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Hello all

G

Grandmasue

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi I am new to the forum. I am not diabetic myself but I am special guardian to my 14 yr old grandson who was diagnosed with type 1 two years ago. Up until the last couple of months he was doing really well, testing and injecting before meals etc. His levels were ok. Now, though, he is missing tests and injections at school, doesn't want to know about diabetes at all. His levels are around 18 and have been as high as 29! He won't listen to suggestions, we can't encourage him to manage better and the higher the readings the more explosive he gets. I understand this is a very difficult thing to accept and my heart goes out to all of you who have to put up with it but I am so worried about his future and don't know which way to go next. Any help from anyone would be so appreciated, I know you all have far more experience than me. Thanks for reading.
 
Welcome to the forum Grandmasue.

Sounds like the boy has gone into denial with regards to his diabetes, it must be so hard for you all and the only thing I can suggest is you ask for his diabetes team to get involved and advise, they'll be use to these problems with young people so tell his parents not to be afraid to ask for help.
 
Thank you noble head. My grandson lives with us, we are his legal guardians. He has been with us four years now. My son, his Dad, died in a car accident and his mother is deemed unsuitable by social services so we are in sole charge. I will get in touch with his team and hope they can help. We want him to enjoy his childhood without too much pressure. Thanks again, your help is much appreciated.
 
Grandmasue said:
Hi I am new to the forum. I am not diabetic myself but I am special guardian to my 14 yr old grandson who was diagnosed with type 1 two years ago. Up until the last couple of months he was doing really well, testing and injecting before meals etc. His levels were ok. Now, though, he is missing tests and injections at school, doesn't want to know about diabetes at all. His levels are around 18 and have been as high as 29! He won't listen to suggestions, we can't encourage him to manage better and the higher the readings the more explosive he gets. I understand this is a very difficult thing to accept and my heart goes out to all of you who have to put up with it but I am so worried about his future and don't know which way to go next. Any help from anyone would be so appreciated, I know you all have far more experience than me. Thanks for reading.
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Hi, It sounds to me as if he has been had by the teenage hormone devil :( Your Grandson wants to be the same as his mates so misguidedly thinks skipping injections will do the job.
Once the hormones kick in plus the high blood sugars then he will see no reason at all. the more your nag in your Grandson's eyes the more he will dig his heels in.
As his guardian perhaps talk to his DSN and consultant or better still write them an email or letter. They have seen it all before so wont be surprised or shocked by hearing what has happened. Hopefully they can have him in sooner rather than later so the help can be offered.
In a way I just wish when teenagers have type 1 they are sent random apts so it keeps them on their toes regarding their HbA1c tests so at least the numbers are kept down a bit more.

Does your Grandson know how to carb count and adjust his insulin? If not ask that you and he are taught how to do so, this opens another door for him for feeling normal.
No 1 tip though is do not make a fuss of his numbers, just say ok lets work out the correction dose and move on. Work with him all the time not against him in his eyes.
 
CarbsRok said:
Hi, It sounds to me as if he has been had by the teenage hormone devil :( Your Grandson wants to be the same as his mates so misguidedly thinks skipping injections will do the job.
Once the hormones kick in plus the high blood sugars then he will see no reason at all. the more your nag in your Grandson's eyes the more he will dig his heels in.
As his guardian perhaps talk to his DSN and consultant or better still write them an email or letter. They have seen it all before so wont be surprised or shocked by hearing what has happened. Hopefully they can have him in sooner rather than later so the help can be offered.
In a way I just wish when teenagers have type 1 they are sent random apts so it keeps them on their toes regarding their HbA1c tests so at least the numbers are kept down a bit more.

Does your Grandson know how to carb count and adjust his insulin? If not ask that you and he are taught how to do so, this opens another door for him for feeling normal.
No 1 tip though is do not make a fuss of his numbers, just say ok lets work out the correction dose and move on. Work with him all the time not against him in his eyes.
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Thank you carbs rock. (Very new to this posting so hope this is going in the right place, apologies if it isn't) yes we have been carb counting since just after the diagnosis and he understands dose adjustment. I think it is he just wants it to go away. We have made an appointment with his team but have to wait till the end of May. Your advice about not nagging is very sound but we are so worried about what the high levels will do to his future health. We will try and act as if it's no big deal. Thanks again, it's good to speak to people who understand. So many don't.
 
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Welcome to the forum. I don't know whether or not it would help but I have seen a book called how to talk so teenagers will listen and how to listen so teenagers will talk (or something similar to this title), I've got the toddler version and thought it was useful. I haven't read the older kids version but it might be worth a go. Good luck
 
SueB743 said:
Welcome to the forum. I don't know whether or not it would help but I have seen a book called how to talk so teenagers will listen and how to listen so teenagers will talk (or something similar to this title), I've got the toddler version and thought it was useful. I haven't read the older kids version but it might be worth a go. Good luck
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Thanks I'll try that. Willing to do anything at the mo.
 
Hi @Grandmasue and welcome to the forum.

Teenagers are difficult enough without the added worry of his diabetes.
There is a poster that @robert72 posted the other day that you may find helpful.

Diabetes Etiquette for Parents.

A SPECIAL NOTE TO PARENTS:

Being a parent to a teen with diabetes can be a tough, frustrating job. You must walk a difficult path between taking good care of your teen while also encouraging independence. You need to care, but not care too much.

We hope this card will give you and your teen some new ideas about how to survive diabetes together. No need to follow all of these etiquette points, and give yourself a pat on the back if you are doing any of them!

Let this be the start of a conversation, a new beginning for you and your teen.



http://behavioraldiabetesinstitute.org/print-preview/BDITeenEtiquette.pdf

I do admire you and hope that things resolve soon.
Take care,

CC.
 
Thank you to all who have replied. Thank you catherinecherub. I have just found the Etiquette for Parents. This was really enlightening, I read it several times and heard myself saying so many of the things I shouldn't be saying. I will try so hard to follow these rules and try to understand what my grandson and all of you are going through. I am so worried about him I thought I had to make him do it right. I am ashamed to say I have been doing it so wrong. I will start again from now. Thank you so much
 
Grandmasue said:
Thank you noble head. My grandson lives with us, we are his legal guardians. He has been with us four years now. My son, his Dad, died in a car accident and his mother is deemed unsuitable by social services so we are in sole charge. I will get in touch with his team and hope they can help. We want him to enjoy his childhood without too much pressure. Thanks again, your help is much appreciated.
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I'm so sorry for your loss, understandably you want the best for your grandson and who wouldn't, keep us updated on any progress.
 
I would like to stress that this is very common for diabetic teenagers and so please don't feel you have done anything wrong. But do get help from the diabetes team, the management of these issues in young diabetics can be complicated.
 
Grandmasue said:
Thank you to all who have replied. Thank you catherinecherub. I have just found the Etiquette for Parents. This was really enlightening, I read it several times and heard myself saying so many of the things I shouldn't be saying. I will try so hard to follow these rules and try to understand what my grandson and all of you are going through. I am so worried about him I thought I had to make him do it right. I am ashamed to say I have been doing it so wrong. I will start again from now. Thank you so much
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Don't be ashamed, you were only trying your best. Being a new diabetic or caring for a diabetic is a huge learning curve that can't be completed overnight. As other members have said, this is not a sprint, it's a marathon. Tomorrow is another day and as Spiker says, do get help from your grandsons' diabetic team, they'll have come across this situation umpteen times over and will be able to help you both.
 
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