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Anexity because of diabetes

T

Triscornia

Well-Known Member
Messages
88
Hi, its been awhile since I wrote. I thought this journey of my sons diabetes would get better from all the stories i have read and in one way it has. When my son moved onto the pump i was not woken up so many times from his alarm going low but when he moved to University he started getting panic attacks from fear of going low. He would phone me and say mum come and I knew he was bad when he asked me to go to him. I would drop everything and go. He tried therapy and now on medication but his fear is still there. He can’t leave the house without a coke and his emergency kit. He is not living a normal life. He developed agoraphobia so doesn’t go out. He is starting a job in September and I am worried for him. The therapy didn’t work but now trying a new one later this month. I don’t know how to help him. Diabetes has taken over his life. He hates it and my heart breaks for him. Any advice welcome. Thank you.
 
Just a thought, but has he had CBT as it works in conjunction with meds. It hasn't worked for me but may do for your son. Sending hugs to both of you xxxxxx
 
Triscornia said:
Hi, its been awhile since I wrote. I thought this journey of my sons diabetes would get better from all the stories i have read and in one way it has. When my son moved onto the pump i was not woken up so many times from his alarm going low but when he moved to University he started getting panic attacks from fear of going low. He would phone me and say mum come and I knew he was bad when he asked me to go to him. I would drop everything and go. He tried therapy and now on medication but his fear is still there. He can’t leave the house without a coke and his emergency kit. He is not living a normal life. He developed agoraphobia so doesn’t go out. He is starting a job in September and I am worried for him. The therapy didn’t work but now trying a new one later this month. I don’t know how to help him. Diabetes has taken over his life. He hates it and my heart breaks for him. Any advice welcome. Thank you.
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Hi,

Congratulations on your son finishing uni & getting a job.
Does his workplace understand the “reasonable adjustments” regarding his condition?
 
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Jaylee said:
Hi,

Congratulations on your son finishing uni & getting a job.
Does his workplace understand the “reasonable adjustments” regarding his condition?
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Thank you. He worked very hard. He just studied for years and got honours but had no social life. Yes, a nurse phoned him last week and he told them everything. I hope they still take him on.
 
Triscornia said:
Thank you. He worked very hard. He just studied for years and got honours but had no social life. Yes, a nurse phoned him last week and he told them everything. I hope they still take him on.
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If he has a letter of confirmation in success of the job interview. He should be OK.

Is he back home living with you?
Does he not have at least one friend he connects with?
 
Jaylee said:
If he has a letter of confirmation in success of the job interview. He should be OK.

Is he back home living with you?
Does he not have at least one friend he connects with?
Click to expand...

No one understands his diabetes not even my family, they say lots of people have diabetes and live normal lives and it’s not cancer, the usual talk we hear all the time.
He is trying to get his drivers license and then he will come and live with me ( in London) so he is with his dad at the moment in France.
He signed work contract so I hope it’s ok and he will manage to go to work.
Doing driving lessons he takes so much sugar as he is afraid of going low. It goes above 500.
He is so afraid of dying and I don’t know how to reassure him.
 
Do you know why he is so afraid of lows?
Has he had a bad experience with a low?

What kind of support does he get from his diabetes team? It's possible he can get psychological help through his team from someone who is specialised in diabetes.
Dying from a low is very, very unusual. What happened to make him so afraid of this? If he uses a sensor with alarms, maybe a connection with a smartwatch, it's possible to prevent most hypos for most people.

Is he aware of the dangers of DKA running this high regularly?

Pushing himself above 500 for a driving lesson looks more like a mental health / anxiety issue than like a diabetes issue.
 
He has never gone unconscious and i have his alarms also on my
Phone. I don’t know why he is so afraid.
He has had therapy before but nothing worked, going to another later this month so lets see.
 
Triscornia said:
I don’t know why he is so afraid.
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Have you asked him?
Triscornia said:
when he moved to University he started getting panic attacks from fear of going low. He would phone me and say mum come and I knew he was bad when he asked me to go to him. I would drop everything and go.
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Why did you need to go to him when he was still capable of making a phonecall? If I can make a phonecall, I can eat something to treat a hypo.
Being on the phone at the same time means that someone is aware if you stop talking, and thus is capable of taking action should you go unconscious.

This is exactly the deal I have with my best friend in case of the sporadic ugly hypo. I call her while treating and let her know where I am. She talks about the weather and her children until I'm in safe waters again.
Should things go topsy-turvy (which never happened), she can call my neighbours, 111, or even a camping owner in a different country to let them know how my Baqsimi or Glucagon works.
No need for physical help unless unconscious.
Triscornia said:
He can’t leave the house without a coke and his emergency kit. He is not living a normal life.
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The part about not leaving the house without something to treat a hypo and test blood glucose is obvious for a T1. No different from taking keys, phone and other stuff for non diabetics. Yes, we carry a little bit more in our pockets or bag but I wouldn't classify that as not living a normal life.

Triscornia said:
He has had therapy before but nothing worked, going to another later this month so lets see.
Click to expand...
I hope the other therapy does something for his anxiety.
 
Triscornia said:
He can’t leave the house without a coke and his emergency kit. He is not living a normal life.
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Hi @Triscornia I would like to make an observation from the point of view of someone who was Type1 from my diagnosis at the age of 11 months until a pancreas transplant in 2013. I would never leave my house, digs, or dream of travelling without fast acting sugary carbs on my person. Diabetes, whatever anybody might try to tell us, is never a normal life in the grand scheme of things. In a working day I would take a blood test first thing (definitely not normal!) decide on what insulin to inject and as a result what to do about breakfast. If I was low, I certainly wouldn't drive a car. This has really been brought to my attention because I am now able to jump out of bed, get dressed and if needed jump straight into a car and drive.

Edited post as partly inappropriate
 
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@Triscornia .

Is there any way you could get your son to join this forum? (Or any forum talking with T1s.)
They may fully understand his personal struggles & help set the right course regarding managment of the condition.

Diabetics can lead “normal” lives..

That includes supporting people with or recovering from cancer.
 
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