Hi
I was diagnosed nearly 40 years ago the week before my tenth birthday. I am the eldest of three girls and we all learnt together! When I look back I don't know how we coped - but we did. My mum and dad were brilliant and I never suspected that they were ever phased by it, but I'm sure they were devastated as I am the only diabetic before or since. We knew nothing and there were only a few leaflets to read at that time. I can remember hitting my teens and thinking that nobody would ever want to be with a diabetic, but here I am with 2 grownup sons, a beautiful grandson and celebrating my silver wedding anniversary last year. Then about 4 years ago I was doing a carb counting course and the DSN there (whose husband was T1, and who was the best DSN I have ever met) told us all that diabetes was a lonely journey - and she was right. It was the first time I had sat in a room full of diabetics where we actually interacted with each other. Let's face it, we all sit in clinics but we don't go every week and see the same people and chat about how we are to people who have had similar experiences and who understand. So the best piece of advice I can give to anyone with a new diagnosis is to get together with other diabetics and see how they manage. Allow your youngsters to see grownups doing their bloods and their injections in public places, working out their carbs and offering advice on coping with hypos etc. It's the one thing that I missed as a child, and most if not all children want to fit in and be the same as everyone else. And you know at 45 I felt as if was the same as everybody in that room and that was amazing.
Now my diabetes has never stopped me doing anything, and I would be offended if anyone described my diabetes as a disability because it's a condition, but to be in a room of like-minded people with similar experiences was pretty liberating!
Children can and do cope with diabetes and because they do, so do their parents, but build up a support network so you can feel confident and your youngster don't feel different.
I hope I don't sound patronising and I apologise if that's the case, but I have friends with diabetic children and just talking to someone who's been there, done that, got the t-shirt and shrunk it in the washing machine has helped!!
I was diagnosed nearly 40 years ago the week before my tenth birthday. I am the eldest of three girls and we all learnt together! When I look back I don't know how we coped - but we did. My mum and dad were brilliant and I never suspected that they were ever phased by it, but I'm sure they were devastated as I am the only diabetic before or since. We knew nothing and there were only a few leaflets to read at that time. I can remember hitting my teens and thinking that nobody would ever want to be with a diabetic, but here I am with 2 grownup sons, a beautiful grandson and celebrating my silver wedding anniversary last year. Then about 4 years ago I was doing a carb counting course and the DSN there (whose husband was T1, and who was the best DSN I have ever met) told us all that diabetes was a lonely journey - and she was right. It was the first time I had sat in a room full of diabetics where we actually interacted with each other. Let's face it, we all sit in clinics but we don't go every week and see the same people and chat about how we are to people who have had similar experiences and who understand. So the best piece of advice I can give to anyone with a new diagnosis is to get together with other diabetics and see how they manage. Allow your youngsters to see grownups doing their bloods and their injections in public places, working out their carbs and offering advice on coping with hypos etc. It's the one thing that I missed as a child, and most if not all children want to fit in and be the same as everyone else. And you know at 45 I felt as if was the same as everybody in that room and that was amazing.
Now my diabetes has never stopped me doing anything, and I would be offended if anyone described my diabetes as a disability because it's a condition, but to be in a room of like-minded people with similar experiences was pretty liberating!
Children can and do cope with diabetes and because they do, so do their parents, but build up a support network so you can feel confident and your youngster don't feel different.
I hope I don't sound patronising and I apologise if that's the case, but I have friends with diabetic children and just talking to someone who's been there, done that, got the t-shirt and shrunk it in the washing machine has helped!!
