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Update on my son

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
T

Tina63

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Parent of person with diabetes
My son went for another clinic appointment yesterday. I was unable to attend with him but he had said he wanted to go in to the consultation by himself so I left his dad to take him. In December his HbA1c had gone right up to 12 and I wasn't expecting any miracles this time but had hoped it had come down a fair bit. It had only dropped slightly, to 11.2. Still, down a bit is better than up.

Apart from his HbA1c I have got next to no information from him. I did ask if they changed anything, he said yes, but when I asked what, he gave his usual dismissive answer of "I can't remember." I think he saw the more stern of the two consultants yesterday, I only deduce that from the Haematology envelope he has brought home for next clinic with the Consultants name handwritten on it. He normally sees the softer of the two.

This evening, he has just come down to get a Coke - the first time this has happened in 7 months! He did look a little shakey, though not half as pale as he used to, so I just casually asked "Do you need that then?" He said yes, I asked what his level was, he said he didn't know. I said it would be an idea to test just in case one can of Coke isn't enough. He then said he had actually tested and was 4.1, he said he knew that wasn't a technical hypo but felt it, and I agreed that having been so high for so long he is bound to get the symptoms higher than he used to. Certainly his first ever hypo actually was over 4 when he was first diagnosed but once his overall levels fell, he didn't feel hypo symptoms until just under the 4 mark.

Though its not nice for him, I actually see this as a really positive sign. At least it means his levels are lower today than they have been for ages. When we get the hospital letter (usually about a week after his appointment) it will outline exactly what changes have been made. I just hope tonight's hypo doesn't put him off keeping his levels lower. Fingers crossed this is the start of better control from him.

They want to see him again in about 6 weeks, his DSN is going to ring me apparently to arrange an appointment.
 
It's an improvement, and although only a small decrease in HbA1c this can sometimes be a good thing as dropping too far and too fast can trigger problems - a more gradual fall is preferable. Hope that he implements whatever changes were suggested and things start to improve for you all by the time of the next review 🙂
 
Hi,

Nice to read HbA1c is going in the right direction, let's hope it continues for you all 🙂
 
Hope the HbA1c continues to steadily decrease Tina and that the next appointment goes well 🙂
 
Well - hopefully Tina - the DSN will 'Fill you in' a bit.

You'll get there, and so will he .....
 
It sounds like a good improvement to me, and as Alan said sometimes bringing it down too quickly can bring with it more problems.

Re the hypo - one DSN said that due to the % of error that can come with a reading you should treat a hypo if the meter shows a hypo or if you feel hypo and the meter is reading in the low 4s.
 
Hi Tina
It does sound encouraging, and good that he was testing when feeling hypo. Hopefully it's the start of better things, you are a great mum handling such a difficult situation so calmly 🙂
Catherine
 
Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. He was such a nice lad last night, it has all round benefits it seems! I do have to watch my tendancy to fuss too much though when he is hypo. I did bite my tongue and step back a bit and let him get on with it. He hovered downstairs a bit, so I think he needs that reassurance that I am around and know whats going on, but doesn't actually want any attention drawing to it. Obviously after a few minutes he felt better and he then just ambled back up to his room. I did suggest maybe he should test before going to bed last night, but I got a negative response. I haven't seen his meter to see if he did or not, but he woke fine and chatty this morning, so all seems rosy!

I wanted to check he had some dextrose in his bag for school today but I know he used to carry it, and school have emergency supplies too, so I am sure he will be fine. I am just assuming we should maybe expect more hypos now until whatever level of insulin they told him to go on to has settled down a bit. He hasn't had a hypo since July.

I know I have said before on here, we have NEVER been told about correction doses nor told to 'tweak' it ourselves, and any time I have suggested (after reading so much on here) that maybe he should try upping this or that by a unit or two, he has refused to, only paying attention to his team. When his DSN rings I will bring the subject up again.

Still, it's all progress in the right direction, so I just hope the worst of the storm is over and he starts behaving himself properly!!!
 
Hi Tina,

I'm glad to hear that progress is being made, and hopefully lowering his HbA1C will make him want to continue trying to get that number down.

I will say that from someone who used to run fairly high most of the time, to now trying to maintain control, I have now (after 5 months) got to the stage where I am absolutely fed up with treating hypos and the feelings that come with them. The last couple of days/week I have subconsciously slipped back into some bad habits to save myself from experiencing them. But, I know I've done it, and I've caught it, so I'm back on being good again. But it is hard when you start having a fair few to stick to what you are supposed to be doing...just so you are aware (which you seem like you do already).

Well done on your hard work, as well as his. Hope it continues further 🙂
 
Thing is Tina, he won't know that other diabetics chop and change their doses themselves, will he? and of course he won't believe you - good grief, you're his mother - as if your mother was ever right about anything - when you are a teenager!

So of course he won't be comfortable with doing it.

And yes his DSN does need to tell him that he can do it.

But hey - he's only just started to walk, really. Don't try and make him run before he's a proficient walker ....
 
an improvement is deff better than no improvement =)
 
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