Morning. Sorry to hear about this worry. I was diagnosed as a type 1 insulin dependent about 21 years ago, when I was 19. If it is diabetes, and hold out until they confirm, then its a big thing to get your head round, and his as well. There are many charities and help groups to show oyou the way through. Start here with Diabetes UK, they are the foremost source of information. They also link to all diabetes friendly assciations, insurance companies, and people with interest.
First and foremost, it's important not to make him feel like he has a disease, as it is referred to, or disabled, as it can be classed. I tell my children a bit of me just conked out (which essentially it is). It's not really been proved where it comes from 100%. Mine was due to severe obesity as a child, but it's know to come from trauma, and is possibly inherited, although the parent doesn't have to be diabetic. Whatver the reason, it's important to establish a routine for it, just like brushing your teeth. It's a desperately serious illness, but has very simple rules. Always have lucozade with you, remember that excercise and heat push the sugar levels down immediately, don;'t panic EVER and give an injection if you aren't sure, and always involve your son in the thought process.
Little things matter. It's a life threatening problem, so don't ever rely on other people to consider it for you, that's just selfish. Your son will always be able to eat whatever he wants, just not in the quantity that he may like. Being near a chocolate bar won't kill him, and he won't need to be spoken to loudly, or sit down all the time (these are all things that I get regularly, still!). He'll be able to live a happy, normal, active life, as long as he sticks to the rules.
Pschologically, he'll probably rebel, and think he can master the diabetes. I tried, everyone does, and everyone, including me, failed. You have to stick to the rules forever, and that's a mighty long time.
The biggest problem areas are with nerve endings dying from having to high a blood sugar reading. Because the effects are subtle, and not immediate, it's difficul;t to notice them. But, as is typical with most diabetics, I am partially sighted now (even having had over 7000 shots with lasers to burn away the damage), I have sensation in only 8 fingers, and I have no sensation in my feet at all. Nothing. Which means constant monitoring for diabetic foot ulcers, the most common cause of amputation.
Sorry if this sounds grim, but I wish I'd known.
On the plus side, injections are a piece of cake. You'll be given very easy to use insulin pens, where you just dial up how much you want, stick the tiny needle in your thigh, and its done. I have been injecting through my clothes for 21 years and it catagorically does not cause a problem, so don't worry about having to find somewhere private to inject.
Companies fall over themselves to give you stuff like blood sugar meters, and new pens, and anything associated as it is huge business for them. He will receive free prescriptions for everything forever now, and will always have free sight tests. I'm just finding out about motability car allowances, and i'm hoping that I fall into the scheme. Not because I have trouble walking, which sometimes I do because I let things slip, but because they practically give cars away and thats the only benefit I'll let myself take. Also, as long as he pays attention to his body, it will be relatively easy to live a normal life.
My number one TOP TIP that one day I hope you remember me for : Diabetics have to have their fingers pricked for blood sugar tests all the time. It hurts. And it makes your fingers stupidly sensitive. A nurse in a hospital once told me that you should use the bottom of your ear, the very final point, and you'll never feel it, and get a good sample. She was so right. Always insist people use his ear, and he'll not feel it, and get an accurate reading.
There's loads of great books on diabetic food, especially the Anthony Worrall Thompson range. And if you look around, people like McDonalds have diabetic unit breakdowns of their whole menu.
I hope you are ok. It's difficult for the parents too. It's a bumpy road, physically as well as pshychologically. But it's an easy road if you accept that diabetes is, for the time being, permanent and not to be messed with.
Love to hear back and see what the results are.