How many here also have a diabetic child??

kel4han · #1 (**permalink**) 01-08-2007, 12:34 PM

Please. I need some encouragement. I am 9months into dx and my 6year old was diagnosed. The parade of numbers everyday has me losing my mind. I cant sleep for fear of my childs hypos and cant sleep in fear of my hypos affecting my ability to help hers!! I cant think of anything but "how is that bolus working right now for her, for me hours 1, 2, 3 4 5. " I want to quit my job (I just work PT) and my husband thinks I am being overly paranoid! How do you families make it when there are more than one with these crazy issues??

Cyborg · #2 (**permalink**) 01-08-2007, 05:05 PM

Sorry you have having such stress with the big D. There are several parents on the forum with diabetic children. Hopefully you can get lots of helpful advice to help with the anxiety. After you get acquainted with treatment, perhaps you might want to consider a pump for you and child.

Injecto · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2007, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kel4han

Please. I need some encouragement. I am 9months into dx and my 6year old was diagnosed. The parade of numbers everyday has me losing my mind. I cant sleep for fear of my childs hypos and cant sleep in fear of my hypos affecting my ability to help hers!! I cant think of anything but "how is that bolus working right now for her, for me hours 1, 2, 3 4 5. " I want to quit my job (I just work PT) and my husband thinks I am being overly paranoid! How do you families make it when there are more than one with these crazy issues??

I completely understand the stress you are going through, as do many others on this forum. It's new for you, it's new for your daughter, and it's new for me (dxd 3 months ago, my kids do not have diabetes at this time). I've lost my mind and I've had it back everynow and again. It's a lot to take in. An awful lot. But I have to believe you will eventually make it through because I have to believe I will make it through. I do not think you are overly paranoid. It's completely justified, COMPLETELY. You have the right to allow yourself some release of your emotions. You do, however, need to stop for a second, close your eyes, and concentrate on your breathing. It's hard, no doubt about that, but you will make it through.

Tattoo azz · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2007, 11:07 AM

there's lots of help out in the big blue nowhere.Use it please Kel4,i can't imagine what you're going thru,but if you panic your kid will.So it's best to keep as calm as poss.

kiwi · #5 (**permalink**) 01-10-2007, 07:08 PM

I know only too well, I am a type 1 and my daughter is also one (she was dx'd July 05).
Learning about the disease and managing your disease takes enormous energy to begin with. It's like information overload.
take it slowly and keep a good food and log book so you can see your trends and your daughter's. Test frequently. Keep dextrose tabs tucked in the pouch of the glucometer so they are always at hand. the basic rule is 15gms every 15 mins and test every 15mins. Unless you are below 3 or 54 then you take 30 gms test in 15 to see how the numbers are.
For me, I eat a rather different diet to my daughter. But basically we count carbs and take the insulin required to cover the meal. She eats almost 2x the carbs I do per meal.
Getting the school staff to understand that "x carbs + y insulin + z exercise = perfect numbers" takes great patience. Honestly some days carbs seem to have a bad hair day. It can be there was air in the needle, not rotating a site, more carbs that accounted for (in hidden carbs), brewing a fever etc. Or it can be that the basal dose is not sufficient. When you are in the honeymoon phase your doses will change as you head out of this phase. Lantus and Levemir are the better basal doses. N is a cloudy insulin and requires mixing before injecting. Unfortunately it does not always mix evenly hence the roller coaster of numbers. When the basal dose is out, no amount of rapid will move the numbers. when you are high drink plenty of fluids and drink a non carbohydrate electrolyte drink to avoid dehydration. Dehydration will cause stress on your body which will cause your body to release counter regulatory hormones. these push your sugar levels higher. So keep stress to a minimum.
There are special dogs trained to alert diabetics to a low. (Like guide dogs for the blind and hearing dogs for the hearing impaired). Perhaps you could look into getting one as it would certainly take a load off your mind.
Good Luck.
Keep on posting as you will get lots of help here.
Kiwi