Struggling

[Elmo79]

Hi
I’m a girlfriend to a dad who’s daughter is type I - he’s struggling either the enormity of the diagnosis from a bereavement perspective I.e the loss of the life you’d want for your child... I’m wondering if anyone has read any books/attended any events etc to help him work through this or refer back to - as inevitably this feeling will resurface at every different stage as his daughter grows older.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Elmo79, welcome to the forum 🙂 I would suggest reading Adrienne's essential guide for parents of newly-diagnosed children. This was written a few years ago by a member and mother, so very understanding of the situation he finds himself in. Also, the book Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas gives very comprehensive, readable and positive explanation of all aspects of living with Type 1, which hopefully will help to reassure him. A Type 1 diagnosis comes with a very steep learning curve, and it can throw all sorts of things at you in the beginning, but it does get easier in time, with the right knowledge and a positive approach, a bit of extra planning and as you gain experience. It doesn't have to stop his daughter from achieving anything she wants to in life - there are many wonderful role models around who prove this on a daily basis 🙂

He would also benefit from contact with other parents who fully understand what the family is going through, so I would recommend the Children with Diabetes website - a very supportive and active site of UK parents:

http://www.childrenwithdiabetesuk.org/

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, and of course he is more than welcome to join the forum - we have lots of friendly, experienced and knowledgeable people here who can give you answers to most things that might arise 🙂