5 year old son newly diagnosed type 1
- Thread starter suzyqet
- Start Date
My 5yo son was diagnosed 3 weeks ago, and although its only been a short time I can promise you it does get easier and you will get more confident in every aspect of managing his diabetes. I know I still have a hell of a lot to learn, and most days I would relish just a couple of hours of not talking about or thinking about diabetes, but my son amazes me every day with how little he is letting this control his life and with his mature attitude and approach. My sons issue was with the finger pricking rather than injections, but doing it when he was sleeping actually helped, because it made him realise that if he had slept through 3 or 4 tests without feeling them, then it really couldnt be as painful as he was fearing. Has he been given a Rufus bear from JDRF yet? If not ask your diabetes nurse - this teddy bear is brilliant, and my son and I practised "injecting" and finger pricking on Rufus who never complained :wink:
acox75
Well-Known Member
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- Type of diabetes
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- Pump
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- Idiotic people, know it alls who know nothing, lazy home educators!
Hi, My son was diagnosed in March, 2 weeks before his 1st birthday 
We have had to learn ALOT in a short space of time as he was put on an insulin pump on his birthday. It is hard but you learn to deal with it and I am thankful we took him to A+ E as he was in diabetic ketoacidosis and probably wouldn't be here if we didn't His bm is up and down alot of the time but we just have to make changes in the pump and see if it helps. He is such a good boy and puts out his little finger when it's time to check his bm. We still use the insulin pens at times when ketones are present but the pump is alot easier. Wasn't nice injecting his little legs for the first 2 weeks but it had to be done. Now, he has a better appetite, sleeps all night and is generally happier.
We have had to learn ALOT in a short space of time as he was put on an insulin pump on his birthday. It is hard but you learn to deal with it and I am thankful we took him to A+ E as he was in diabetic ketoacidosis and probably wouldn't be here if we didn't His bm is up and down alot of the time but we just have to make changes in the pump and see if it helps. He is such a good boy and puts out his little finger when it's time to check his bm. We still use the insulin pens at times when ketones are present but the pump is alot easier. Wasn't nice injecting his little legs for the first 2 weeks but it had to be done. Now, he has a better appetite, sleeps all night and is generally happier.When my daughter was diagnosed nov 2010 (age 5) I bought a book diabetes through a looking glass. It really helped me and I still re-read parts now. It's hit all sorts of case studies in it. We also used sugar free tiptoes as a reward with Leah. Held the tiptop on her leg after injection gave her something to focus / distract as she would be choosing the flavour while I did the injection.
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Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Hello to all you parents of newly diagnosed Type1s ....
I have have had T1 for 43 years now, and have NO long term complications, since I took my diabetes seriously right from the start (I was lucky since I didn't develop it until 27 yrs old and just about to get married). The key to ensuring that your child has a 'normal' life, despite having a challenging condition, is ... knowledge/education.
The early days, as you are all finding out, are really challenging, but you will gradually move up the learning curve on how to parental-manage and then self-manage this condition .. then it just becomes a way of life .. there is no alternative. Keep good blood sugar control and all those horrible long term complication should not affect your child (as in my case).
Knowledge is power for diabetics and so I strongly recommend that you read carefully the following documents and books …
Key points to good control: - Get used to detailed carbohydrate counting and insulin adjustment.
Documents available on the internet:-
A. An introduction to carbohydrate counting and insulin dose adjustment
https://shop.diabetes.org.uk/store/lite ... -book.aspx
An excellent introductory document from Diabetes UK that covers all aspects of diabetes, and the method of carb counting, insulin adjustment and insulin-carb ratios is covered in Chapter 2 (Carbohydrates) and Chapter 3 (Insulin). Even if you are not doing carb counting, you should definitely read this!
B. Basal Testing … how to check your Lantus or Levemir dose is correct
In the absence of food, exercise and mealtime/bolus insulin, basal insulin should hold the blood sugar steady. Any significant rise or fall in blood sugar during a fasting basal test probably means that the basal rates need to be adjusted - even if the blood sugar winds up near normal by the end of the test. This is how to check it ….
http://diatribe.us/issues/13/learning-curve
Basal insulins - What is basal insulin for?
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=120
C. Adjusting your Insulin when results are too high or too low:
A detailed guide, with plenty of examples, to assist you in making required insulin adjustments. Download it and print it out so it is readily at hand after blood sugars have been made & recorded.
http://www.diabetes-scotland.org/ggc/do ... Change.pdf
Children with Diabetes in the UK (online support group)
http://www.childrenwithdiabetesuk.org/
Books you should consider purchasing (particularly the first two books):-
1. Carbs & Cals: A Visual Guide to Carbohydrate & Calorie Counting for People with Diabetes (Chris Cheyette)
Buy this excellently illustrated book that provides clear pictures, portion sizes & weights plus carbohydrate values of nearly every food you might need.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0956 ... 01_s00_i01
2. Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults (Ragnar Hanas)
A comprehensive book with great detail in all aspects of managing diabetes with emphasis on children. This is easily the best book I have ever read about managing Type 1 diabetes, so if you only buy one book …. this is the one.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Type-1-Diabetes ... gnar+Hanas
3. Using Insulin: Everything You Need for Success with Insulin (John Walsh)
“The best material available written on a subject that can be complicated and daunting. "Using Insulin" is an essential requirement for anyone who has either just started insulin therapy or who has changed to a basal/bolus approach as the preferred treatment”
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Using-Insulin-E ... 973&sr=8-1
4. Think Like a Pancreas (Gary Scheiner)
“Dozens of books offer advice on managing diabetes, but few focus specifically on the day-to-day issues facing those who use insulin. This book covers how to successfully master the art and science of matching insulin to the body's ever-changing needs”
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Like-Panc ... a+pancreas
I wish you all well with your challenging journey ...
BTW: my sister was diagnosed aged 3 years old and she has now been a (reasonably) healthy T1 for 59 years.
Jonty
I have have had T1 for 43 years now, and have NO long term complications, since I took my diabetes seriously right from the start (I was lucky since I didn't develop it until 27 yrs old and just about to get married). The key to ensuring that your child has a 'normal' life, despite having a challenging condition, is ... knowledge/education.
The early days, as you are all finding out, are really challenging, but you will gradually move up the learning curve on how to parental-manage and then self-manage this condition .. then it just becomes a way of life .. there is no alternative. Keep good blood sugar control and all those horrible long term complication should not affect your child (as in my case).
Knowledge is power for diabetics and so I strongly recommend that you read carefully the following documents and books …
Key points to good control: - Get used to detailed carbohydrate counting and insulin adjustment.
Documents available on the internet:-
A. An introduction to carbohydrate counting and insulin dose adjustment
https://shop.diabetes.org.uk/store/lite ... -book.aspx
An excellent introductory document from Diabetes UK that covers all aspects of diabetes, and the method of carb counting, insulin adjustment and insulin-carb ratios is covered in Chapter 2 (Carbohydrates) and Chapter 3 (Insulin). Even if you are not doing carb counting, you should definitely read this!
B. Basal Testing … how to check your Lantus or Levemir dose is correct
In the absence of food, exercise and mealtime/bolus insulin, basal insulin should hold the blood sugar steady. Any significant rise or fall in blood sugar during a fasting basal test probably means that the basal rates need to be adjusted - even if the blood sugar winds up near normal by the end of the test. This is how to check it ….
http://diatribe.us/issues/13/learning-curve
Basal insulins - What is basal insulin for?
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=120
C. Adjusting your Insulin when results are too high or too low:
A detailed guide, with plenty of examples, to assist you in making required insulin adjustments. Download it and print it out so it is readily at hand after blood sugars have been made & recorded.
http://www.diabetes-scotland.org/ggc/do ... Change.pdf
Children with Diabetes in the UK (online support group)
http://www.childrenwithdiabetesuk.org/
Books you should consider purchasing (particularly the first two books):-
1. Carbs & Cals: A Visual Guide to Carbohydrate & Calorie Counting for People with Diabetes (Chris Cheyette)
Buy this excellently illustrated book that provides clear pictures, portion sizes & weights plus carbohydrate values of nearly every food you might need.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0956 ... 01_s00_i01
2. Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults (Ragnar Hanas)
A comprehensive book with great detail in all aspects of managing diabetes with emphasis on children. This is easily the best book I have ever read about managing Type 1 diabetes, so if you only buy one book …. this is the one.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Type-1-Diabetes ... gnar+Hanas
3. Using Insulin: Everything You Need for Success with Insulin (John Walsh)
“The best material available written on a subject that can be complicated and daunting. "Using Insulin" is an essential requirement for anyone who has either just started insulin therapy or who has changed to a basal/bolus approach as the preferred treatment”
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Using-Insulin-E ... 973&sr=8-1
4. Think Like a Pancreas (Gary Scheiner)
“Dozens of books offer advice on managing diabetes, but few focus specifically on the day-to-day issues facing those who use insulin. This book covers how to successfully master the art and science of matching insulin to the body's ever-changing needs”
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Like-Panc ... a+pancreas
I wish you all well with your challenging journey ...
BTW: my sister was diagnosed aged 3 years old and she has now been a (reasonably) healthy T1 for 59 years.
Jonty
