As a diabetic child.....

[kel4han]

Did you miss out on alot of things such as parties, field trips, activities? My 6y/o has a party to go to today, but she woke up with a cough sore throat, tummy ache. She probably shouldn't be around other kids anyway. I was worried about the stress of even being sick, since we are only 6wks into dx. I have never had my own sick day with "d" so, I am really stressed about hers. She has an ice skating field trip next week, and even though she hates ice skating, I wanted her to go since she has missed alot of school. I hate thinking that others think she is missing these things becuase of her new "d" Wondering how you felt as a child with "D" so I can help her through those feelings.

[BriOnH]

I never missed out on anything as a child with diabetes. Not a single thing I can think of. I was a very active and happy kid too. My mom did such a great job raising me with D. I am sure you will do the same for you child.

[belyro]

I didn't miss out on anything as a kid because of diabetes either. At least not that I can remember.

[parrotletzoo]

I didn't miss anything because of diabetes. Diabetes doesn't have to limit a child's activities as long as bloodsugars are monitored properly. I went to parties, went on field trips, slept over at friends' houses, played sports. My parents made it very clear to me that diabetes wasn't a limitation or a crutch. Obviously, sick day management is different for a child with diabetes but that doesn't mean they can't do everyday things. Think of parties and holidays as special days, let kids eat treats in moderation during them and adjust insulin and bolus for carb intake appropriatly. Imo kids should be made to understand that "special" days that include things like added exercise (I'm thinking of your daughter's ice skating fieldtrip) or treats (b.day parties etc) will require added finger sticks to monitor blood sugars and may also include extra boluses to cover/adjust for carb intatke and bs fluctuations.

just my opinions ;) but imo diabetes didn't cause me to miss out on anythign when I was growing up.

[Mick]

I missed out on very little as a diabetic child. The one thing was during high school, after a very rough patch of crazy control (or lack of control...) during a wicked hormal growth spurt at age 16, I had gotten a part in the school play, but ended up in the hospital, and my understudy got the part because I had to miss so many rehearsals. I got over it, tried out again the following year, got a bigger part, and won the school's Dramatic Arts Award that year. So, all's well that ends well. My parents didn't push me into any activities, nor did they shelter me from doing anything--they figured I'd do what I was capable and comfortable doing. Which I did...

Michael
T1 since 1966

[spring]

nope! Went on the field trips, camping excursions, horse back riding camps, trails and lessons, skating, swimming, parties, trick-or-treating, etc etc. Perhaps the only thing I didn't take part in was the 24 hour famine fundraisers (which with the good, non-nph basals today could even be do-able), and drinking until I passed out as a teen (which I'm not sure I'd be inclined to do anyway).

[ang]

i never missed out on anything growing up. if anything i got to do more because i got to go to diabetic camp! i think its important for diabetics, kids and adults alike, to get to experience everything a non-diabetic would. i think the effects of not letting your kid experience something everybody else is simply because they're diabetic would be more damaging that letting them do it and maybe have to deal with a couple highs or lows. if diabetic kids get babied all the time they're going to grow up and still be a big baby. us diabetics need to be tough! and i don't see how not letting diabetic kids do certain things prepares them for adulthood. life's harsh and they can't grow up thinking they're this fragile little creature.

[Dewey]

The only thing I can remember missing was 2 weeks of school (post diagnosis), because they were spent in the hospital educating my family and getting me on a regime. Of course, that was in 1982.

I also remember actually going on a field trip shortly after blood was drawn (like a day later or so). The only thing that bothered me then was the bruise I had (it hurt with every bump the bus hit) from the "botch" job the doctor did while drawing me.

[issysmommy]

I did not miss out on anything. I was diagnosed in 6th grade at the age of 11, and I can remember even having a friend say, "You can't get mad at J, she has Diabetes." I made sure she knew that she darn well could and should get mad at me if that was what she wanted to do. Funny looking back.

I also went to one of those Diabetic camps and learned some awful tricks about drinking sugar sodas and met some kids with awful control. It was such a bad experience I called my parents after a week to come pick me up early.

On the other hand, I went to a non-diabetic camp for 8 years as a camper and 3 as a counselor. We did all kinds of things at this camp, including a week trip to Colorado to river raft (pre pump days), climb and camp out on a 14,000 foot mountain, and all kinds of water sports.

I never (and my parents didn't either) let my diabetes keep me from being as normal as I could be. We had to check my blood sugar a lot, and I had to be woken up during the night to check, but for the most part I was normal. With a disease that isn't normal for a kid that is the worst thing imaginable...being UNABLE to be like other kids. I know it could have resulted in some highs, but for my sense of normalcy, I think it was the most important thing.

[Jackets]

Yes, I missed out big time. I was diagnosed about 1 week before I went into middle school. Before the school year started they had the typical camping trip where all the kids got to know eachother. My mother was too nervous to let me go because I was diagnosed so close to the trip. I think I remember playing it off like I didn't care, but I really did want to go desperately.

First day of school came and it was like I was the new kid. The feeling of exclusion was almost unbearable. That's just about when I started to turn anti-social. The precedent that was set by me not going to that one simple camping trip had a ripple effect. It let me know that I was no longer the kid that fit in with everyone else and I'd have to work doubly hard to feel like I belonged.

[Eri's mom]

Yes, Eri has missed out on some things. Like they won't let her go on the field trip to Quebec w/ her class(even though I was going to go w/ her), uh, they banned her from going to the school dance on Friday b/c she missed school the week BEFORE w/ the stomach virus.(yet in the handbook it says you can't go if you missed THAT day of the dance).
Also, her one grandmother won't have her overnight, she's missed out on halloween(not really a big deal), missed some other school/friend related events...to name a few.
She's missed out on a few other things as well.

[gettingby]

I missed out on our 8th grade week long field trip. I wasn't on insulin at the time but still did not feel comfortable going.(had recently been diagnosed)
After that, I never missed out on anything. Camps, field trips, the Prom. I enjoyed it all !!!!!!!

[Funnygrl]

I missed out on our 8th grade week long field trip. I wasn't on insulin at the time but still did not feel comfortable going.(had recently been diagnosed)
After that, I never missed out on anything. Camps, field trips, the Prom. I enjoyed it all !!!!!!!
Why weren't you on insulin?

[gettingby]

Why weren't you on insulin?
Because I had a dumba** hick family doc who thought you could treat type 1 with a type 2 drug called Dymelor instead of insulin. Ended up with my first and only case of severe DKA. This drug was a first generation sulfonylurea.

[Funnygrl]

Because I had a dumba** hick family doc who thought you could treat type 1 with a type 2 drug called Dymelor instead of insulin. Ended up with my first and only case of severe DKA. This drug was a first generation sulfonylurea.
Wow. How long did you go without insulin?

[gettingby]

One loooooooong and difficult year !!!!!
I'm lucky to have survived it.

[KickStart101]

As young children, my 2 Brothers and I were not allowed
to go to parties(oops, I did go to 2 parties when I was
younger , same as my Brothers). The first time I went
out for Hallowe'en, I was 12 yrs. That's also the age we
were allowed to go to parties. My Mom figured we should
know better by then. We were allowed to go on field trips,
any school activities we wanted to do, dances, camp from
age 5 to 13, I was in Girl Guides, lots of stuff like that, from
an early age.

My Mom did Not baby us. This was back with the glass syringes,
useless urine testing for sugar, country Dr., small town, just basic
info on Diabetes, no training. Just the basics the Dr. told Mom, she
told us.There were no other Type 1's in the area. We didn't know
any Type 2's either. She had a **** of a time trying to keep all our
sugars under some control without all the sweets at parties and
other special occasions, to cause more havoc. Sure we were Very
disappointed, but given the circumstances, I certainly don't blame
her for that. And we definitely were Not big babies, as adults.

As you know Kel, it's totally up to you what you do concerning your
Daughter. With todays knowledge and equipment, it's alot easier. On
the other hand, she has just been dxd. so you don't know how her
body reacts to most things yet. Children can be quite hard to get
controlled, since there are so many changes for them. There will be
tons of parties. Maybe you could let her go to one once in a while as
long as the adults there keep an eye on her. OOPs! You're the Mom.
The Best to her(is her name Hannah?)and you and your Family. :)
Just do your Best, the rest will come out fine.

Ha! My Daughter hated skating also. So I didn't force her. Her Friends
talked her into it in Gr. 7 again, and she went, for them. I was shocked.
She doesn't volunteer to go but she'll go if someone asks her.

[princesslinda]

I understand what the poster meant when said she didn't like to be associated with diabetes.

Until I found this forum, my only association with diabetes and diabetics has not been a pleasant one. My mom lived in denial with her disease and it cost her her eyesight, leg, kidney function and ultimately her life at age 54. I work with 4 other diabetics, NONE of whom do anything to help themselves other than take their medicines. I, personally, live with so much guilt because I let myself get obese, knowing my family history and and now paying the price.

Now, I read posts from all of you who care so much about yourself and keeping diabetes in control and I've had to rethink a lot of my preconceived notions. Unfortunately, most of the general population think the way I did, that most diabetics do not self-educate enough to take control of their lives and their disease.

I can't imagine how difficult it would be to manage a child with diabetes...when so many adults can't.

Anyway, I'm glad I found this forum to help me see how INTELLIGENT people live with diabetes....maybe i'll be as able to control my disease as wellyou all do!

[tanyatype1]

Did you miss out on alot of things such as parties, field trips, activities? My 6y/o has a party to go to today, but she woke up with a cough sore throat, tummy ache. She probably shouldn't be around other kids anyway. I was worried about the stress of even being sick, since we are only 6wks into dx. I have never had my own sick day with "d" so, I am really stressed about hers. She has an ice skating field trip next week, and even though she hates ice skating, I wanted her to go since she has missed alot of school. I hate thinking that others think she is missing these things becuase of her new "d" Wondering how you felt as a child with "D" so I can help her through those feelings.

Hi Kel4han! The first thing that came to mind when I read your post is that your daughter should maybe miss the party because she has an infectious cold or flu, not at all because of the diabetes. Kids hate to miss parties for any reason. Too bad that she had to wake up sick the same day as the party instead of just one day later! Good luck.

[JJeenn]

Other than missing a few days of school when I was in the hospital after being diagnosed, I can't remember missing anything because of diabetes. I went on overnight field trips, sports teams/meets, parties, sleepovers, etc. My mom took precautions like letting teachers and such know how to treat lows, but otherwise I was allowed to do pretty much anything. Sometimes highs after parties were just accepted as it being a special occasion.

The one and only thing I remember wishing I could do and not being able to do because of diabetes was taking part in our school's yearly 30 Hour Famine to raise money. All the kids fasted for 30 hours (drinking only water) and then had a huge sleepover at the high school. With the insulins I was on at the time (NPH, Lantus/Levemir were nonexistent) this fast was impossible to do.

[REDLAN]

the stuff I missed out on was down to people's ignorance more than anything else.

I had played rugby up till my diagnosis - although my performance had suffered due to my weight loss. Afterwards I was discouraged from playing, because I might have a hypo, and at the time I agreed because I guess I was too tired to argue - if I knew what I know now about how I can perform during sport, then it would have been completely different.

I missed out on a couple of parties as well, again down to ignorance - apparently it was to spare my feelings because I wouldn't have been allowed to eat the choccy stuff, when all the other kids could.

I did miss out on dying from cancer tho...

When one insensitive friend of my Mum's found out that I had got diabetes, she declared to my mum, "oh that must have been a relief, we all thought your son had got cancer."

[MJM]

When I was first diagnosed I wasn't allowed do anything. I was 13 at the time. I played a lot of sport anyway, as it was something I had done since I could first walk. I went camping, partying, dancing, school trips and everything I wanted to do. I think it stood to me in the long run. I have a philosophy that diabetes is only a small problem along the path of life and will not let it interfere with my enjoyment of it. Now I don't eat things that I shouldn't eat, and I do everything that I should do, and I believe that even without diabetes bad food is bad food. Try our best, that's all we can do.

[BriOnH]

Thinking about this topic a lot; being a diabetic child was very easy in comparison to being a diabetic adult, at least for me.

I ALWAYS have this on me:
http://www.brionh.com/pockets2.jpg

As a child I didn't carry anything on me! In retrospect except for not being able to eat or drink huge quanities of sugar life with diabetes was pretty easy back then and it rarely, if ever was so engrained in my thought process.


Also, I think today about children with pumps, especially boys. When I was a kid I'd often wrestle with other kids, active in gymnastics and tae kwon do. Walking on our hands and doing cartwheels in the play yard was common place and whimsical. Is that possible for kids with pumps? Doing a round off - flip flop - tucked back flip with a pump seems like it would be difficult. Or having freddy come tackle you and wrestle around seems dangerous.

[Funnygrl]

Thinking about this topic a lot; being a diabetic child was very easy in comparison to being a diabetic adult, at least for me.

I ALWAYS have this on me:
http://www.brionh.com/pockets2.jpg

As a child I didn't carry anything on me! In retrospect except for not being able to eat or drink huge quanities of sugar life with diabetes was pretty easy back then and it rarely, if ever was so engrained in my thought process.


Also, I think today about children with pumps, especially boys. When I was a kid I'd often wrestle with other kids, active in gymnastics and tae kwon do. Walking on our hands and doing cartwheels in the play yard was common place and whimsical. Is that possible for kids with pumps? Doing a round off - flip flop - tucked back flip with a pump seems like it would be difficult. Or having freddy come tackle you and wrestle around seems dangerous.
Of course it's possive to do that stuff with a pump.

[zodiach77]

You definitely don’t want to set a standard of letting your child think that they can use Diabetes as a crutch to keep from doing things. The best thing you can do is to carry on with your day-to-day activities. Diabetes should never be looked at as something that should keep you from doing anything whatsoever. I always just think about my diabetes as a very minor inconvenience, and as a way to teach people that just because you have diabetes it doesn’t mean that you cant live a completely normal life. (I guess normal is all relative)

[aeromarv]

As I child I didn't miss much either. I was diagnosed at about 11 1/2. Stayed active in boyscouts (camping and hiking and all). I went to Australia and New Zealand for 3 weeks when I was 13 with People to People (my mother really wanted the doctor to say I couldn't go since I was going with about 40 other kids and something like 5 adults).

Also did some swimming and (through boy scouts) some training in water rescue type activity.

Went to summer camps, weekend camps, hiking, everything.

No problems.

[zodiach77]

hey Aeromarv,
did you goto the World Jamboree in 86-87? If so that was a great trip and once again the diabetes did not keep me from doing anythign that any 15 year old might do.