love your story its really heartfelt, funny and understanding. Go Brenda what a woman. I have a best friend Rebecca and we laugh in the face of adversity however I've had some denial days, bad days but i try to stay strong and deal with what life chucks at me. My nan who is 93 got hit by a drunk driver aged 50 and was in traction in hospital for 18 months has no knee cap broke many bones and she fought to get out of there and she did i try and think im strong like her sometimes 🙂
 
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