I know how you feel! Hannah was actually admitted to hospital on Halloween last year and had been planning to go out 'trick or treating' with her friends that night. Plenty of sweets and rubbish on the menu. As it was she was sat in hospital dressed up in her costume feeling very sorry for herself. I can still see her dejected look now... Nearly a year on now though and she does eat some sweets occasionally and has pudding if the rest of us do. There is no doubt she has less than she used to, but that is really no bad thing. Her nurse tells her how her diet will be much better than her friends and she will be all the better for it. She especially likes it when she does sport as she gets to have a small chocolate bar beforehand... Fortunately she is very sporty! To be honest, now that she is on a pump, I don't find she eats that much differently from the rest of us. Before that she wouldn't have a sweet snack or the like between meals as it meant doing another injection. 🙂
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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
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Screening for type 1 diabetes: We now have a new forum section which is for parents who, after having their child screened for type 1, have received a positive result that at some stage their child will be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Where possible, please do offer your support and experiences of having a child diagnosed. https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/forums/screening-for-type-1-community-chat.59/
Parent of newly diagnosed type 1
- Thread starter sarah40
- Start date
- Status
michelle sw
New Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Sarah, I'm a slightly older mum than u!, and our son who is also 14 was dx 1 month ago, so believe me I know how you are feeling, he also had a week off school, then went in for half a day, he is back full time now , and the school was really helpful,we attended a mtg there with his diabetic nurses, they have 10 children with type1 so I have a lot of faith in them, my son is coping really fantastically in school doing own inj and when feeling low will take his BS and manage then effectively, I am a working mum so i am reluctant to not be here when he gets home from school just in case, but I know I will eventually have to return to my normal working hours just need to be confident that he will cope on his own, it's early days still, so maybe suggest a meeting with the school if thats not already been set up. hopefully they will be very supportive. just take one day at a time, I am.
Catwoman76
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hello and welcome I'm sorry to hear of your boy, but I'm sure he will do well, kids can very resilliant ,but obviously very worrying for the parents. Take care and best wishes
Hello all
Hi there. I have just been reading through this thread and it mirrors all my concerns. My son was diagnosed as type 1 about 6 months ago,at age 14. His year 9 school report was not as good as previous and I understood completely that this would have been due to illness and then the fact of coping with diagnosis. His teachers seemed much less understanding.
We had a horrible summer break as I think he was really depressed about it all. Did not go anywhere with friends, went to bed really late, lazed around in his dressing gown until about 4pm . All classic signs of depression. I have personal experience of depression so was able to understand but unable to really help him. Being a teenager, he is very anti listening to me or taking any kind of advice..it is heart breaking.
Since he started back at school (he is in year 10) his mood has improved a bit and he has started socialising with friends again, but only gradually. Weekends he gets up at 2 or 3pm , despite much coaxing and eventual moaning from me, followed by inevitable arguments. It is so frustrating. I know he feels better if he gets up and goes out but if we make arrangements to meet anyone, he will ALWAYS make us late. It has got to the point where we often just leave him at home. I would not mind if he was going out with friends instead..but he will stay at home.
I often think that the symptoms of diabetes are hard to spot as in effect, its just the same as a teenage boy's normal behaviour.. tired and moody, only more so.
I would like to know if anyone else's child has suffered depression since diagnosis? If so, did you manage to get counselling? It is not offered here (yet) but our lovely Diabetes nurse has said that a counsellor is coming on board very soon.
Hi there. I have just been reading through this thread and it mirrors all my concerns. My son was diagnosed as type 1 about 6 months ago,at age 14. His year 9 school report was not as good as previous and I understood completely that this would have been due to illness and then the fact of coping with diagnosis. His teachers seemed much less understanding.
We had a horrible summer break as I think he was really depressed about it all. Did not go anywhere with friends, went to bed really late, lazed around in his dressing gown until about 4pm . All classic signs of depression. I have personal experience of depression so was able to understand but unable to really help him. Being a teenager, he is very anti listening to me or taking any kind of advice..it is heart breaking.
Since he started back at school (he is in year 10) his mood has improved a bit and he has started socialising with friends again, but only gradually. Weekends he gets up at 2 or 3pm , despite much coaxing and eventual moaning from me, followed by inevitable arguments. It is so frustrating. I know he feels better if he gets up and goes out but if we make arrangements to meet anyone, he will ALWAYS make us late. It has got to the point where we often just leave him at home. I would not mind if he was going out with friends instead..but he will stay at home.
I often think that the symptoms of diabetes are hard to spot as in effect, its just the same as a teenage boy's normal behaviour.. tired and moody, only more so.
I would like to know if anyone else's child has suffered depression since diagnosis? If so, did you manage to get counselling? It is not offered here (yet) but our lovely Diabetes nurse has said that a counsellor is coming on board very soon.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi JEF'Smum, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear that your son's school were not very supportive - it must be such a hard thing to go through anyway at that age, without school making it harder 
I can't personally offer any advice, but hopefully other parents here will be able to. I would also recommend taking a look at the Children with Diabetes website if you are not already aware of it.
I can't personally offer any advice, but hopefully other parents here will be able to. I would also recommend taking a look at the Children with Diabetes website if you are not already aware of it.
Hi JEF'Smum,
Alex (14) was diagnosed at age 10 and although he didnt suffer with depression as such he did have times when he was very moody and couldnt explain how he felt - I think he was mainly angry with his diagnosis and sudden changes in his lifestyle. But - and I promise you this - things do get better.🙂 Do you have a local support group? Your son wouldnt necessarily have to go along but it may be good for you to chat to others families in the same situation. CWD ( as mentioned by Northerner) has been a great source of help and support and we now holiday for one weekend per year with families who have a Type 1 child/teenager and they all love meeting up as it is the only time they are in the majority.🙂 Bev
Alex (14) was diagnosed at age 10 and although he didnt suffer with depression as such he did have times when he was very moody and couldnt explain how he felt - I think he was mainly angry with his diagnosis and sudden changes in his lifestyle. But - and I promise you this - things do get better.🙂 Do you have a local support group? Your son wouldnt necessarily have to go along but it may be good for you to chat to others families in the same situation. CWD ( as mentioned by Northerner) has been a great source of help and support and we now holiday for one weekend per year with families who have a Type 1 child/teenager and they all love meeting up as it is the only time they are in the majority.🙂 Bev
Hi i was diagnosed T1 in 1966 (3). My mam used to walk with me to the bus stop & give me a swan vesta match box with 2 big penneies in for fare. The teachers didnt know nothing in them days about T1. Kids learn how to survive. Good luck 😎
fencesitter
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Hello JEF's mum
Sorry to hear about your son's problems. It is very hard to know what's normal teenage moody stuff and what might be something else. My son gets extremely exhausted during the week and stays in bed until lunchtime at weekends, but he also tends to go to bed too late as well. What time does your son turn in? If he's like mine and stays up late gaming he might be going to sleep in the small hours, which could explain it. But if he's having huge amounts of sleep it might be a sign of depression. There is an organisation called Young Minds that I've found useful over the years: www.youngminds.org.uk
You can arrange a call back with a mental health professional to discuss your concerns which is really good because if you try to go through the GP you can be waiting a long time for an appointment. At least they can help you identify whether you need to be taking this further, and maybe provide advice until your Diabetes service appoints a counsellor. My son has been such a trooper about his diabetes (also diagnosed just before the age of 14, now 15) that I sometimes wonder if it's catching up with him. He said to me last weekend that he can feel 'what's the point' despite everything in his life (apart from health stuff) going exceptionally well right now. He also said for the first time that he was the only one at school with lymphoedema and diabetes, so he hoped he would get a room to himself as he dislikes going through all his routines in public. This is the first time he's voiced feelings like that, so I am going to watch how it goes. He spends a lot of time gaming at home; he's away at music school and doesn't get the chance during the week. But I feel it saps his energy and can have a negative impact on his other activities. But equally he needs time just to be a kid and do what he likes ... Very hard to know what diabetes brings to the usual teenage issues. I had a period of 'grieving' after his diagnosis as I came to terms with all its implications, but he just got on and dealt with it. Maybe it's hitting our kids a bit further down the line? It will be interesting to compare notes. Meanwhile good luck.
Sorry to hear about your son's problems. It is very hard to know what's normal teenage moody stuff and what might be something else. My son gets extremely exhausted during the week and stays in bed until lunchtime at weekends, but he also tends to go to bed too late as well. What time does your son turn in? If he's like mine and stays up late gaming he might be going to sleep in the small hours, which could explain it. But if he's having huge amounts of sleep it might be a sign of depression. There is an organisation called Young Minds that I've found useful over the years: www.youngminds.org.uk
You can arrange a call back with a mental health professional to discuss your concerns which is really good because if you try to go through the GP you can be waiting a long time for an appointment. At least they can help you identify whether you need to be taking this further, and maybe provide advice until your Diabetes service appoints a counsellor. My son has been such a trooper about his diabetes (also diagnosed just before the age of 14, now 15) that I sometimes wonder if it's catching up with him. He said to me last weekend that he can feel 'what's the point' despite everything in his life (apart from health stuff) going exceptionally well right now. He also said for the first time that he was the only one at school with lymphoedema and diabetes, so he hoped he would get a room to himself as he dislikes going through all his routines in public. This is the first time he's voiced feelings like that, so I am going to watch how it goes. He spends a lot of time gaming at home; he's away at music school and doesn't get the chance during the week. But I feel it saps his energy and can have a negative impact on his other activities. But equally he needs time just to be a kid and do what he likes ... Very hard to know what diabetes brings to the usual teenage issues. I had a period of 'grieving' after his diagnosis as I came to terms with all its implications, but he just got on and dealt with it. Maybe it's hitting our kids a bit further down the line? It will be interesting to compare notes. Meanwhile good luck.
Hannah was diagnosed age 11 and she ended up getting counselling for anxiety. She kept imagining symptoms of all sorts, finding rashes and lumps, feeling pains and all sorts. I had her to the GP twice to try and reassure her, but each time the GP ruled out her symptoms she just came up with others. I think because we caught the diabetes quite early before she really felt ill, she subconsciously started worrying about what else she may have. Any way I am pleased to say the sessions with the counsellor really helped her and that seems to be behind her now. I accept it is probably easier with a younger child, but try and find a way to get him to accept some help. X
magicsteph2009
New Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi everyone,
My 12 year old son was diagnosed with type 1 five weeks ago and I can honestly say it's been the most stressful time of my (and his) life. From taking him to the doctors because he was getting up to drink and wee in the night to being rushed into a&e and being admitted for three days. It was such a shock. I have not thought about anything else since and although he's coping with it brilliantly, I worry constantly and keep thinking I'm going to wake up and it'll all be a horrible nightmare. We've been through the acceptance, the denial and being misdiagnosed, the every time i feel ill i must have something really wrong with me and now we're back at acceptance again. It's such a rollercoaster. Does it always feel like this??
My 12 year old son was diagnosed with type 1 five weeks ago and I can honestly say it's been the most stressful time of my (and his) life. From taking him to the doctors because he was getting up to drink and wee in the night to being rushed into a&e and being admitted for three days. It was such a shock. I have not thought about anything else since and although he's coping with it brilliantly, I worry constantly and keep thinking I'm going to wake up and it'll all be a horrible nightmare. We've been through the acceptance, the denial and being misdiagnosed, the every time i feel ill i must have something really wrong with me and now we're back at acceptance again. It's such a rollercoaster. Does it always feel like this??
Ruth Wilson
New Member
Hi,
Just to let you know, Diabetes UK runs a Peer Support service where you can talk to people living with diabetes 1-to-1 by phone or email. You can phone 0843 353 8600, or email through the website at http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Peer-support .
Donna is a parent to a teenager, and we have several young people living with type 1 (e.g. Lucy) who might be worth a teenager having a chat with.
The volunteers are trained and it's confidential, so it's a good place for a rant as well as sharing thoughts and experiences.
Best wishes.
Just to let you know, Diabetes UK runs a Peer Support service where you can talk to people living with diabetes 1-to-1 by phone or email. You can phone 0843 353 8600, or email through the website at http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Peer-support .
Donna is a parent to a teenager, and we have several young people living with type 1 (e.g. Lucy) who might be worth a teenager having a chat with.
The volunteers are trained and it's confidential, so it's a good place for a rant as well as sharing thoughts and experiences.
Best wishes.
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