Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

DS (14) in hospital after drinking almost a full bottle of vodka

123 replies

MumofDrunkTeen · 19/07/2025 21:40

He has Type 1 diabetes as well and I was terrified of alcohol poisoning after seeing him uncontrollably puking, not able to walk and talking absolute nonsense.

He seems to have bought it from a local corner shop (who I have reported to the police) and took it with friends to drink in a nearby forest.

I checked his FindMy as I do when he’s out and noticed he was there for a while and had an instinct and when I called him his speech was slurred.

I thought at first it may be a hypo and his CGM was wrong (as it has been recently) so rushed there and his friends were trying to hold him up. They said he was drinking but they weren’t and helped me get him to the car.

He’s had a drip of fluids and slept for a few hours and is talking sense now, just waiting to blood sugar to go up as it’s staying low.

Anyone else experienced this?

Mortified he was swearing and shouting like a road man, demanding more vodka and drugs, while young kids in cubicles all around us!

He’s normally extremely polite and that was an alien side to him!

Worst thing was he was saying, ‘I hate my life why do I have to live with this shit, I want to die’about his Type 1. He will never talk about it and be open about how he feels and this has just made me feel so terrible for him!

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 19/07/2025 21:43

You need to get him in front of a psychologist when he is sober

Imonmyway · 19/07/2025 21:45

Sorry that must have been an awful shock. I dont know much about type 1 but I am sure as a teenager anything that makes you "different" csn be hard to manage

Eastendboysandwestendgirls · 19/07/2025 21:45

Very scary for you both, well done for getting to him so quickly. He'll feel rotten tomorrow but at least he's in the right place to be looked after. Does your diabetic team offer counselling? Ours does but also (I'm a school SENCO) I organise counselling for my T1 diabetic children - what he's saying is very common for some young people who are coming to terms with it (even those who were diagnosed very young) and they do benefit from support.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Diabetes
Delphigirl · 19/07/2025 21:46

I am so sorry, that sounds like a frightening and upsetting situation all around. I don’t really have any advice save that I would probably (when he is better and able to have a discussion) have a calm discussion which focuses more on his diabetes and how he feels about it and the unfortunate reality that he has to take responsibility for managing it, and the real risks of drinking in the way he has just done, rather than going bananas about his idiotic behaviour which of course you no doubt also want to do!

Original poster
MumofDrunkTeen · 19/07/2025 21:49

Hospital want to refer to SS and I have agreed as I feel he needs more support.

Diabetes team have no psychologist as last one wasn’t replaced, he refused to engage with private therapy and school counselling,

OP posts:
gotellsomeone · 19/07/2025 21:50

How scary, agree with pp to getting him MH support.

Aaron95 · 19/07/2025 21:54

Most teenagers will drink far too much at least once and end up in a right state. Hopefully this is a learning experience and he doesn't drink that much again.

Yamyamabroad · 19/07/2025 21:55

Just in case this is relevant in your sons case. My own DS's friend had a similar experience at about the same age . It turns out that they had no idea that vodka should not be drunk in the same quantities as beer. He was hideously drunk and swore a lot in front of his grandmother, much to my DSs embarrassment. My DS hadn't been drinking that night but I made sure I explained that some drinks were OK in pints and some are definitely not. I hope your poor DS feels better soon.

RattyMcBatty · 19/07/2025 21:55

Ending up in hospital after drinking a whole bottle of vodka is the same outcome any 14 year old would have, whether they were diabetic or not.

What needs to be addressed is whether he thinks alcohol is the answer to solving his feelings towards his diabetes. Because that road is not one any 14 year old should start on.

Round123 · 19/07/2025 22:09

Sending you both a hug xx

OurBeautifulBaby · 19/07/2025 22:13

cestlavielife · 19/07/2025 21:43

You need to get him in front of a psychologist when he is sober

Don’t be ridiculous he’s being a teenager.

robinibor · 19/07/2025 22:14

I hope your son is OK OP. Sending you hugs. I remember drinking most of a bottle of extra-dry Martina at 15 and being very ill. I didn't do it again!

Onetwobuckeroo · 19/07/2025 22:18

Look up diabetes burn out.

Perhaps it was a cry for help? Having T1D is a mental punishment in more ways than one.

Hope he’s ok x

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 19/07/2025 22:20

Well that's clearly not the first time he's done it or drugs by the sounds of it.

Eastendboysandwestendgirls · 19/07/2025 22:22

@OurBeautifulBaby it is not unusual for teenagers to get hammered. However, a teenager with T1 diabetes is facing a complicated lifestyle that other kids do not. It takes a lot of acceptance, life changes and thinking of plan Bs that other kids will never have to consider. The diabetic nurses - in order to impress upon them the importance of diet, good health etc - have to explain the long term implications and potentially life threatening issues surrounding the condition. That, on top of all the other typical teenage stuff, is a lot for many kids to take on board. That is why support is often needed.

gamerchick · 19/07/2025 22:26

Well at least you know his deep feels now. It's a start and he'll probably never touch vodka again. Like I can't drink navy rum from my teen days.

He's in the right place, they probably got someone to go into the shop for them.

Weeee · 19/07/2025 22:27

OurBeautifulBaby · 19/07/2025 22:13

Don’t be ridiculous he’s being a teenager.

Show quote history

This👆I ended up in AE after drinking my parents sherry back in the late 70s . Definitely did not need a psychologist,just felt shit for a few days and have never touched Sherry again 🤦‍♀️

Honon · 19/07/2025 22:28

I used to work with diabetic teens, it is very, very common to have a rebellion against the condition like this - sometimes it's refusing meds, sometimes not sticking to a diet, sometimes it's alcohol. They have to start taking responsibility for their own health at this age and that's a hard transition to make. Does he have a diabetes nurse? It would be good to have a discussion with them, ideally now or at next review, they will have seen it before.

I don't think you need to panic and get Camhs or social services involved for a one off incident (I actually don't think social services will get involved at all, but by all means wait and see). I'd be having a calm discussion with him once he's recovered. If he does it again then that's when I'd be considering further intervention.

nocoolnamesleft · 19/07/2025 22:30

OurBeautifulBaby · 19/07/2025 22:13

Don’t be ridiculous he’s being a teenager.

Show quote history

He’s a teenager with insulin dependent diabetes, and getting drunk can crash his sugars. This was very dangerous.

Weeee · 19/07/2025 22:30

Honon · 19/07/2025 22:28

I used to work with diabetic teens, it is very, very common to have a rebellion against the condition like this - sometimes it's refusing meds, sometimes not sticking to a diet, sometimes it's alcohol. They have to start taking responsibility for their own health at this age and that's a hard transition to make. Does he have a diabetes nurse? It would be good to have a discussion with them, ideally now or at next review, they will have seen it before.

I don't think you need to panic and get Camhs or social services involved for a one off incident (I actually don't think social services will get involved at all, but by all means wait and see). I'd be having a calm discussion with him once he's recovered. If he does it again then that's when I'd be considering further intervention.

Agree ,teenage diabetics do often rebel against their illness ie eating sugar,ignoring their restrictions etc . Generally they work it out for themselves.X

Michele09 · 19/07/2025 22:31

Weeee · 19/07/2025 22:27

This👆I ended up in AE after drinking my parents sherry back in the late 70s . Definitely did not need a psychologist,just felt shit for a few days and have never touched Sherry again 🤦‍♀️

Show quote history

But you didn't have T1d. It's a 24/7 condition.

LauraMipsum · 19/07/2025 22:33

When I was a bit older than your son I had a friend who was T1D who would go out and drink himself senseless most weekends and say things about not caring if he died - it was almost like he was sabotaging himself. It turned out that this was not uncommon among T1D teenagers. I do think your DS might benefit from some sort of support. As a teen I was concerned for my friend but didn't even consider how it would have affected his parents - in retrospect they must have been beside themselves and I can understand why they were so stressy with him. My friend now leads a pretty quiet and sober (mostly!) life and manages his condition well, I hope it works out the same for your DS. Good luck.

Thedoorisalwaysopen · 19/07/2025 22:35

Worst thing was he was saying, ‘I hate my life why do I have to live with this shit, I want to die’about his Type 1.

This is so tragic but at the same so normal.
I have a friend who has lived with T1 diabetes since he was 8. He once told me 'I have had moments when I am so sick of living as I have to just to keep myself alive, and with the T1 symptoms, that I sometimes feel f-it, I will do what I want and to hell with the consequences. Your son must feel the same. Depression is very common in diabetics.

I hope he gets the support he so badly needs. Good for you for following your gut.

YesHonestly · 19/07/2025 22:36

Weeee · 19/07/2025 22:27

This👆I ended up in AE after drinking my parents sherry back in the late 70s . Definitely did not need a psychologist,just felt shit for a few days and have never touched Sherry again 🤦‍♀️

Show quote history

It isn’t the fact that he’s drank almost a bottle of vodka.

What is concerning is the comment he’s made about T1 and wanting to die. It absolutely does warrant intervention.

TheChosenTwo · 19/07/2025 22:37

Oh op the diabetes is an additional layer of complexity isn’t it?
My friend at school was a type 1 diabetic and was also taken to hospital when we were 15 attending our first house party with no adults present. She had her stomach pumped, I felt so guilty as I was with her and although also pretty drunk I hadn’t drunk anywhere near as much as she had.
A friends daughter ended up with a stomach pumping after drinking a bottle of vodka without realising you needed to add a mixer. She was in the park and fell into the river. Luckily her friends saved her, it could have had a much nastier outcome.
My niece is T1 and was diagnosed as a really little tot. She’s grown up knowing to look after herself, has had a few blowouts around family and her mum has spent nights with her checking her blood sugars. She’s now in her late 20’s and has an insulin pump which she said has been totally life changing in so many ways, mainly that she sleeps through the night now and she’s never ever really done that before with any consistency. We take so much for granted that we don’t really think about the further implications that others have to manage and live with daily.
I’m sure he’ll not want vodka again, if not for the rest of his days then certainly not any time soon. And now you know how he feels about his diabetes, you can have a more honest open conversation about it going forwards. Hopefully he’ll decide to be truthful with you.
Look after yourself op, you were so quick to get to him and take action and you’ve had quite the shock too. 💐