Parent of newly diagnosed teen

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jenny Bear

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello everyone,
I am the mother of a 13 yr old girl diagnosed with Type 1 just under a month ago. To be honest, it has hit us all for six. the best coper appears to be my daughter! I feel as if I can't let her out of my sight and my other children are feeling left out.
I would really appreciate any advice/stories people have to offer. I have managed to be off work with annual leave for the last 4 weeks and am going back to work tomorrow and I'm apprehensive about leaving her.
It doesn't help that I have shared care with my ex-husband so she is going to his for the next week and I feel like I'm letting her down somehow.
I know that a lot of these feelings are natural but it doesn't really help to know that!
She is on x 3 Novorapid daily and daily Lantus and she has had a few hypos while we get her levels stabalised. her levels are definitely improving and she is frequently within range.
Many thanks!
Jenny Bear
 
Hi Jenny,

Really sorry you're all going through this... the good news is you've found this forum! 🙂 It's a really friendly place, the other parents / diabetics on here are great at offering suggestions, advice & moral support, so I'm confident it will be a real help to you. I know it probably feels very overwhelming at the moment, but it will get easier to cope with (honestly!).

All the best, and welcome to the forum!

Twitchy x
 
Hi Jenny Bear, welcome to the forum 🙂 Goodness, there is so much to take in to start with isn't there? But it sounds as though you are coping well, and that she is too. We have lots of fantastic, experienced parents here who will be happy to answer your questions, I am sure. Have alook at the 'sticky' at the top of the Newbies section for some recommendations and links - the Ragnar Hanas book is particularly good and an essential reference if you are not already aware of it.

Hope to hear more from you soon - try not to worry!
 
hi jennybear ..i cant really comment to much because im not in you situation ...if possible try and go with the flow with her ..and be there when info is needed...great you have joined the forum as we are there to support You as a carer/parent ..im sure some will be on later to offer more direct response .. we have a few parents of teenagers here as as those who have been there ..done that who give you a response from a teenagers pont of view x🙂
 
Hi there!

I know for a fact that when i was diagnosed, even though i was 28, my mum had a lot of guilty feelings and didnt know how to cope with it etc etc. She is still learning now...7 years later. There are always new things to learn about the condition but you will get there and feel better about the whole situation in time i'm sure. Its a hard slog for the diabetic and the family, but the nurses and consultants are very good and will answer any questions you may have i'm sure. You will also gets loads of helpful advice on here! Take care xx
 
Hi Jenny,

Firstly I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's diagnosis but believe me, things have come along way since I was diagnosed fourteen years ago when I was five years old. One of the best things that I didn't have when I was diagnosed was something like this. This place is fantastic and not just for diabetes.

Hope we can be of help,

Tom
 
Hi Jenny
my son was diagnosed at 14, that was 7 years ago, and I know how hard it is. I felt like I didnt want to let him out of my sight too. Things will get easier and you will learn to cope with everything diabetes throws at you. It is often us parents who find it harder to accept. Since joining this forum a few months ago, I have found it a huge help, even in just realising that everyone else is dealing with the same problems as you. You wont feel as isolated, and anything that is worrying you, you can ask here and someone will always be along to help.
 
Hi, hope things are getting better, I know that when I was diagnosed it was a bit of a shock, and took a lot of getting used to! It was a bit easier for me as I was 30 at the time, but the last 4 months have been a bit of a roller coaster ride...

The forum is great, there are always lots of people around to answer any questions, and lots of threads to read through that cover loads of topics.

Best wishes,

Richard
 
Thank you all for your responses. it really does help to know that we are not alone. My daughter has gone off today to her dad's but is back tomorrow briefly for our visit to the diabetic clinic. She had a hypo of 2.9 last night which scared me a bit but she didn't even really feel it until she got up to test herself before her night lantus. She did enjoy having her favorite sweets though!
Jenny Bear
 
Jenny Bear said:
Thank you all for your responses. it really does help to know that we are not alone. My daughter has gone off today to her dad's but is back tomorrow briefly for our visit to the diabetic clinic. She had a hypo of 2.9 last night which scared me a bit but she didn't even really feel it until she got up to test herself before her night lantus. She did enjoy having her favorite sweets though!
Jenny Bear
Click to expand...

There's sometimes an upside to diabetes! 😉 Some hypos, if your levels are falling slowly, you hardly notice, it's the ones that fall quickly I find have the greatest effect on me. Hope the clinic visit goes well 🙂
 
Hi Jenny, sorry to hear about your daughter's diagnosis. I was diagnosed 19 years ago when I was 2. I agree with what a lot of the others have said, one big thing that can be a problem is the feeling of isolation - have you joined the Children With Diabetes UK emailing list? That's an amazing resources, hundreds of parents emailing each other daily with advice, questions etc.If there's anything in your local area for your daughter to join, I'd recommend doing it - there's nothing like someone with type 1 being in the company of others with it.
 
Hi Jenny

I'm one of the mums on here. My daughter had her first injection at 5 weeks old and has been on a pump for the last 3 1/2 years which is life changing for the better.

I totally understand your feelings and emotions as a parent, your world is rocked and has changed.

The email group Shiv is talking about you will find on our website which is www.childrenwithdiabetesuk.org you can join it from the home page. The website is a good resource but the email group is an even bigger resource. Sadly there are lots of parents on there with children your daughters age so you can tap into them for help as hormones will be kicking in and that has a huge effect on levels.

What the cwd email group don't know isn't worth writing about. Seriously they are good.

It is a great group here too I'll add and there is lots of help here but the email group is just parents.

🙂
 
Hi Jenny

I am a parent too of a 20 year old diagnosed in May completely out of the blue in the middle of uni exams...such a shock as no diabetes in the family at all. I know exactly how you feel...it feels like a complete roller coaster ride and is very overwhelming at times.

This forum has helped me so much as has getting in touch with other diabetics and parents. I am fortunate that I know a few people with type 1 and they have been so positive and encouraging.

Four months on it is getting a little easier, my son is happy, healthy and it hasn't stopped him doing anything at all... it has actually made him eat a very healthy diet!!

I think it does hit parents the hardest and it is tiring (so much to learn!) but it does get easier and you will feel easier about leaving your daughter.

Look after yourself ...you are doing great and we know how you feel!

Sue 🙂
 
Hi Jenny

Just thought I would send you another post as I forgot to say a lovely friend of mine was diagnosed at the same age as your daughter...she is now 30...so healthy with a beautiful new baby boy. She is a nurse, travelled to India for a year. She really hasn't let it hold her back at all. When I talked to her about her feelings when she was diagnosed she said it was fine and she was relieved to feel better. Her mum took it the hardest!!!!

I also know how you feel about not wanting them out of your sight!! My son went back to uni 6 days after been diagnosed, then to Edinburgh for a holiday and then to Sheffield for a teaching placement. I was so worried and he ws fine!🙂

Hope this encourages you...as I know that it is hard in the early days to wonder if anything will seem like normal again..you do gradually get there! x
 
Hi Jenny, welcome to the forum.
 
Clinic went well and we have put her night time lantus down a notch to try to counteract the hypos she's having most days. we'll have to see how that works. Can i just ask, if you are hypo when you are testing before a meal, how long would you wait until you have your novorapid? this has happened a couple of times and we have given her sweets, then her dinner, then tested again, then her insulin. but we were shown in hospital to give her novorapid just before her meal.
thanks for all your replies!
jenny bear:confused:
 
Jenny Bear said:
Clinic went well and we have put her night time lantus down a notch to try to counteract the hypos she's having most days. we'll have to see how that works. Can i just ask, if you are hypo when you are testing before a meal, how long would you wait until you have your novorapid? this has happened a couple of times and we have given her sweets, then her dinner, then tested again, then her insulin. but we were shown in hospital to give her novorapid just before her meal.
thanks for all your replies!
jenny bear:confused:
Click to expand...

I always treat the hypo with some jelly babies, as there is a danger that the meal will slow the absorbtion of the glucose. I then inject immediately prior to eating and haven't had a problem yet. If it's really low before the meal then it might be better to delay the meal until you are sure the levels have gone back up - a pain, but safer I think! The novorapid will take some time to start working so it shouldn't hit you whilst you are still low if you have treated the hypo. Possibly the worse situation is where you have one of those very rare hypos (for me, at least) where it continues to drop despite treatment - you'd need to be absolutely sure levels were on their way up again before injecting and eating a meal.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top