Daughter newly diagnosed with Type One Diabetes

[lulurose]

Hi all, I have a thread running over on health regarding this too.

My dd2 was diagnosed a week ago with type 1 diabetes, she is 19 months old (photo on profile of both dds). We are still very much in shock and gradually coming to terms with all that is involved with this chronic condition.

We are relieved to have her home now, she spent 5 days in hospital and had become quite ill prior to admission.

I understand from dds consultant that diabetes is still quite unusual in a child so young but was just wondering if there was anyone else who could share experiences. I have "met" some lovely Mums over on Health but wanted to make myself known here too...

Thanks xx

[lulurose]

bump

[Sidge]

Sorry can't help with the DM but just wanted to say hello!!

Have you contacted Diabetes UK?

[lulurose]

hello...thanks for saying hi!!

Yes have had lots of info from diabetes uk and a tonne of literature from the hospital too...all a bit overwhelming really.

I will keep an eye on here for a bit longer to see if any others have experiences to share x

[Nat1H]

Hi there!
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 2 1/2 (am over 30 now - won't say exactly how old!) Any questions, just ask!

[lulurose]

Hi Nat, thanks for replying I suppose my main concerns with having this diagnosed in my dd so young are what the long term risks and complications will be. Have you had any complications or long stays in hospital since diagnosis? Do you feel like you have had a "normal" life overall despite the diabetes. I have so many questions but i'm a bit all over the place at the moment...

Thanks x

[Nat1H]

Hi there. Sorry you are feeling so all over the place.
I have led a very 'normal' life - my diabetes has never stopped me from doing anything I have wanted to do (although when I was at school, I did occasionally use it to get out of things I DIDN'T want to do!! ) I really think your attitude makes a world of difference to how you feel about it and how you handle it. My mum (who also has it) knew someone who let it run their life - they had to have their injections at exactly the same time every day etc. etc. This, I think, is highly impractical - you have to 'live' as well as cope with the condition. The new insulins that are available nowadays are so much more flexible and manageable than they were a few years ago.
I had a few stays in hospital when I was a child - had a few bad night hypos and if I ever became ill (eg. extreme tummy bug) they kept me in longer than they would a 'normal' child - just so they could stabilise my blood sugars.
Once you have got the hang of testing your blood sugar and managing the levels, your lives should not be noticeably different to that of a family without diabetes. (Although I have had it all my life, so am just used to it - it would seem really odd if I didn't have to test blood sugars and take insulin all the time!)
What I'm trying to say is, it becomes a way of life. Don't get too hung up on trying to get 'perfect' blood sugars all the time - it's impossible to achieve! Even my consultant agrees with me on this one.
Any more questions, feel free to ask.
Nat

[lulurose]

Hi Nat, great to hear your experiences and also to hear about allowing flexibility. That is something I need to work on as I am still fretting about what I'm dishing up, what time, and how much will she eat...not a recipe for relaxed mealtimes!

It is brilliant to hear that your life has not been affected too much by diabetes, I hope that Tess will achieve all she wants in life too...love to you and yours x

ps night time hypos are a real worry of mine, are they quite unusual? At the moment we're testing BG before we go to bed but I still lie awake worrying

[Nat1H]

I don't remember why I had nightime hypos as a child - they were not frequent though. I remember ending up in hospital a couple of times. Once was definately because I went to bed in a bad mood and wouldn't eat any supper
My worst nightime hypos were when I was pregnant with DS1. My BS used to suddenly plummet and then I didn't wake up. Insulins are much better now though, and I had no problems with DS2.
Maybe there is a 'young diabetics' support group in your area. I know from experience that it is always easier if you have people to talk to who are sharing the same sort of experiences.
Good luck. And remember, any questions, just ask!

[saltire]

A lot of my family have diabetes, my cousin's daughter was 18months old when she was diagnosed. She is now 16, and lives a perfectly normal life. SHe does all the things 16 year old girls should do.
As long as you keep your daughters blood sugars under control then there is no reason why she shouldn't be the same