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Type 1 diagnosis for 24 year old son

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Mazzap

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Parent of person with diabetes
Hi my 24 year old son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on Friday. He had mentioned peeing in the night, feeling a little dizzy at work and I noticed he was always hungry. I made an appointment on Tuesday and he was diagnosed by Friday, all a bit of a shock. He does have an under active thyroid from 9 years old but we weren’t expecting this. He is fit and loves to party and this has hit him hard.
His readings are high (21) with high ketones, sorry I am just learning the terminology. We have the insulin rapid and overnight and we are learning as much as we can.
I know the clinic will be in touch next week to put everything in place but there are just a few questions if you don’t mind.
Before breakfast Harry’s reading was 17.3 and the lowest it has been since insulin is 15.5. It was at 22 yesterday before his evening meal. I realise that we will have to figure out his carb to insulin ratio.
How soon can we expect the sugar levels to decrease? Also he is already complaining about sore finger tips through all the pricking, any tips?
I have joined this forum as Harry is in denial at moment and we need to learn so much.
Thankyou, a worried Mum.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum.
Please tell Harry that life does not stop because he has diabetes. He can do almost anything he likes as long as in some circumstances he does some forward thinking 🙂 So the parties are still on once the restrictions are lifted.
Can you ring the clinic on Monday and ask about increasing his insulin as it sounds to me he doesn't have enough background insulin.

Fingers …………… make sure that the correct depth is set on finger poker and poke at the side of finger not the finger tips.
 
Pumper_Sue said:
Hello and welcome to the forum.
Please tell Harry that life does not stop because he has diabetes. He can do almost anything he likes as long as in some circumstances he does some forward thinking 🙂 So the parties are still on once the restrictions are lifted.
Can you ring the clinic on Monday and ask about increasing his insulin as it sounds to me he doesn't have enough background insulin.

Fingers …………… make sure that the correct depth his set on finger poker and poke at the side of finger not the finger tips.
Click to expand...
Thankyou I will. Any advice is welcome. I need to keep is mental health positive and so the more I know I can support him, Thankyou.
 
Harry will struggle to start with as it's a dreadful shock to the system, but Harry can eat just about anything he wants as long as he learns to carb count. No 1 rule for Mum's and dads though is not to be overly concerned/pushy/sympathetic as most kids no matter what age will count it as interference and the barriers will go up. So make sure you take a step back. (Very hard for parents) My Mum still worries about me even now, I've been on insulin for 55 years 🙂
 
As said previously adjusting your finger pricker will help and have it adjusted so that you just rest the pricker on the side of your fingertip pad. You don't have to push as that's the problem I find with healthcare workers who push like their trying to get a reading from the bottom of the earth lol. Always makes my fingers sore.
 
Hello @Mazzap

Sorry to hear about your son’s diagnosis. Diabetes will come as a shock, and some people liken the early phase as being a form of ‘grieving’ as you come to adapt.

Give him time to adjust, everyone responds to this sort of event in a unique way, and there is no right or wrong approach - even though he may not be showing it right now he is very grateful of the care and support you are offering.

Diabetes can be fickle and very annoying, but it is also something that can be managed very effectively, and it doesn’t mean he has to miss out on experiences or things he wants to do. Even things which were once not possible (like being a commercial airline pilot) are now allowed and modern treatment techniques make a full, long, healthy and happy life perfectly possible. Run your own business... become a rock star... scuba dive... play sport professionally... have kids... run marathons... sail the world... people with T1 do all these things and many more.

Some things may take a little planning, and somethings may be a little trickier than for folks with a fully functioning pancreas, but we have many here with decades of full and brilliant lives who have taken their T1 along for the ride.

And T1 trains you in patience, resilience, empathy and stick-ability too 🙂
 
Erm - OK I appreciate you want to support him, great BUT!! he is 24, he is an adult - and you have to let him get on with it.

You are no longer responsible for his actions, or lack of them, hence I strongly suggest you both read Type 1 diabetes in children adults and young adults by Ragnar Hanas - because he needs to get on as soon as possible with his LIFE.
 
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