Looks like 16 yr old DS3 has diabetes - any advice for mears?

[mears]

My Ds3 has been complaining of increased thirst, peeing and lethargy over the last week to 10 days. I couldn't get an appointment at the GP so (naughty health professional that I am) I accessed a blood glucometer and urine sticks to find that his blood glucose is 23.7 and his urine in loaded with glucose and ketones.

The dliemma ofcourse is that GP is closed and I need to wait till the morning to phone. Since I am a midwife I am not sure of what will happen next. Will he need immediate referreal and inpatient assessment? We are supposed to be going to Fife for the weekend so I suppose that is out. Am concerned that nothing much would be done over a weekend so might be better to go away for weekend and get sorted from Monday. If I hadn't tested him we wouldn't know. Thing is we do know so should be getting something done.

Any experience out there?

[tortoiseSHELL]

mears, you sound like such a great mum! And you ds sounds fab too - well done all of you, you seem to be really taking this in your stride. Hope this week goes well for you all, and things settle down well.

[mm22bys]

It's great he's not on mixed insulin! Yay! "Diabetic" menus are hideous. I made the mistake of ordering one when I was on a plane many years ago. It was just gross. So is diabetic chocolate. It tastes gross and actually has the same number of carbs (or maybe only slightly lower) than normal chocolate.

So good too that he seems to be getting back to "normal life" so quickly. I was dxed half way through my second year at unit. I spent a few days in hospital, then went straight back into uni. I think it's really important to adjust his diabetes to suit his life, and not the other way round!

Great too you'll all be eating the same thing, and not doing special stuff just for him. My very first dr (15 years ago) told me that there should be no such thing as a "diabetic" diet, just healthy eating was the key (same for everybody really).

It sounds like you and he are really adjusting really well.

All the best,

[mears]

He is on Levemir and Novorapid mm2bys.

It is amazing how things have changed over the years. When I first trained as a nurse diabetic patients got 'diabetic menus'. That is now a thing of the past - healthy eating is the key.

Basically he will be able to eat what he wants (within reason) but will ba able to manage it by adjusting insulin and exercise.

tortoiseSHELL - interestingly there are artificial sweeteners that are not recommended - they are Sucron, Sorbitol and Fructose because they have the same caloried as sugar but have a laxative effect. 'Diabetic' foods are not recommended either for the same reason. Advice has certainly changed over the years.

He is away to a friends house just now. He was quite nervous about going out but was kaan to go. It isn't far and he is walking round. He is quite a sedentary boy - paints models and sits at the computer. He knows he will need to be more active to bring his sugar levels down.

We are all going to be more active and eat more healthily - hopefully i will lose a couple of stones!

[mm22bys]

Fructose (sugar in fruit) is low on the glycemic index, so will raise blood sugar more slowly than something high GI (like white bread).

Once your son has got used counting the carbs in what he eats, and adjust his meal-based insulin accordingly, he'll be able to eat pretty much what he wants. These days with rapid-acting insulins (including humalog and novorapid), and better long acting insulins (like Lantus and Levemir), days of restricted diets are long passed.

All the best,

[tortoiseSHELL]

glad he's feeling a bit better about things mears. My uncle has been diabetic since his teens, and I think it does just become a way of life. Don't know if it's relevant in your son's case, but he always seemed to use fructose in things, so he could eat a more 'normal' diet, but maybe the insulin counteracts that? I always remember my aunt cooking cakes with fructose so he could eat them (he is insulin dependent type 1). Lots of love to you and your ds. xxx

[mears]

Thanks again - have just got to the computer again for a quick peek.

DS seems to be coping better toady. He is doing his blood glucose checks in private and giving his insulin. He says music helps. Blood sugar was 17 going to bed. The diabetic nurse phoned today and upped his amounts.

I have asked him if he wants to go to school on Monday - don't think he is too keen. I think we will go in and speak to his guidance teacher on Monday and send him back Tuesday - will see what he thinks. Am knackered so going to bed now. Thanks for all the supportive posts.

[mm22bys]

Reality Check is a great site, I second what Dilbertina says. I check it every day, they have a really lively forum.

www.childrenwithdiabetes.com is pretty good too. It's not aimed just at children!

There is a support email group too, for parents of childen with type 1, based in the UK. I don't have subscription details to hand just now, but I can put you in touch with one of the mums on the site who's got a 12 year old with it.

All the best,

[dilbertina]

hi mears, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes whilst pregnant with my daughter 4 years ago. My sympathy to you, your son and family having to cope with this. I'm sure everything seems unreal at the moment but please do be reassured that diabetes is a manageable condition and with appropriate treatment the outlook is good, with new treatment options being developed all the time.

I found it really useful to learn as much as possible in the early days and i just wanted to recommend a couple of websites I found useful having trawled hundreds....!

www.diabetes123.com
a US site largely aimed at parents of children with diabetes. Good educational bits, forums and a useful "ask the diabetes team" section if you have a question.

www.realitycheck.org.au
an australian site for young adults with diabetes. One for your son, and it might be reassuring for you to take a look too - full of young adults complaining about, sharing info about and laughing about (yes really!) diabetes. This site more than any other helped me come to terms with having diabetes. I hope it helps do the same for your son.

[Spidermama]

Hi Mears,
I surprised he's home so quickly and being told to go to school as normal. There's an awful lot for you all to get your heads round. He'll need to think things through and process his feelings.

It's a huge thing. It's not just the insulin regime, but there's a loss of spontineity and there's also a large amount to learn, in your own time (I'm still at the tip of the iceberg stage) to insure you're choosing the right treatment option for him.

It's great he has managed to inject himself. That's a really important part of taking charge of the condition and feeling able to control it and be independent. Also it gets much easier. The first few times are definitely the worst.

Thinking of you mears and I hope his blood sugars are stabilising. Take you time though. x

[ScottishThistle]

Hi again Mears!

Regular blood testing is the most important thing, school will be fine as long as he checks his blood in the morning & at lunchtime & keeps a couple of snacks in his bag for when he needs them.

My Sister's been Diabetic since the age of 3 & got very lax with the blood testing which led to no end of Hypo's (the paramedics knew her by name!).

Also don't allow him to have a very long lie in in the mornings...My Sis sleeps like a log & it's difficult to tell if she's asleep or lapsing into a coma (so we give her a nudge to check her state of mind!)-sorry don't want to put the fear of god into you here but she did infact lapse into coma on holiday whilst sunbathing & Mum thought she was having forty winks! (10 days in a Turkish hospital!)

My Sister-in-law to be checks her blood very regularly & as yet in 8mths has never had a Hypo!

Things to watch out for with Hypo's are that they may become aggressive, appear drunk, high & giggly, pupils dilate.

Sorry to keep going on but if you have any questions or indeed your son does please feel free to contact me anytime niksmith @ hotmail . com

[Saggarmakersbottomknocker]

Tough day eh mears?

Poor ds he must be feeling pretty shell-shocked, you too. Hope you can find some good support, especially during the first few weeks.

[mears]

Thanks for your messages

We got back home this faternoon but I can't help feeling that it all happened too quick for DS to get his head around.

I went up to the hospital just after 12md. Ds had already been shown how to use the insulin pen but hadn't tried it yet. At lunchtime he injected his first dose. The lovely diabetic liaison nurse went over information again with him - hypos etc. The drip was stopped 1/2 hour later. Then we went home 1/2 hour after that. We have a contact number for the nurse. We talked to the dietician which was really helpful and off we went. He injected himself at teatime and then took his first long acting injection at 10pm. His blood glucose going to bed was 18.1.

It took him ages to pluck up the courage to inject himself at 10pm - it was the largest dose so far. He was allowed to go to his games night where he was able to speak to his friends. The nurse says he should go to school as normal on Monday but I am not sure. Will see how he feels. Nurse will phone tomorrow and probably adjust his insulin. He is just shattered that he will have to do this for the rest of his life but it is only day 1! Hopefully tomorrow he will be less apprehensive about injecting.

Am interested in joining e-mail group. I need to go to bed now though as I am shattered after today. Thanks for the offers of help - mears x

[edam]

Sorry to hear about this Mears. Sending you and all yours lots of good thoughts.

[ScottishThistle]

Hi Mears, Glad you went to the hospital & your Son's on the mend...Tell him not to worry too much about the injections, just a wee nip!

Oh & by the way it was pouring when I landed in Edinburgh tonight so you may well be missing a lovely rainy weekend in Burntisland!

Sending good wishes for your Son.

[Spidermama]

Thinking about you and your ds mears. x

Hi Tangerine.

[tangarine]

Hi Mears,

I am so glad you got to hospital last night. I saw your post and was trying to post to tell you to take him to A&E but my computer kept crashing. My ds (9) was diagnosed with Type 1 at the age of 5. He's on an insulin pump.

There will be a lot for you, your son and the rest of your family to take in just now. Once you have started to get your head round things please get in touch if you have any questions. It is a steep learning curve, but you will get there. Your ds will feel a lot better as soon as he in on insulin and the blood sugars come down.

I'm part of the email group spidermama mentioned - let one of us know if you need putting in touch with other parents of children with diabetes. There are a number of parents of teenagers in our group.

[PrettyCandles]

Hi Mears. I don't have any experience to share, just wanted to send my love, and hope that your boy's doing well.

x
PC

[misdee]

so glad you took him in mears. there is a lot of support out there for diabetics and family members iof diabetics. i am borderline diabetic so am very aware of how my body reacts to small amounts of suger. i had a lot of tests and re-tests done when i was a teenager, but am still clear.

thinking fo you and your ds, and the rest of youy at this time of learning.

[Anchovy]

Mears - am not diabetic but am "diabetic aware" as both my parents are and we have a lot of it in the family.

I just wanted to say, if it is any consolation, that my grandother had type 1 diabetes diagnosed in the late 1960's. She injected every day from then. She died 2 years ago aged 93 from causes completely unrelated to diabetes (having lived alone very happily and healthily for 8 years after my grandfather's death). So although I know it is a life-style change, don't let anyone paint a "doom and gloom" scenario for you.

I have heard that the single most dangerous thing with diabetes is not taking it seriously - if you respect it and take your meds, you really can be pretty stable.

Good luck!

[mm22bys]

Hi, sorry to hear about your son. You all have a steep learning curve.

I have knowledge and experience of what it's like to be dxed as a teenager, and also have the same re the pump that has also been talked about here

If you'd like to get in touch, please let me know.

All the best, and hugs (he WILL be alright though!)

[tissy]

sorry to hear this, mears. Hope you still get your trip to Fife (even if not this weekend).Best of luck to ds3, blood testing and insulin injections will be second nature to him in no time.

[Spidermama]

Hi noddy. X posts.

[Spidermama]

Hi Mears. I'm really sorry to hear about this. You'll be feeling a bit shakey for a while I'm sure. Your medical training will stand you in good stead though.

My ds, who's 7, was dxd just over a year ago and his blood sugar was so high it was off the scales and the monitor just read 'HI'.

He's on mixed insulin now but there are all sorts of options I'm looking into.

There are a handful of mums of diabetics as well as a couple of diabetic mums. (Hi Millie). There's also a very good email group I've recently joined which has been a Godsend so far.

I don't want to bombard you with stuff at the moment as you have quite a bit to get your head around but I'm really sorry to hear about your ds and if you ever want to CAT me you are very welcome.

Love Spider. xxx

[noddyholder]

Thank goodness you took him in and had those contacts.I hope he gets sorted soon spidermamas ds has diabetes so she will be able to give you loads of info xx

[suedonim]

Flipping heck, Mears, that's scary. I didn't know it could come on so suddenly.

Dd1's flatmate is diabetic; she has some sort of continuous insulin feed which makes her life much more 'normal'. I'm glad ds is in safe hands and hope he feels back to his old self soon.