Hello to all you parents of newly diagnosed Type1s ....
I have have had T1 for 43 years now, and have NO long term complications, since I took my diabetes seriously right from the start (I was lucky since I didn't develop it until 27 yrs old and just about to get married). The key to ensuring that your child has a 'normal' life, despite having a challenging condition, is ...
knowledge/education.
The early days, as you are all finding out, are really challenging, but you will gradually move up the learning curve on how to parental-manage and then self-manage this condition .. then it just becomes a way of life .. there is no alternative. Keep good blood sugar control and all those horrible long term complication should not affect your child (as in my case).
Knowledge is power for diabetics and so I strongly recommend that you read carefully the following documents and books …
Key points to good control: - Get used to detailed carbohydrate counting and insulin adjustment.
Documents available on the internet:-
A. An introduction to carbohydrate counting and insulin dose adjustment
https://shop.diabetes.org.uk/store/lite ... -book.aspx
An excellent introductory document from Diabetes UK that covers all aspects of diabetes, and the method of carb counting, insulin adjustment and insulin-carb ratios is covered in Chapter 2 (Carbohydrates) and Chapter 3 (Insulin). Even if you are not doing carb counting, you should definitely read this!
B. Basal Testing … how to check your Lantus or Levemir dose is correct
In the absence of food, exercise and mealtime/bolus insulin, basal insulin should hold the blood sugar steady. Any significant rise or fall in blood sugar during a fasting basal test probably means that the basal rates need to be adjusted - even if the blood sugar winds up near normal by the end of the test. This is how to check it ….
http://diatribe.us/issues/13/learning-curve
Basal insulins - What is basal insulin for?
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=120
C. Adjusting your Insulin when results are too high or too low:
A detailed guide, with plenty of examples, to assist you in making required insulin adjustments. Download it and print it out so it is readily at hand after blood sugars have been made & recorded.
http://www.diabetes-scotland.org/ggc/do ... Change.pdf
Children with Diabetes in the UK (online support group)
http://www.childrenwithdiabetesuk.org/
Books you should consider purchasing (particularly the first two books):-
1. Carbs & Cals: A Visual Guide to Carbohydrate & Calorie Counting for People with Diabetes (Chris Cheyette)
Buy this excellently illustrated book that provides clear pictures, portion sizes & weights plus carbohydrate values of nearly every food you might need.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0956 ... 01_s00_i01
2. Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults (Ragnar Hanas)
A comprehensive book with great detail in all aspects of managing diabetes with emphasis on children.
This is easily the best book I have ever read about managing Type 1 diabetes, so if you only buy one book …. this is the one.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Type-1-Diabetes ... gnar+Hanas
3. Using Insulin: Everything You Need for Success with Insulin (John Walsh)
“The best material available written on a subject that can be complicated and daunting. "Using Insulin" is an essential requirement for anyone who has either just started insulin therapy or who has changed to a basal/bolus approach as the preferred treatment”
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Using-Insulin-E ... 973&sr=8-1
4. Think Like a Pancreas (Gary Scheiner)
“Dozens of books offer advice on managing diabetes, but few focus specifically on the day-to-day issues facing those who use insulin. This book covers how to successfully master the art and science of matching insulin to the body's ever-changing needs”
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Like-Panc ... a+pancreas
I wish you all well with your challenging journey ...
BTW: my sister was diagnosed aged 3 years old and she has now been a (reasonably) healthy T1 for 59 years.
Jonty