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Newly diagnosed pre teen boy

Eliotts mum

Eliotts mum

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Parent
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to see if I could find some groups for my son to join and also get some support from other parents who have been through what we are experiencing right now.
My son was diagnosed type 1 less than 2 weeks ago and we are struggling to get to normality again ( if there will ever be such a thing) I can't help wondering why he developed this and I know it's probably counterproductive to think in this way. So I thought I would join this forum and may be even suggest to my boy to join too in order to chat to other kids his own age and seek some support of his own too! ( Hes at this difficult age where he is in denial about it and doesnt want anyone at school to know) At the hospital we were told there were loads of teenage diabetic clubs he could join for support. When I tried to get the info it turns out there is nothing according to them in the East Sussex and brighton area? The thing is my boy was probably developing the illness for quite some time and had decided to drop out of clubs and even social activities. I am really keen to get him with positive role models and beginning to enjoy life again so any pointers or ideas would be much appreciated. Cheers! Sarah
 
Hi, my sympathies go out to you and the family..............in the beginning it will be difficult for all of you to adjust................I am not a parent of a diabetic child, but was diagnosed when I was 15...........

joining forums is a great idea, even here would be suitable however there may be others more focused to kids his age..........

the denial your mentioned is normal, at any age, I went through all the different stages when I was diagnosed and I identified clearly at each stage....it was weird....

it is really early days though so don't feel bad, nothing can rush him or you to settle in to it, it just happens when it happens, and fortunately for you, there are places like these where you can ask all the questions you need.....

on the run up to diagnosis of type 1 you become very lethargic and so dropping out of activities would be normal, but as soon as the insulin gets back to work, the energy levels will return.........
 
Hi Eliotts Mum and welcome to the forum.

Have a good read around the Children & Teens/Parents section of the forum and see if there's anything there that might may be useful to you all, you may also want to get in touch with the JDRF, they provide support for families of type 1 children and organise events throughout the UK:

https://www.jdrf.org.uk/
 
Hi and welcome. I was diagnosed much later in life so haven't experienced the difficulties as a child. Don't spend time trying to understand how it happened. Many of us can find no reason for our diabetes. Type 1 at an early age is usually the result of anti-bodies but even then it isn't easily explained for many. The positive side of all this is that with insulin your Son's condition can be returned effectively to normal, but it may well be difficult to get him to accept and take control at the moment. Hopefully one or more of the links given will help with contacts in the area. Let us know how you get on and if you have an questions do ask in the T1 forum.
 
Eliotts mum said:
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to see if I could find some groups for my son to join and also get some support from other parents who have been through what we are experiencing right now.
My son was diagnosed type 1 less than 2 weeks ago and we are struggling to get to normality again ( if there will ever be such a thing) I can't help wondering why he developed this and I know it's probably counterproductive to think in this way. So I thought I would join this forum and may be even suggest to my boy to join too in order to chat to other kids his own age and seek some support of his own too! ( Hes at this difficult age where he is in denial about it and doesnt want anyone at school to know) At the hospital we were told there were loads of teenage diabetic clubs he could join for support. When I tried to get the info it turns out there is nothing according to them in the East Sussex and brighton area? The thing is my boy was probably developing the illness for quite some time and had decided to drop out of clubs and even social activities. I am really keen to get him with positive role models and beginning to enjoy life again so any pointers or ideas would be much appreciated. Cheers! Sarah
Click to expand...

Hey Sarah!

Reading though this and it sounds like me... I'm 19 and I got diagnozed with T1 about 3 weeks ago!& I thought I can't play sports or anything again, eat like normal but because it's only early days for your boys diagnosis. All I did was change my diet and I stopped all activities and work for about a week just to let my Bm's chill out and get them as level as I can but now I'm back in the gym, Football twice a week and work!

I do agree with you again thinking negative about it but in times when you learn about it you'll think different.

If you need any help... There is loads of nice and very help people on here to help you out.
 
Hi, I totally understand where you are coming from, the bombshell that is type 1 diabetes is huge, especially when it's your child. And a teenage one even more so, as they are stuck between being a child and a young adult with their own opinions and strong ideas. My son was diagnosed early December after losing so much weight ( we put it down to puberty as he was getting so much taller with it)
We are still in shock now to be honest muddling through as best you can. This forum is invaluable for advice and support and really helps you feel less alone.
All I think about is blood testing, insulin and repeat prescriptions at the moment - and what else to cook him that's not going to send him high (he's a fussy eater, living on chicken and scrambled eggs at the moment) he's missing chocolate and being like his friends - no one wants to stand out from their peers.
It will get easier and just take one day at a time, I think it's harder for us as parents than for them at the moment.
Take care, here if you need to talk :)
 
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