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10 Year Old Son Recently Diagnosed With Type 1

Jayden2407

Well-Known Member
Messages
199
Hi my son was recently diagnosed with type 1, we are getting to grips with things but I have a question I need some advice on.
He has experienced a hypo which was treated easily however a couple of times now he’s complained that he feels shakey but when his BG is tested it’s not quite below 4... i.e 4.2... what would I do please, treat as a hypo or give a rich tea biscuit?? Thanks In advance!
 
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Hello @Jayden2407 and welcome to the forum

As a newly diagnosed and as his blood glucose levels have been running high for a while then coming down into a 'normal' range is going to leave him feeling a bit shaky, so having a small 10g carb snack will help fend off this sensation while his body adjusts, if his levels are falling then he will ask so get this sensation so it's good he's aware of this and able to eat something. If you can purchase the Libre reader and sensor then this will show which direction his levels are going so he can take evasive action before a real hypo. Just make sure he always carries glucose on him so he's prepared to treat by himself if required.
 
Hi and welcome
If it was me and it often is I would maybe take a 1/2 glucotabs or 2/3 dextrose. Even at around 4 you can feel a little hypo depending on how far the numbers have cone down from. When in doubt I treat but maybe not the full whammy in order to avoid a big high. However you don't want double dose hypo either. Bear in mind too, no two meters are the same so when one says 4.2 another may say 3.8.
Hope thus helps.
 
Thanks Hodders, I was advised that if not below 4 don’t treat as hypo so it confused me slightly that he was showing and recognising signs. I gave him a rich tea biscuit which made him feel better. Also, it’s happened twice over the week since diagnosis so I will keep my eye on it and speak to our dedicated diabetes specialist.
Thanks for the advice
 
Hey Jayden! When the hypo happens there's a substance that's responsible for the symptoms (tremor, dizziness, etc) and even though we correct the hypo quickly, the substance takes about 1 hour to "disappear" from our blood stream so that's probably the reason why your son fells a little bit drowsy afterwards! So no reason to over treat the hypo, Just stay calm and wait a bit
And I would advise you to read Dr Bernstein book called Diabetes Solution - it gives great information!
 
Hi Debora,

Thanks for your reply. So is it still classed as a hypo even though his BG is above 4? He feels shakey when it is low but not below 4..
I’ll have a look at the book, thank you
 
Jayden2407 said:
Hi Debora,

Thanks for your reply. So is it still classed as a hypo even though his BG is above 4? He feels shakey when it is low but not below 4..
I’ll have a look at the book, thank you
Click to expand...

That's might happen because the kind of got used to a higher glicemia so at first his "goal" of glicemia could be a little higher (like 5.5), until he gets used to it and then lowering each 2 weeks - soon he'll probably fell alright with a 4
 
Hi @Jayden2407 . Welcome to the forum, both you and your son.
Hypos, like everything else diabetes never have a rule book or rather its probably better to say they have various rule books.
Your son will learn the signs as to when his sugars are low and you will as well. It's always the time to go to the meter and get a reading BUT instinct should take priority if meter says anything below 6.
Scenario 1. Your son is watching TV , nice relaxed. His BS drops from 5.5 to 4 over the course of an hour. Chances are he'll be feeling not to bad, maybe only very slight hypo symptoms. Because his BS isn't falling rapidly the minimum carbs will suffice.
Scenario 2 . Your son is running around outside, burning more energy than his body can supply. His BS has dropped from 5.5 to 4 in the space of 10 mins and is still falling at a great rate. You've got to treat the impending hypo but also stop his sugars from continuing to crash, this scenario will undoubtedly require more treatment especially if you want to prevent a further hypo maybe an hour later.
Every hypo will have its own uniqueness about it. Experience, trial and error, success and failure will make you both great warriors regarding hypos.
Even the most long term T1's here still get caught out by them, myself included.
One thing I know for sure is that no one understands being hypo unless they actual go there. Non diabetics will give advice and rules but they have a limited amount of knowledge.
Your son in time will become the expert, listen to him, encourage him when it goes wrong and you'll all be fine.
 
Also a finger pick BG can be a few minutes behind what BG is doing in the brain etc.
 
Hi there,

I feel a slight tremble when I am hovering just over 4 as well, I look upon it as more of a warning sign rather than an actual hypo, so I check when I feel it and have a little snack. I don't waste my snack on a glucose tablet (ugh), I would rather have the Rich tea biscuit! Obviously if it's lower than 4 I would quickly treat as a hypo with my glucose tablets. I think the body doesn't want to go into hypo mode but needs a way to say Oi, eat!!!!!!
 
Note that target ranges will vary from person to person, while some people may be perfectly fine with and even target 4, some will want to stay at or above 5 at all times, for example. I personally have my target range set from 5.2 to 8.4 and while being slightly below or above is no big deal, it's when I will start to notice a slight change in heart rate, feel like the temperature is a few degrees higher than it actually is, and so on. Your son will have to figure out for himself what feels right and what doesn't in terms of target range.
Another thing to keep in mind is that there are different symptoms of a hypo, some that may coincide with another external factor that makes it very easy to ignore like being tired or it being very warm, and while I expect it's at least a few years too early at age 10 alcohol can hide symptoms as well.
 

Hiya, thank you for your response- it was perfect
 

Hi,

Thank you, that makes sense and I will certainly think about it in the future. He was only diagnosed a week ago so have lots to learn as time goes by.
 

Hi,

Thank you for the advise, I will keep it in mind. He was only diagnosed a week ago so I guess it’s all a learning curve that’ll become easier over time.
 
Hi Jayden,

I also find anything below a 5 (but over 4) is a warning sign so I have a biscuit and just sit for 10 minutes. Below a 4 is when I treat with orange juice. Besides I love a biscuit so see it as an excuse to have one good luck xxx
 
Mrs Allport said:
Hi Jayden,

I also find anything below a 5 (but over 4) is a warning sign so I have a biscuit and just sit for 10 minutes. Below a 4 is when I treat with orange juice. Besides I love a biscuit so see it as an excuse to have one good luck xxx
Click to expand...

Thanks Mrs Allport yes I’m sure he’s happy to have the biscuit after being able to eat what he likes over the years - he’ll be glad to hear thanks again xxx
 
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