Daughter been diagnosed as diabetic

[emilytankengine]

My 9 year old daughter is in hospital diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes. She became very ill prior to diagnosis because of incompetence of our GP. She is recovering but doesn't know she has diabetes yet. Was semi conscious when she was admitted through A and E. Help!

There is no history of diabetes in my family at all. There are even any autoimmune conditions. I don't know why i got it and i do kind of worry that my kids will get it and i'd feel really guilty!

Times have changed so much and diabetes is so much more common nowadays to when i was diagnosed. I'd never even heard of diabetes and there was never anyone else in my school who had it. At the school i teach at there are about 10 kids!

I always feel ashamed when i read these threads as i gave my mum so much shit when i was diagnosed! To think she was going through what you guys are going through

Thinking of you EmilyTE and hoping things are OK round your way.

If you want to talk any time you're welcome to message me.

Thankyou again for everyone's support. DD reluctantly went back to school on Monday. The diabetes nurse has been and talked to the school. She isn't allowed to do PE just yet and arrangements have been made for her to go into dinner first etc.

I am still doing her injections but she does her own blood tests. When should she be doing them herself?

Still finding things hard and so restricted. I feel like the daughter i had has gone

Emily I know what you mean. I grieved for the loss of my healthy gorgeous son. You really do feel like they've gone don't you? There's not much I can say about that. For me it's what hurt the most but it gets easier.

There is also the loss of sponteniety and the care-free, healthy child we took for granted. I can still get choked about this (am filling up as I write) but less and less frequently and, again, it does get easier with time.

I wouldn't worry yet about her doing her own injections. It's great she's doing blood tests herself. Very good for her confidence. She'll do the insulin when she's ready but it's best not to put pressure on IME. It's a gradual process of taking control of her condition .... but she's still so young, probably shocked, and vulnerable at the moment. It's all so fresh.

My ds does some of his own injections now partly becaue he knows he has to if he wants to go to tea at someone's house after school.

I tried the needle to show solidarity and to get some understanding of how it felt. I put it in my thigh but obviously didn't inject any insulin. There was no pain although my thigh is a good deal larger than ds's.

How do you think school is handling it? We had a home/school book in which they recorded any incidents, with timings. We have a spare kit and some insulin at school.

Do you have other kids Spidermama? What effect did DS's diagnosis have on them? Grieving is the right word i was looking for - i almost feel like DD died

Aw Emily I'm really sorry. It's so tough, it is. I felt like nothing would be the same ever again. I guess that's true too, but these days living with ds's condition is just the norm.

I have three others. Ds is my oldest son. He has a brother of 2.5, a brother of 5 and a sister of 9.

When DS came home on Christmas eve' 2005 (we just managed to convince the hospital to let him home for the big day!) his brother and sister slept on the floor with him. They wanted to be near him and they made a bed out of cushions. I don't think they've ever been so close before or since. It was very moving. He was so vulnerable.

They seem to have taken it in their stride. I've tried to make sure ds doesn't get too much special treatment. If he does (Say he needs some sweets as he's low for example) I just explain to them matter of factly that it's because of his diabetes. They understand it really well.

Again the family support weekend by D.UK really helped with this aspect. While we parents were sitting in lectures by various eminent diabetes specialists, the kids were hanging out and going on away days with the other diabetic kids and their siblings. They were talking about it all and writing stuff down - doing their own workshop stuff.

How are you doing? I assume your dd has a sibling or two? It's great you're asking about this because obviously you're aware they have needs too and this will be affecting them. The condition comes to live with the family.

I remember when I had a thread like this one when ds was newly diagnosed and a woman who'd had a sibling with diabetes came on to remind me to give attention to the other kids as they can feel resentful if the focus is always on the diabetic one.

Anyway this is a bit long and rambly. I know there's so much going on for you and I don't want to bombard you but I do want you to know I'm here and you can message me any time.

Best wishes.

Hi Spidermama
DD has an older sister and a younger brother. DS is only 2 so is oblivious, but my older daughter has been very moody since the diagnosis, mainly with me but also towards DD, although she's never mentioned diabetes. As you say it does affect the whole family so maybe I should talk to her?

DD seems to be coping a little better. Her BMs have been very stable

hi sorry to hear about your daughter, shout for a natter, my daughter was diagnoised nov 06 aged 2yrs 11mths. she is on nova and levermere. they call it mdi.
we have just started this week she going on a pump starts tues properly with insulin.
shout me my email msn is
[email protected]

I don't ever remember getting special treatment for being diabetic but one of my older brothers told me that he used to wish he had diabetes so someone remembered he existed

But talking of treating siblings equally i can remember it being easter and my brothers being given easter eggs from am old aunty and guess what i was given ....... wait for it ...... an apple!!!! Can laugh about it now but at the time!!!!!!

Hi Everyone
Things getting a bit more normal for us. The diabetes team have said that they will consider putting DD on multiple daily injections so she can have more flexibility so long as she's happy with that. She is coping well actually despite a shaky start. She has had a bit of a cold so her blood sugars have been a bit on the high side.

How is your DD doing with her pump Debbie?

Paddy! at your aunt! I'd be so upset if that happened to DD

we haev been on teh pump now a week and i can honestly say why didnt i do it sooner.
its fab numbers lot better feel i got control and a difference in my daughter. shes playin more like a little girl instead of tantrum after tantrums shes more calm etcif u thinking of one go for it if u wan tto natter to me about it etc shout me [email protected]
but wow what a difference and i feel i have more freedom and control, even the nurses are shocked on her control in teh last week we have had one high of 25 but the rest no more than 15 ish 90% of the tiem she is around the 6-8 mark

yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee