Where's the T1D parents at I need some help please!

[MeMyCatsAndMyBooks]

I know this isn't AIBU sorry but posting for traffic as this is plaguing my life!

My ds7 has been diagnosed with T1D for 3 months, on MDI.
I've always done his injections nobody else bar school, I've always been fine about them and done it really well so I like to think.

However this week I got sick and my hands got a bit shaky and it's eroded my confidence massively when doing injections.
I've swapped to holding the pen like a thumbs up which has really helped control and no longer shakey but when it comes to taking the needle out of the skin I panic and it's like my brain goes blank so my dh has to help me remove it!

How do I get over this? It's ridiculous and really pissing me off, as it's the most easiest part! I've stabbed a orange at least 100 times and had no issues, I've done it in the air praticing and can do it fine it just comes to my son and head goes blank!

I've ordered a tickle flex to hide the needle to see if that helps but wtf do I do in the mean time my DH is always going to be there to help.

*is not always going to be there help.

Sorry can't really help but please go toDiabetes UK - Know diabetes. Fight diabetes. | Diabetes UK
I know they will help and answer q's quickly too.

I am type 2 so don;t inject,

Hope they can help

I don't know if this would be an option but could your son help? I know he's only 7 but he might be able to?

Could he be fitted with a pump which means he won't need injections?

I wonder what the barrier is exactly, now you aren't shaky and sick. I'm struggling to think of what to suggest.

I'm not sure I don't even know myself, it's just like my brain goes blank and I can't seem to bring myself to pull it out when that's the most easiest part. I think I'm scared of pulling it out and hurting him or bending the needle when that's never happened.

Could it be that it has take time for you processed the fact he T1D and this is how it is coming out?
I remember when a friend of mine went through a big diagnosis with one of her DC she coped brilliantly for the first few months, administering meds etc, and then had a similar thing happen to her. It was like adrenaline got her through and then reality crashed in. She had some counselling and that really helped.

The pulling out of the needle is almost never is the sore bit btw.

Does your DH not give the injections at all? My 8 year old has started giving his, it’s worth trying.

I don’t have an answer for you but I know how hard this is, we’re six months in. I think there are a lot of up and downs so don’t be too hard on yourself.

In the nicest possible way, you need to man/woman up. Your son needs you to do this, and not to make injections scary. It’s really really important for him - he will still need to inject sometimes even if moves to pump in due course.

I offer the following - the pulling out does not hurt! Not at all. The problems(insofar as there are any) come when the needle goes in, not when it comes out.

think about the inner resources you use when facing big challenges like giving birth, dealing with major crises etc and trust you can dig into those using mumma bear strength to make this ok for your kid.

t1D of 25 years here.

I think that may be it.
It's half term this week and he's been poorly with a virus that keeps raising on/off his ketones and it's given me time to think and process as we haven't been out much as he's been to sick where as before I was working on auto pilot like let's just get this done and out of the way and now the panic of this is reality and this is forever has maybe set in and head just keeps going blank.
But taking it out should be easy, I even managed it while (sorry tmi!) feeling sick with a headache the other day! I keep getting anxious up to his time needing the injections too like he's due to baseline insulin in ten minutes and I feel a little anxious even though I'm trying to breathe through it.

So doesn't hurt at all coming out? Okay. I gotta pull my big girl pants on and get this done.
I know once I've done it once or twice doing it right I'll be fine again! I mean I've done it half asleep, while poorly, in the middle of the night before didn't bother me so I know I can do this.
Thank you Lindt I need to give my head a wobble.

I am a T1D and diagnosed in childhood.

Just pull the needles out quickly, in the same direction they went in and this works for me, it takes a millisecond.

How does your child feel about doing their own injections, but with you supervising the dial-up of the dose and injection?

The choice is yours, anyway this is just a query and not an expectation.

The site needs to be clean and relaxed, makes it painless.

Kids and adults with T1D have nerves of steel and it can be overcome.

I did it! Haha! No hand wobbling or anything! I had a second where I was like blank but I gave my brain a wobble and told myself take it out and I did! And it didn't bleed or bruise or anything bad!
I can do this! I can actually do this! god knows what I've been thinking past few days sorry for this stupid post but I'm so pleased with myself. Hopefully that is the end of this one! 😂

You will get through it but also cut yourself some slack. It is a big deal.
Maybe a Diabetes charity might be a good shout for some mental health support for you

Well done!

I'm mum of two type ones. I would say your at a completely normal part of coming to terms with it. I remember going through something similar when my first was diagnosed around 3 months in, I had some counselling which the hospital provided.

I would also recommend joining the parents of children with type 1 Facebook page. So great for asking any questions etc!

Awww OP I feel your pain. My daughter is T1 and I’m completely needle phobic. Thankfully because she’s so young it forced me to put on a brave face and to echo a PP you just have to get on with it really.

If it helps my DD is 3 so her staying still is a nightmare, I’ve had her bouncing my arm (the one holding the pen) before (😱) and at worst it leaves a bruise. Sometimes she’s bleed the tiniest bit when she’s moved a lot during the process but she doesn’t even notice so I know it’s not painful. Although the blood makes me 🤢

OP - give yourself a break. You are all going through it and coming to terms with the change in yours and his life.
Someone will come along and say it is only diabetes it will be fine but for those of us 50+ yrs down this line - it lais not just any bloody thing.

To be honest at 7 your DS could start to learn to do them imslef, supervised but start teaching him to be in control He is capable, I started at age 6, injecting into an orange to practice! In those days you got 6 stainless steel needles and 2 gss syringes - they blunted very quickly but when you control the needle it hurts less!

The trick is be quick, stops you thiking about what you are doing. Even now I have days where I hesitate and have to tell myself to pull myself together. Plunger down and out all in one movement.
Be kind to yourslef - you will get back on track

Some days it will bleed and sometimes you get a stinking bruise - don't feel guilty it i not intentional. I am currently looking at a 4x4 cms bruise on my stomach wondering wtf I did to myself!

Sometimes there's just no logic for why one injection hurts and another doesn't. Mine rarely did. I was already doing my own injections by his age, I was taught to do it on diabetic camp at the age of 5.

I am a t1d and even when my cat head butted me meaning i moved my own insulin pen inside my leg six inches it didn’t hurt that much. The needles are tiny and barely register going in and has others have said not at all coming out. Hope you’re okay x

22yrs type 1 here and yeah it doesn't hurt coming out. Could you both go to the diabetes nurse to refresh injection technique? A confidence boost? Also your son may like to try himself.

Good luck.

As previous posters have said, as a T1D, they really don't hurt at all :-) I just had my first baby and had to follow up with 6 weeks of anti-clotting injections and the needles were huge in comparison and made me appreciate how pain-free my insulin ones are.

To get your confidence back, perhaps you should do it on yourself so you know how it feels? I wouldn't actually inject anything but just follow the motion with a clean needle of inserting it and removing it so you know how it feels for your son?