Hi everyone! My 2 year old was diagnosed type 1 on the 10th of June. We spent a week in hospital due to DKA and we’re now home. He seems to be coping so well and is adjusting very quickly but I can’t help feeling so bad and guilty! We’re very fortunate to have the Dexcom and he should be getting a pump within the next few months! Today has been a bit of a struggle with many hypos, could this be to do with the heat?
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Newly diagnosed 2 year old.
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Bruce Stephens
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rebrascora
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Hi and welcome.
So sorry to hear of your son's diagnosis, but great that he is coping so well to the changes. Being so young he will have no memory of things being different for him so it is sometimes easier to just accept that this is normal for him. Unfortunately guilt seems to be an emotion which is strongly associated with diabetes. I know I struggled with it when I was diagnosed last year for very different reasons as I felt I had brought this on myself through bad diet whereas having to stick needles in your child multiple times a day must be really challenging. It will get easier as you become used to it and get into a routine.
It is fantastic that you have the Dexcom and a pump will no doubt improve his management dramatically, so things will get easier in lots of ways but yes the hot weather can have a significant impact on lowering BG levels. You need to talk to your DSN about possibly reducing his basal insulin to accommodate it since you are having to deal with multiple hypos in a day.
So sorry to hear of your son's diagnosis, but great that he is coping so well to the changes. Being so young he will have no memory of things being different for him so it is sometimes easier to just accept that this is normal for him. Unfortunately guilt seems to be an emotion which is strongly associated with diabetes. I know I struggled with it when I was diagnosed last year for very different reasons as I felt I had brought this on myself through bad diet whereas having to stick needles in your child multiple times a day must be really challenging. It will get easier as you become used to it and get into a routine.
It is fantastic that you have the Dexcom and a pump will no doubt improve his management dramatically, so things will get easier in lots of ways but yes the hot weather can have a significant impact on lowering BG levels. You need to talk to your DSN about possibly reducing his basal insulin to accommodate it since you are having to deal with multiple hypos in a day.
Toucan
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Hello @JP2
This is certainly a difficult time for you, but it is really good that you have joined the forum. I am sure that you will find a lot of help and support here.
There are several other parent members and I will tag in 2 of them, @LucyDUK and @Thebearcametoo whom I'm sure will be able to help you, when they are next along.
This is certainly a difficult time for you, but it is really good that you have joined the forum. I am sure that you will find a lot of help and support here.
There are several other parent members and I will tag in 2 of them, @LucyDUK and @Thebearcametoo whom I'm sure will be able to help you, when they are next along.
Thebearcametoo
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Hi and welcome. The heat can play havoc with insulin needs and whether that’s up or down depends on the person. But even without the heat there are just some days that have more hypos. Keep in close contact with your DSN about ratios and use your gut if you feel he needs 10g carbs insulin free. The dexcom will help you see if he’s crashing.
The first few months of having a kid with diabetes are hard. As you get into your stride more you get more confident with making changes and knowing how your child reacts and which hypos are ones to worry about and which are just run of the mill. We’re here for you though it all.
The first few months of having a kid with diabetes are hard. As you get into your stride more you get more confident with making changes and knowing how your child reacts and which hypos are ones to worry about and which are just run of the mill. We’re here for you though it all.
trophywench
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Hi @JP2 - this great grandma (and I am great, obv) is here to tell you to stop feeling guilty this very instant or you'll get a clip round the ear!
To paraphrase Wurzel Gummidge, you need your Thinking Head, your Caring Head and your Coping Head on at the moment, far more than you EVER need your Negative Thoughts Head!
If you have a Reading Head you could do an awful lot worse than invest in a copy of a book
Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents & Young Adults - 7th Edition by Ragnar Hanas & others.
Oh - and has littl'un received a Rufus Bear?
To paraphrase Wurzel Gummidge, you need your Thinking Head, your Caring Head and your Coping Head on at the moment, far more than you EVER need your Negative Thoughts Head!
If you have a Reading Head you could do an awful lot worse than invest in a copy of a book
Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents & Young Adults - 7th Edition by Ragnar Hanas & others.
Oh - and has littl'un received a Rufus Bear?
Pumper_Sue
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Hello and welcome @JP2 , sorry to hear about your little chaps diagnoses. You are quite right about the heat causing havoc with numbers also another factor would be what is known as the honeymoon period. This means little lads pancreas is squirting out insulin in dribs and dabs at will, basically throwing a spanner in the works 
Flower
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Hello and welcome @JP2
Sorry to hear about your young son’s diagnosis but good to hear he’s coping ok and has a dexcom (and a pump in the near future) to help . My levels keep crashing in the heat I need a lot less insulin. With a pump I can set a temporary basal rate or suspend insulin delivery completely if I’m hypo or heading to a hypo.
The Rufus bear Jenny mentions can be ordered from JDRF here
jdrf.org.uk
Sorry to hear about your young son’s diagnosis but good to hear he’s coping ok and has a dexcom (and a pump in the near future) to help . My levels keep crashing in the heat I need a lot less insulin. With a pump I can set a temporary basal rate or suspend insulin delivery completely if I’m hypo or heading to a hypo.
The Rufus bear Jenny mentions can be ordered from JDRF here
Knowledge & support | Breakthrough T1D UK
Explore a wealth of topics to understand what type 1 diabetes is, how to cope with a new diagnosis, what treatments and technologies are available, and much more.
jdrf.org.uk
SB2015
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Welcome to the forum @JP2 and I am sorry to hear about your son’s diagnosis.
It is great to hear that you have already been given a dexcom, which will help you to keep a check on his levels without the finger pricks, although I do check with a finger prick if I am going hypo. A pump will certainly make things easier for you to deliver smaller doses and make smaller changes to his background insulin.
Heat does play havoc and it is different for each of us, and not always consistent. All we do is monitor regularly.
The book the @trophywench recommended, by Ragnar Hanas, is very good. It is clearly explained and a good reference book to back up the support that you will get by keeping in touch with your Paeds Diabetes Specialist Nurse.
With the diagnosis at a very young age, your son will find the pump and sensors just par of the new normal life that you will all settle into, and not remember life before that. This is a manageable condition it just involves a lot of learning at the start and some planning and organisation along the way.
Keep in touch and ask any questions that you have.
It is great to hear that you have already been given a dexcom, which will help you to keep a check on his levels without the finger pricks, although I do check with a finger prick if I am going hypo. A pump will certainly make things easier for you to deliver smaller doses and make smaller changes to his background insulin.
Heat does play havoc and it is different for each of us, and not always consistent. All we do is monitor regularly.
The book the @trophywench recommended, by Ragnar Hanas, is very good. It is clearly explained and a good reference book to back up the support that you will get by keeping in touch with your Paeds Diabetes Specialist Nurse.
With the diagnosis at a very young age, your son will find the pump and sensors just par of the new normal life that you will all settle into, and not remember life before that. This is a manageable condition it just involves a lot of learning at the start and some planning and organisation along the way.
Keep in touch and ask any questions that you have.
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Sorry to hear about your son’s diagnosis @JP2, but glad you have found the forum.
Having other parents, who are facing the same juggling acts and battling this sometimes nonsensical, fickle and frustrating condition like @LucyDUK @Thebearcametoo @Sally71 @Bronco Billy (and many others) alongside you to compare notes, and share the frustrations and victories will be a huge help.
As with most things ‘parenting’ you will fond your own unique way through the maze, and what works for others won’t necessarily work in the same way for your son... but at the same time, the ‘hive mind’ and “What do people do when x is planned/going to happen” is very helpful.
And ranting and raging is welcome too 🙂
Having other parents, who are facing the same juggling acts and battling this sometimes nonsensical, fickle and frustrating condition like @LucyDUK @Thebearcametoo @Sally71 @Bronco Billy (and many others) alongside you to compare notes, and share the frustrations and victories will be a huge help.
As with most things ‘parenting’ you will fond your own unique way through the maze, and what works for others won’t necessarily work in the same way for your son... but at the same time, the ‘hive mind’ and “What do people do when x is planned/going to happen” is very helpful.
And ranting and raging is welcome too 🙂
Sally71
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Lol the best bit about this forum is that you can come on and rant and people understand and will sympathise, whereas your real life friends usually haven’t got a clue what you are going on about!
Most likely the heat is dropping your son's BG down, it definitely had that effect on my daughter!
Most likely the heat is dropping your son's BG down, it definitely had that effect on my daughter!
Bronco Billy
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Hi @JP2, welcome to the forum.
I’m sorry to hear about your son’s diagnosis. If you’re looking for positives, being diagnosed so young means he will probably adapt more easily as he knows no other lifestyle. It’s easy to feel guilty, but honestly, you have done nothing wrong! There is absolutely nothing anyone could have done to prevent the diagnosis.
Like him, my daughter was in DKA when she was diagnosed, and she too was in hospital for about a week. She made a great recovery and has not let type 1 hold her back. You may well be right about the heat causing the hypos. My son, who is also type 1, has had more hypos this week than he normally has. That said, your son is possibly still in the honeymoon phase, so it could be a multitude of things.
Life will seem really difficult now, but I promise you will get used to it sooner than you realise. Even if you’re not aware of it, you will be more experienced with each day that passes, and be better at caring for your son as a result.
Feel free to ask any questions you need to, there’s no such thing as a stupid question
Take care
I’m sorry to hear about your son’s diagnosis. If you’re looking for positives, being diagnosed so young means he will probably adapt more easily as he knows no other lifestyle. It’s easy to feel guilty, but honestly, you have done nothing wrong! There is absolutely nothing anyone could have done to prevent the diagnosis.
Like him, my daughter was in DKA when she was diagnosed, and she too was in hospital for about a week. She made a great recovery and has not let type 1 hold her back. You may well be right about the heat causing the hypos. My son, who is also type 1, has had more hypos this week than he normally has. That said, your son is possibly still in the honeymoon phase, so it could be a multitude of things.
Life will seem really difficult now, but I promise you will get used to it sooner than you realise. Even if you’re not aware of it, you will be more experienced with each day that passes, and be better at caring for your son as a result.
Feel free to ask any questions you need to, there’s no such thing as a stupid question
Take care
D
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Hi @JP2 welcome to the forum, sorry you've had to find us.
My (not so little anymore) boy was diagnosed at the same age in similar circumstances, it is heartbreaking isn't it and so normal to feel guilty and wonder why. But there was no way to predict this before it happens and it certainly isn't anyone's fault.
Your son will be alright. He will more than likely have no recollection of his diagnosis when older or remember life without diabetes which I always found a really sad prospect but actually perhaps is a good thing as it means all the extra things that now need to be considered and done, just form part of normal everyday life.
We do find that heat reduces my sons levels, many summers were spent on as little as 35% basal insulin. the warm weather is also a time of more physical activity for many, so that'll lower bgls too. Like others have also pointed out you could also have the Honeymoon phase to deal with.
To help with the hypos you could try raising the point at which the Dexcom alarms for low readings to perhaps 6 or 7 and then check if things are stable at that level or dropping fast, in which case you could offer a small snack or some milk to stop them falling too much further.
I am also tagging @Asherly as she has a son of a similar age also recently diagnosed and using Dexcom and it may be helpful to compare notes.
Best wishes to you and do come back as often as you need with questions or if you just want to let off a little steam, it is a tiring and emotional time but it will get better.
My (not so little anymore) boy was diagnosed at the same age in similar circumstances, it is heartbreaking isn't it and so normal to feel guilty and wonder why. But there was no way to predict this before it happens and it certainly isn't anyone's fault.
Your son will be alright. He will more than likely have no recollection of his diagnosis when older or remember life without diabetes which I always found a really sad prospect but actually perhaps is a good thing as it means all the extra things that now need to be considered and done, just form part of normal everyday life.
We do find that heat reduces my sons levels, many summers were spent on as little as 35% basal insulin. the warm weather is also a time of more physical activity for many, so that'll lower bgls too. Like others have also pointed out you could also have the Honeymoon phase to deal with.
To help with the hypos you could try raising the point at which the Dexcom alarms for low readings to perhaps 6 or 7 and then check if things are stable at that level or dropping fast, in which case you could offer a small snack or some milk to stop them falling too much further.
I am also tagging @Asherly as she has a son of a similar age also recently diagnosed and using Dexcom and it may be helpful to compare notes.
Best wishes to you and do come back as often as you need with questions or if you just want to let off a little steam, it is a tiring and emotional time but it will get better.
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