Just found out my son had type 1 Diabetes
Discussion
Our normally fit and healthy 13 year son has just been diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes, my wife noticed that he was drinking lots of water and had lost a little weight loss, we put it down to a growth. Doctors tested his urine this afternoon and referred him to A&E straight away, they tested his sugar and said it was off the scale, he’s having insulin and fluids now.
Can’t believe a few hours ago he’d hardly had a cold and now it’s a lifetime injections, checking his bloods and watching his food intake, it’s really knocked me and the
wife, he’s taking it really well, probably not sunk in how life will change.
Can’t believe a few hours ago he’d hardly had a cold and now it’s a lifetime injections, checking his bloods and watching his food intake, it’s really knocked me and the
wife, he’s taking it really well, probably not sunk in how life will change.
Casa1862 said:
Our normally fit and healthy 13 year son has just been diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes, my wife noticed that he was drinking lots of water and had lost a little weight loss, we put it down to a growth. Doctors tested his urine this afternoon and referred him to A&E straight away, they tested his sugar and said it was off the scale, he’s having insulin and fluids now.
Can’t believe a few hours ago he’d hardly had a cold and now it’s a lifetime injections, checking his bloods and watching his food intake, it’s really knocked me and the
wife, he’s taking it really well, probably not sunk in how life will change.
Sorry to hear this, its tough but manageable. Can’t believe a few hours ago he’d hardly had a cold and now it’s a lifetime injections, checking his bloods and watching his food intake, it’s really knocked me and the
wife, he’s taking it really well, probably not sunk in how life will change.
Edited by PositronicRay on Friday 4th September 12:13
I've been type 1 20 years and I remember my diagnosis day well...feeling like my world had ended ..I later went on a dafne course with people 70 plus who had been type 1 for donkeys years, that made me feel better.It shouldnt stop him doing anything, maybe make it a bit difficult and more planning reqd but sure he will be fine.
Get your GP to prescribe him a Freestyle Libre from Abbott Labs. It’s a sensor put on the arm which lasts 2 weeks at a time. Gives instant blood sugar readings and frees him up from a lifetime of sticking pins in his fingers! Brilliant device and available to Type 1’s on the NHS
It’s also waterproof and can be worn in the shower. It’s been a life changer for me. Another bonus is you can test him whilst he’s asleep without waking him.
It’s also waterproof and can be worn in the shower. It’s been a life changer for me. Another bonus is you can test him whilst he’s asleep without waking him.
Edited by elanfan on Friday 4th September 21:18
My son was diagnosed at 13 too, I remember that day well so I know how you feel. As much as it may seem so, it’s not the end of the world and given time it will just be a part of life (and seem normal)
My lad is 20 now, and manages it well. Modern technology is amazing, he has an insulin pump and the little disc on his arm, scans it with his phone to get his levels - no more pricking fingers constantly.
It’s amazing how good you get at carb counting too!
My lad is 20 now, and manages it well. Modern technology is amazing, he has an insulin pump and the little disc on his arm, scans it with his phone to get his levels - no more pricking fingers constantly.
It’s amazing how good you get at carb counting too!
I help run Gold DofE expeditions (quiet year, 2020!).
2 years back we had a lad who was self injecting type 1 diabetic, plus it was scorching hot for their qualifying (& he was ginger!).
I was a little nervous - not had any injecting on expeditions before, but his parents were confident he knew what he was doing, & he managed the practice fine in the Dark Peak.... so off they went.
He managed a challenging 4 days in remote mid-Wales with no problems at all: always a grin, had a great time!
Perhaps the most “sensible” in the team (although they were a good bunch!): the others all got burnt to varying degrees!
I’ve no other helpful words to you, but to echo the others: he need not be held back by it, with some care.
2 years back we had a lad who was self injecting type 1 diabetic, plus it was scorching hot for their qualifying (& he was ginger!).
I was a little nervous - not had any injecting on expeditions before, but his parents were confident he knew what he was doing, & he managed the practice fine in the Dark Peak.... so off they went.
He managed a challenging 4 days in remote mid-Wales with no problems at all: always a grin, had a great time!
Perhaps the most “sensible” in the team (although they were a good bunch!): the others all got burnt to varying degrees!
I’ve no other helpful words to you, but to echo the others: he need not be held back by it, with some care.
I am a type 1 diabetic of 40 years, diagnosed at 7 years old.
Seek all the available support you can find. As a teenager, I enjoyed 'diabetic' holidays. It gave you access to others in the same situation, educated you and somewhat normalised an abnormal situation. Not sure if these holidays are still a 'thing'....
As others have said, definitely push for the freestyle Libre. It has been a game changer for my control. The blood sugar devices, insulin, delivery devices, understanding of diabetes and diet is always advancing.
It can (and will) be overwhelming to begin with but quite quickly familiar routines will start to form. Knowing what it feel like to be hypo, how it feels when hyper, how many glucose tablets to take, how much insulin to take will all become second nature - although I find the amount to dose can change week to week even after 40 years - not sure why, maybe the weather, maybe amount of sleep??? So don't worry too much, even after years weird blood sugar levels will happen when you least expect it...
As a seven year old, I used to mix insulin twice a day from glass phials, gently tapping the syringe to remove air bubbles. A blood sugar test was highly inaccurate ( comparing coloured scales) and would take about five minutes to get a result whilst using a mini trebuchet to prick my finger. The developments are continual so keeping up to date is important too.
Wishing you all the best....
Mike
PS as others have said, it shouldn't change a thing in terms of what you can and can't do - I don't feel my diabetes has stopped me from doing anything from cycling, pot holing, 24 hour running events, camping, climbing, driving, motorsport, drinking, stag holidays, etc.
Seek all the available support you can find. As a teenager, I enjoyed 'diabetic' holidays. It gave you access to others in the same situation, educated you and somewhat normalised an abnormal situation. Not sure if these holidays are still a 'thing'....
As others have said, definitely push for the freestyle Libre. It has been a game changer for my control. The blood sugar devices, insulin, delivery devices, understanding of diabetes and diet is always advancing.
It can (and will) be overwhelming to begin with but quite quickly familiar routines will start to form. Knowing what it feel like to be hypo, how it feels when hyper, how many glucose tablets to take, how much insulin to take will all become second nature - although I find the amount to dose can change week to week even after 40 years - not sure why, maybe the weather, maybe amount of sleep??? So don't worry too much, even after years weird blood sugar levels will happen when you least expect it...
As a seven year old, I used to mix insulin twice a day from glass phials, gently tapping the syringe to remove air bubbles. A blood sugar test was highly inaccurate ( comparing coloured scales) and would take about five minutes to get a result whilst using a mini trebuchet to prick my finger. The developments are continual so keeping up to date is important too.
Wishing you all the best....
Mike
PS as others have said, it shouldn't change a thing in terms of what you can and can't do - I don't feel my diabetes has stopped me from doing anything from cycling, pot holing, 24 hour running events, camping, climbing, driving, motorsport, drinking, stag holidays, etc.
Edited by mike9009 on Friday 4th September 23:09
Mike's spot on, it'll be a learning curve for all of you.
Routine is important, and he'll learn a healthy eating regime. There'll be times when you feel overwhelmed and frustrated, when this happens go back to basics.
Advances in treatments have been exponential in the last few yrs. The libre system is great, I do tend to getting over obsessed with the data it produces!
Insulin pumps are now common place, some now will even measure glucose levels and adjust basal levels.
The next stage is to reliably link technologies and develop an artificial pancreas. Probably in the next 5yrs, and mainstream in the next 10-15yrs.
For yrs we've been hearing about stem cells to create new insulin producing organs and other interesting research. It may happen one day, but I'm not getting excited too about it.
Routine is important, and he'll learn a healthy eating regime. There'll be times when you feel overwhelmed and frustrated, when this happens go back to basics.
Advances in treatments have been exponential in the last few yrs. The libre system is great, I do tend to getting over obsessed with the data it produces!
Insulin pumps are now common place, some now will even measure glucose levels and adjust basal levels.
The next stage is to reliably link technologies and develop an artificial pancreas. Probably in the next 5yrs, and mainstream in the next 10-15yrs.
For yrs we've been hearing about stem cells to create new insulin producing organs and other interesting research. It may happen one day, but I'm not getting excited too about it.
Thanks for all the replies, when I posted I really didn’t take it well as it was so unexpected, I simply thought the doctors would say good to drink water and he’s a growing lad in good health and weight, within 2 hours he was diagnosed with type 1, he’s bloods were 33 yet he said he felt fine.
Second day in hospital and hopefully back today, he’s bloods and ketones are fairly normal now.
I was really worried about him having to check his blood and inject every 4 hours, can’t imagine how numb the fingers would get, I’ve done the prick blood test and while it’s wasn’t overly painful I certainly could feel it had been done, that was only once and not 4 times a day!!
I’ve researched like mad and have already asked about the freestyle Libre, the nurse didn’t rule it out but said not yet as he’d have to get used to the traditional method first. I know the NHS criteria is very high so I’ll even pay for it, it works out about £1200 per year, I’m not sure if the VAT is reclaimable or not, obviously better if funded, we come under Bedfordshire not sure how generous they are.
Second day in hospital and hopefully back today, he’s bloods and ketones are fairly normal now.
I was really worried about him having to check his blood and inject every 4 hours, can’t imagine how numb the fingers would get, I’ve done the prick blood test and while it’s wasn’t overly painful I certainly could feel it had been done, that was only once and not 4 times a day!!
I’ve researched like mad and have already asked about the freestyle Libre, the nurse didn’t rule it out but said not yet as he’d have to get used to the traditional method first. I know the NHS criteria is very high so I’ll even pay for it, it works out about £1200 per year, I’m not sure if the VAT is reclaimable or not, obviously better if funded, we come under Bedfordshire not sure how generous they are.
Nothing to add from a patient perspective, but it seems to me that there are many more 'out' or visible folk with Type 1. It's been very normalised, partly by the Libre devices being visible in informal offices, - t-shirts etc.
On a conference call a presenter had to explain that the beeping noise we could hear was his monitor alert. he's a cool young surfer dude.
I hope your boy and yourselves do fine with this new diagnosis. And that you allow yourselves a while to catch up with it; quite a shock, as you say.
On a conference call a presenter had to explain that the beeping noise we could hear was his monitor alert. he's a cool young surfer dude.
I hope your boy and yourselves do fine with this new diagnosis. And that you allow yourselves a while to catch up with it; quite a shock, as you say.
Casa1862 said:
I’ve researched like mad and have already asked about the freestyle Libre, the nurse didn’t rule it out but said not yet as he’d have to get used to the traditional method first. I know the NHS criteria is very high so I’ll even pay for it, it works out about £1200 per year, I’m not sure if the VAT is reclaimable or not, obviously better if funded, we come under Bedfordshire not sure how generous they are.
I think learning the traditional basic methods aren't a bad thing. You can't totally rely on the libre although it makes life easier, and helps control. I think you'll find all diabetic stuff is 0 rated for VAT. As a (rather crap) analogy, you'd want a learner driver to master a manual car 1st, despite modern autos being so good.
I'd follow the advice from the clinic, and take small steps. Get used to equipment, treatment and your lad to learn the regime and the way his body reacts.
Only make small changes, monitor and don't rush. It takes me a week to adjust a basal dose, and while the libre is a revelation, it's taken me months to get the best from it.
I've been diabetic for 40yrs, and still learning!
While not the nicest thing to have and it’s certainly worrying, it won’t hold him back like it did for people in the past. Advancements in medical technology make it much easier to control. If he’s into sports, there are plenty of type 1 diabetics playing professionally, so it won’t hold him back there either 👍👍
I was diagnosed at a similar age. Felt a lot better as soon as I went onto the insulin. It's frustrating at times but your lifestyle adapts and it becomes second nature quite quickly.
Casa1862 said:
I was really worried about him having to check his blood and inject every 4 hours, can’t imagine how numb the fingers would get, I’ve done the prick blood test and while it’s wasn’t overly painful I certainly could feel it had been done, that was only once and not 4 times a day!!
The key is to jab the side of the fingertip and not the top edge like most nurses seems to do. That hurts like hell.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff