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Type 1 son eating in secret

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mrsd87

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Hi everyone,

I really need some advice because I'm at a total loss! My son was diagnosed type 1 just on 3 years ago, he's now 12. Over the last 3 months or so he's been eating snacks, not carbing himself and then hiding the wrappers in various places around the house. We noticed on a few occasions his bloods going up really quickly and he's still denied he's eaten anything then has finally admitted it. On other occasions we've found wrappers and then thought back to when he went high and realised that must have been it.

I've tried so many things, I've got rid of any sweets in the house but there is still snacks and stuff for packed lunches and of course if he or my daughter ever needs a snack. He sometimes will ask for a snack and on most occasions I will say yes and make sure he gives himself insulin for it. The only times I will say now is if it is nearly a meal time or if he's had a lot to eat.

I showed him a video of lady who was type 1 but hadn't looked after her diabetes and she was talking about the complications she had now. I hoped this would give him some idea as to the damage that can be done.

He can't give me a reason as to why he's doing it. He has a pump and a cgm so putting his insulin in is relatively straightforward. He has an appointment at the end of this month with his consultant and I will be asking her advice (absolutely dreading what his HbA1C will be). I've made him go round the house and collect any wrappers he's hidden, there was quite a lot, so any from now on are from this moment. I don't know what to do if I find any. I've thought of removing things such as XBox or phone privileges but I feel a bit uneasy about punishing anything to do with his diabetes.

Any advice would be so welcome because I feel completely lost!

Thank you!
 
Welcome @mrsd87 🙂 I think what you’re describing isn’t uncommon. The strain of Type 1 in relation to the ‘freedom to eat’ is huge. I don’t think children his age always take complications seriously. It can all seem a vague long way off in their minds. Changes in hormones at puberty can also cause impulsive behaviour.

I’d try to get him to agree that he can eat the snacks but only if he boluses for them as appropriate. That way nothing is forbidden and it might help stop the secretive behaviour.
 
With children they don't like to feel different and yes having Type 1 will make them feel as i they are without the added restrictions that may apply to him but not his sibling. You may need the carrot rather than the stick in your approach.
Is he snacking because he feels hungry as a growing lad can eat quite a lot of food.
 
My son is 13 and was diagnosed almost 5 years ago. He gets to eat snacks and sweets and anything he wants at any meal which seems to cut down on snacking but there are times where he’ll dig into his hypo sweets just to eat something. He’s also on a pump and sensor and doesn’t always put insulin in. His HBA1C has still been great.

I’m a big believer in not adding shame to any sort of eating so focus on that more than anything else. If he’s doing his meal insulin and his basal is pretty good then overall he’ll be fine. I don’t know which pump he’s on but mine has tslim and dexcom and so the pump will add some insulin if he’s going high which helps but doesn’t cover it as quickly as if he’d put the insulin in for the carbs.

Teenage boys eat a lot. I can barely keep food in the house between my two. You may find giving him bigger meals or planning snacks helps.
 
My plan would be to make sure he is really full and satisfied with the main meals of the day, inc any desserts. Should reduce need / feeling to snack in between. High protein meals are good for this, such as cooked breakfasts.
 
I have to say I could not believe the amount my son ate between the ages of 13 to 19. Massive meals and we often found he needed to eat a sandwich when he got home from school, or sport.
 
Lads have hollow legs as teenagers and early 20s at least.

Told our grandson I reckoned he must have a tapeworm which I'd decided was called Ravenous Reggie so he needed to identify when asking 'Have you got anything I can have to eat gandma?' whether it was him who was hungry or RR, this time. (ie did he need his lunch/dinner preparing pdq - or would a calorific snack suffice, right now - they never spoiled his enjoyment of his meals, neither did he need less to eat for those meals)

Always shot up several inches in height just after they went back to school in September - so last year's uniform only fitted him for about 6 weeks ..... and adult size 10 feet by age 12. Good job both parents worked!
 
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