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Original poster

Calling Spidermama: Diabetes

184 replies

LillyPink · 27/02/2006 14:24

Hi

Posted a few days ago about dd drinking and weeing a lot and my suspicions were confirmed, she is diabetic.

Have been in and out of hospital all weekend, and things seem very wierd at the moment, we are trying to adjust to this news.

Her b/m was 30 when she was admitted and the nurse said she was amazed she was so lively!

Would love to talk to you or anyone else with diabetic kids for reassurance and advice etc!

OP posts:
chapsmum · 28/02/2006 14:38

Well I really mean it, you sound like its all second nature and it makes such a difference to be able to share positive experiences of it.

Good luck with the form, I had to do one for my dad (different disability) they are a total nightmare!!!!

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 28/02/2006 14:45

Spidermama - are you getting help with the form? I agree they are a pain.

Photocopy it before you send it off - useful when you need to re-apply. And good luck!

Original poster
LillyPink · 28/02/2006 14:50

Thanks for your reassurrance SM and thanks for others comments.

I'm feeling really down about this at the moment. I'm constantly paranoid. She is tired at the moment and I'm half worried she is hypo as she looks pale, but I know she isn't, she is just tired. Dosn't stop me fretting though! I am a real worrier by nature.

Your school seems to be coping well SM.

I'm going to prepare a hypo box for school to take to the meeting on Friday, so she won't be going back until next week.

I'm one of the least organised people on the planet, so I am having to write evrything down, even what food she has had at what time, though the nurse said not to get too obbsessive about it.

The poor kid has asthma (thankfully mild) too since being a toddler. I found that alarming enough to deal with, but this is in a different league.

Oh and shes had a temperature and snotty nose today, so I've been worrying about her sugar levels even more.

I keep havinmg to resist the urge to test her blood every hour!! Though so far today has been within normal range.

My poor little baby Sad

OP posts:
singersgirl · 28/02/2006 15:00

Sorry that it is diabetes, Lillypink, and good luck with adjusting to everything.

spidermama · 28/02/2006 15:01

Good idea to photocpy it saggar (all 40 odd pages of it!!)

Sorry to hear this lilly. I can understand why you're so down. The paranoia is totally draining at first. You are in the very early stages. Things will get calmer and you'll start to feel more confident. Only time can help with this.

I'm off to pick up ds from school now, armed with a fig roll!

Original poster
LillyPink · 28/02/2006 15:06

Will have to try fig rolls with dd. Any other snack ideas Spidermama?

You seem to be coping with it all brilliantly. I think in a way once she is back at school life can continue again ifysim. Though I will be worried its all a bit up in the air till then (but I will enjoy having her to myself all week!)

OP posts:
Original poster
LillyPink · 28/02/2006 15:07

Tested dd2s wee aswell earlier just in case!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
LillyPink · 28/02/2006 15:07

Oh and thanks Singersgirl, I need some good luck at the moment!!

OP posts:
chapsmum · 28/02/2006 15:14

nutragrain bars have allot of quick sugar in them, the elevenses ones are quite substantial!

chapsmum · 28/02/2006 15:18

also dug \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=138&threadid=145722&stamp=060210205847\this} out. Like it says in the thread a few of my friends (who are both drs) are diabetic and they always gave little nuggets of experience.
Sorry for hijack but hope this will help

RachD · 28/02/2006 15:48

Dear Lillypink,
So sorry to hear about dd.
Glad Spidermama is here to help you.
I am a type 1 diabetic.

Diagnosed at 1 1/2 yrs old.
Had it 31 years now.
If I can be of any assistance at all, please ask - more than happy to help.

I'm sure it is a very big shock and seems insurmountable, right now.
It is a very steep learning curve - I appreciate that.
Hopefully in time, things will become more balanced.
She will be able to meet other diabetic children, through the local BDA group - (British Diabetic association) - her own age - and that will help her- and it will help you to meet other mums and get their tips.

Before long, she'll be off travelling round the world - ( I did - and if I can do it ,anyone can)

Hope that helps.

spidermama · 28/02/2006 15:48

I had some good biscuit recipes from diabetes UK which have choc chips and dried fruit, wholemeal flour in so don't need as much sugar. Oats are good so flapjacks a good idea. I find it really tough getting enough snack material that's not sugary but has slow release carbs.

It's a good idea to get her helping with the baking side of things because she needs to start to be interested in healthy foods.

I don't want to bombard you with information. You'll be taking it in bit by bit.

It's pancake day so instead of just lemon and sugar I've chopped some fruit and dried fruit to help with the sweetness.

I get conflicting reports about how much sugary stuff he's allowed actually. He has had a few parties which are always a worry.

spidermama · 28/02/2006 15:51

Hi rachD. I just showed your post to my ds and he was impressed. Smile

Original poster
LillyPink · 28/02/2006 16:00

Chapsmum - very interesting thread - will read in more detail later, just skimmed it.

RachD - very inspirational! Thank you!

Spidermama - I find all this slow relase carbs stuff a bit baffling at present. What is a typical days menu for your son if you don't mind me asking?

OP posts:
RachD · 28/02/2006 16:07

Lillypink - I can appreciate that it ia sll too much to take in at the moment, and your head is spinning.

The slow release carbs thing is very prominent at the moment because of the Gi books.
But diabetics have been on this 'fad' for years - high fibre low fat.

Fruit and fibre & semi skimmed milk for breakfast.
Brown toast.
Jacket pots & baked beans - the best meal for a diabetic - apparently
Pasta
Brown rice
Fresh fruit salad.

All things that are slowy released carbs and thus assist stable blood sugars.

ruty · 28/02/2006 16:19

glad you're getting some lovely advice here Lilypink - RachD - inspirational story! Smile

RachD · 28/02/2006 16:20

Inspirational - blimey - thank you - never been that before.

My only objective was to make you feel better, in this difficult time.
How has your dd been getting on today ?

My mums motto for me was - "nothing gonna stop us - especially not diabetes".

Original poster
LillyPink · 28/02/2006 16:34

Thank you RachD - DD loves jacket potatoes/mash but unfortunatley hates beans. Loves brown bread and fruit and pasta.

She is having rice with her dinner tonight though it is white not brown.

Do you ever get frustrated with your diabetes or is that not an issue at all for you? Even now I am thinking of what her lifestyle will be like when she is older.

Thanks to everyone for their posts it is a great help!

OP posts:
heavenis · 28/02/2006 16:35

Just a word about using the gel. I had gestational diabetes and my son had a hard time with his levels when he was born. At one point his levels were so low that I had to give him hypo stop, rubbed it onto his gums it really did work quickly.
Good luck.
Your doing a really good job keep going.

Original poster
LillyPink · 28/02/2006 16:38

RachD - DD is getting on OK today. We have a problem in that she will only let me inject in her thighs at the moment. We have been using different areas on the thighs, but I need her to let me try her tummy or arm.

Twenty minutes till next jab, hopefully she will be good about it!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
LillyPink · 28/02/2006 16:40

Thanks for the info about the gel, heavenis, that must have been really scary with a small baby!!!!

OP posts:
heavenis · 28/02/2006 16:47

Very scary but luckly he sorted himself out after being put back on a drip. I still worry that he'll develope diabetes later in life.

RachD · 28/02/2006 17:00

Do I get frustrated ?
God yeah !
Sometimes I hate it soooooooo much.
Mostly its fine.

Oh dear injections - only allowing thigh - I understand that - oh dear -
generally the more fat and muscle there is - the less it hurts - but then again, sometimes, for no apparent reason, one injection hurts more than another - she is doing well letting you inject her AT ALL !!!

spidermama · 28/02/2006 17:59

Lily - I hope the injection went ok. My ds would also only allow his in the thigh to begin with as he didn't have much fat anywhere else. I think you're ok doing just the thugh for now. It's just in the long term you need to make sure the sites are varied but for now, while it's all so new and she's getting used to it, do whatever it takes to help her get in insulin in with the least anguish possible.

My ds now has jabs in his arms, bottom, tummy and thighs. It took a while for him to fatten up.

Also we found it hurts less sometimes if you pull up the fat a bit between finger and thumb (not too much, keep it soft) and slide the needle in at an angle so it doesn't go too deep.

I remember the early trauma of injections, but it does get easier and the more relaxed they are the less it'll hurt.

hoxtonchick · 28/02/2006 18:26

small cartons of juice are fab for hypos.

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