Shortly after christmas my son found some test strips in the bathroom left over from a while ago when we were told to check my daughter (who was overweight). Anyway he randomly did a test which gave a positive result. We bought a blood test and again a positive result with high reading. Started to panic and went to the GP and to A & E (who turned us away the first time!). Eventually the GP sent us to A & E again and my son was admitted and spent eight days in hospital. Other than the BG levels themselves none of the characteristic symptoms have been present however the results of the relevant test (and forgive me, but I've lost track of what's what) came back yesterday and confirmed a diagnosis of type 1. Attempts to control his levels have been a bit hit and miss and he's bouncing around all over the place. On admission to hospital he had a BG of, I think, close to 20, was given 4 units of novarapid and experienced a hypo. The next day a dose of lantus was tried and again sent him too low. It was decided to try nothing and for the next few days his levels floated around all over the place, up to 16, 17, 18 and down to 6. Eventually it was decided to settle on a 0.5 shot of novarapid before breakfast only. Two days ago his levels fluctuated hitting, at one stage 19 before coming back down again without intervention. The newest plan (not yet needed) is to take the 0.5 unit before breaksfast and if prior to any other meal his BG is above 10, to take another 0.5. He's now been back home for three days and yesterday had what felt like really good results going as low as 4.7 before an evening meal at about 8pm. However two hours later he was up at 19 and really upset. We tested for ketones which showed 0.1 which we were told is OK. Before bed he was down to 15 odd (with no intervention) and by a very late wakeup this morning was 7 odd.
Clearly, given the exceedingly low levels of insulin he's currently taking, he's producing some insulin himself. Having spent the last ten days or so in various states of shock, distress, fear and desperation we've been trying to bring ourselves up to date on what diabetes is. Currently a bit overwhelmed but given what seems to be the very early stage at which we've detected this we're terrified of losing any window of opportunity we may have to try to slow or prevent the total loss of his natural insulin production.
If anyone can give me a really simple rundown of what we can or might do I would be most grateful. I just feel totally overwhelmed having read about the benefits of pretty much every vitamin and supplement to Faustman's BCG vaccine and diapep277 trials. He's had a bit of accupuncture and at my wife's request is trying some chinese herbs. He also has a cup or two of green tea a day but other than that I could really do with some pointers because I feel I should be doing something, now, and can't sit back and wait for him to become completely insulin dependant.
Sorry for the lengthy rant.
Clearly, given the exceedingly low levels of insulin he's currently taking, he's producing some insulin himself. Having spent the last ten days or so in various states of shock, distress, fear and desperation we've been trying to bring ourselves up to date on what diabetes is. Currently a bit overwhelmed but given what seems to be the very early stage at which we've detected this we're terrified of losing any window of opportunity we may have to try to slow or prevent the total loss of his natural insulin production.
If anyone can give me a really simple rundown of what we can or might do I would be most grateful. I just feel totally overwhelmed having read about the benefits of pretty much every vitamin and supplement to Faustman's BCG vaccine and diapep277 trials. He's had a bit of accupuncture and at my wife's request is trying some chinese herbs. He also has a cup or two of green tea a day but other than that I could really do with some pointers because I feel I should be doing something, now, and can't sit back and wait for him to become completely insulin dependant.
Sorry for the lengthy rant.