Child Has Type 1 diabetes
 

Have just spent the last two days in the hospital. My 8 year old daughter has just been diagnosed with diabetes and will need insulin shots for the rest of her life.

Over the holiday weekend, my wife and kids visited the in-laws in Atlanta while I was watching the races in Monterey. While there, my FIL, who is a Pharmacist noticed that my daughter was drinking ALOT of water and told my wife she should take her to the doctor. We all got home Monday night, took her to the doctor Tuesday morning and they immediately admitted her.

Anyone here living with a child with diabetes? Ironically, my daughter is taking it better then we are. Just wondering what we are in for.

26 years ago my niece was diagnosed with JD. She is one of 4 girls of my brother and his wife, and they have all lead very active healthy lives together.

It was a profound change for them at the time, and they had to do it all for several years as their daughter was only 2 at the time of diagnosis. The joined the JDFoundation and got support from others in their community.

She has been a part of the (CA) City of Hope, a research hospital with quite a bit of cred. From what I understand, children diagnosed today are far better off than those prior to the 80's. At that time there ability to test blood sugar levels was quite rudimentary. My niece got tested I think 5 times a day for all this time, and when she reached the age of 18 or so she got a pump.

She has a degree, has traveled the world, she's a beautiful human, and she's an RN who makes house calls giving prenatal care to the poor. I guess what I am trying to say is that, while she must deal with JS every day, she still leads a great life, and her parents and family have all grown in the process.

I guess you could say I'm a bit proud of her... I admit to just a bit of bias.

Wow, sorry to hear that. I've known a few people with diabetes, thankfully technology has made it easier to live with recently it sounds.



And just think; now you have a way to keep control of her through her teenage years- like they did with the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park..


(the dinosaurs were bred to have a lysine deficiency and depended on supplements, in case they ever escaped the island ... my attempt at bad humor...)

Mike, I'm very sorry to hear that. Thank God modern medicine makes it possible to live with diabetes.

So what were the signs? Just drinking lots of water? Pretty sharp father-in-law.

My brother was sent home from the hospital the very first night (while his daughter was still in) and given a box of syringes and a bunch of saline bottles.

He was told to first practice on a bunch of oranges, then find a human volunteer. So me, being the kid brother, was volunteered! I became a human pin cushion.

In reality, the needles (at least back then) were called micro-fine - they were tiny! In fact, after a short amount of time, they could test her and give her an injection without waking her!

I would look into getting an insulin pump for her. Went backpacking for 10 days with a kid that was type 1 and he had the pump. Other than making sure we ate at regular times you never could really tell it. All the people I have known with a pump seemed to have it in control better.

It's always harder for thoes that see rather than thoes that are.

Injections aint that bad, small slim needles, dont hurt, more of a nuisance in rmember times doses.
but at an early age it will be more easier to adapt.

but you can get NEEDLE FREE injection devices.

I use one.

one piece of advice I will give you

YOU control the diabetes it does not control you.

Peace and good luck

Type1 since 2003,
(Dance, proper 50's jive and won competitons, Jog, do weights, and Tae Kwon do)

Michael...this will alter your life a little. It will NOT end it, thanks to medical science. I truly believe that your daughter will see a cure within her lifetime.

She will quickly become expert in testing and injecting, then go on with enjoying her childhood. After all, with a way cool daddy, she must be a damned neat kid!
:)

some lifestyle changes..
some diet changes..
this will be a dramatic as you make it..

Rika

Thanks Guys. I appreciate the advice and encouragement. Once it's stable, I think a pump will be an option. Right now shes taking Lantis and Novalog and the morning and then Novalog before lunch and dinner. We all still have alot to learn about the management of this disease.

Yeah the father in law is very sharp, she was alittle lethargic but I think everyone kind of assumed it was from traveling to Atlanta. Her massive drinking of water is what stood out to him though.

She knows she will still be able to win American Idol in a few years, but she still crys when it's time to get a shot.

Good friends youngest son is the same age as my 16yo. He was diagosed probably 10 years ago + or -. Dad is an MD. Connor ended up at Childrens in Seattle and has done well over the years. Never slowed him down. It took awhile for them to get the routines down, when he was little and came over for sleepovers and such we got the training on how to test him, etc. He's a cool kid and handled it all very well. The technology for managing this disease has improved dramatically and will keep doing so. Best of luck.

Two words.... Insulin Pump

My wife has one and it is the best thing since, well nothing really compares.

Hey I still cry when I get shots( but I guess thats a different story). Hero's come in all sizes and shapes. I'd be willing to bet she becomes a hero in your eyes as well as others. Stay strong and God Bless.

Type I diabetes isn't fun, but it isn't the end of your life either. The first week of taking shots really, really stunk but then it becomes part of the routine and you don't even worry about it. I don't let diabetes stop me from doing anything, I'm just much more careful about how I do it. As an example, if I'm going to the track I don't take Humalog (the pre-meal insulin) when I eat because I know that the heat and workout from the track session will cause my blood sugar to drop. I also make sure to test before and after each session and eat food to bring my blood sugar back up.

The hardest part for me was changing how much and what you eat. I still eat what I want, I just don't eat as much as I used to and work on a more balanced/healthy diet.

I'm about to start an insulin pump and a constant glucose monitor in a few weeks (been doing shots for a few years) and I'm looking forward to not having to carry so much stuff with me and being able to know exactly where my blood sugar is at all times.

Mike sometimes I think it is better to get it as a child as they as so much more adaptable. A year and a half ago I went through an illness where I had to keep checking my blood sugar, not related to diabetes. I got a top of the line Aviva Accu-Check used it for two weeks and still have it and about 50 lancets and test strips. I know you will be getting one through your insurance, but kids lose things and this would be great to have as a back up. Truly a no-pain tester. Send me your address and it is in the mail. I have the box, instructions, everything.

Hello. +1 on the insulin pump. I was diagnosed when I was 10. I am now 33 and just started using the pump about 2 years ago. It completely changed my life for the better. The lifestyle/diet change is hard at first (esp when you're younger) but in the long run it's a very good lifestyle to have. Testing is still a pain but at least the multiple injections every day are a thing of the past. I know it's a huge adjustment but it is manageable. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask me.

Chris

Nice thing about the pump is it keeps you steady. The better your BG is the better you will do.

a great friend and coworker has this. sorry for the bad news!

anyways, my friend has a great attitude. he thinks it is better to get it early, so you can adapt your life. it is all he has known, and he thinks his life is normal.

Kurt, thank you so much for your generous offer. Fortunately for us, each set of grandparents gave us one and we got two from the insurance, so we are good to go regarding blood sugar checks. Thank you again, Thats very nice.

Sorry to hear this, Michael.

Professionally I have taken care of and followed many families with children developing diabetes. The medical treatment and options today is so much better than just a few years ago. Typically, with proper family compliance, the children live their lives completely normal and happy. The one thing that has stricken me as the most fantastic is precisely how easily the children themselves adjust to their new situation. Once the initial preparations and dose adjustments are done, they don´t seem to be preoccupied or worried about it at all.

Unfortunately, the teenagers sometimes have difficulties during a face (as with their whole life). With most children between 4 and 12 however, the change is handled remarkably easy.

I hope everything works out well and that your family will be able to digest and adjust to this swiftly.