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Diagnosed very young

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My three-year-old was recently diagnosed t1. She’s obviously too young to go through any kind of grieving process.

I was wondering if anyone has been through this with a little one who was diagnosed very young, and is now old enough to understand it all. Did they have a moment, or perhaps it was a bit more gradual, where it all dawned on them and they went through some kind of grieving process, or has that not really happened?
 
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I was diagnosed when I was between 2 and 3, I'm not convinced I ever really grieved, mainly cos it was so early in my life so I never knew any different, yes I probably sulked and got annoyed lots of times (and I know at some point played the 'well I'm not doing a blood test unless he (my brother) does one as well' card), but I'm not sure I ever needed to grieve.

Though admittedly I can't really remember much before I was 10 or anything before I was about 5 - it was a while back and my memory sucks
 
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Our daughter was diagnosed at age 2 in October 2017. We've always been as open as possible with her about T1. As she grows more aware of the world around her she asks more questions and shares her experiences with family and friends. Sometimes this involves her expressing sadness or anger at having T1. Other times she happily shares her journey including showing friends her pump and CGM.

I guess it will be different for each child according to their disposition.

Best wishes for your families journey
 
Hi, my granddaughter was diagnosed at 2 1/2 years, she is 10 now and leading a healthy and a happy life. Her mum and dad just got on with it, but I found it very difficult as she extremely ill on HDU, I felt so guilty because I have Type 1 and felt it was my fault, I know it wasn't, but it was a dark time for me. Children are tough little cookies and I'm sure she will flourish and do well, it's often the grown up's that find it a difficult journey.
Sending my best wishes to you, your little girl and your family X
 
Sam L said:
My three-year-old was recently diagnosed t1. She’s obviously too young to go through any kind of grieving process.

I was wondering if anyone has been through this with a little one who was diagnosed very young, and is now old enough to understand it all. Did they have a moment, or perhaps it was a bit more gradual, where it all dawned on them and they went through some kind of grieving process, or has that not really happened?
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Hi @Sam L I was diagnosed at 11 months. Grieving for something lost obviously never would happen! But there were times when I would feel resentful or angry, particularly at Easter, when one of my many aunts would give my brother and sister chocolate eggs and then say to me "Sorry, you can't have these dear." I would resent having to have regular visits to the hospital and would be especially angry when a teacher or priest would say "God is all loving". Of course I could never say what I wanted to say! As I grew up I realised this was all futile and only eroded my otherwise positive mentality.
I hope your granddaughter copes well as she grows and that modern treatment works wonders for her.
 
Hello I am speaking for my mother and myself, I was diagnosed at the age of 8 and not as young as your little one. I don't think I grieved, but more so I did not know what was happening. I was tired, very ill and just wanted to go to school. As for my mother, she took it hard and she was in tears through the whole diagnosis process and she was angry because the GP at that time, had the audacity to tell my mother that "your daughter is fine", when my mother said "she is losing weight, not eating anything and she has been vomiting". When I was in hospital for DKA, I said to my mum in my weak tired voice "i'm going to be okay".

When I got to my teenager years, thats when the rebellion happened and as a result in and out of hospital for 3 years for DKA.
I hope with the right team and education, along with the right insulin and equipment, your daughter and you cope well and work as a team to fight hypos, hypers, good and bad days. There are diabetes specialised therapists, I think you might have to ask to be referred in times of desperate help. When diabetes is in good control, it's not too bad and its like we are friends with it. (like we signed an UN agreement):hilarious:
 
@porl69 @MeiChanski @Grant_Vicat @Robinredbreast @Heyrehair @Rokaab

Thanks all for your replies - it's interesting to read people's experiences. I've asked this on two forums and the response is overwhelmingly that people diagnoses as kids don't really go through any kind of grieving process.

I don't particularly like the use of the word grieving to describe it to be honest, but I'm struggling to find a better word for how it felt.
 
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