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Hope

D

Deano001

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Parent
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi All,
I have only been a member since yesterday. My 6 year old son was diagnosed Type 1 on Monday. At this moment I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. 4 blood sugar tests per day and 4 injections, however it's 8 injections in my sons eyes. I need some hope that this is not going to last forever Does anyone have any information about possible alternatives. I've seen libre patches etc, however I'm not sure if kids are allowed them also pumps. What about the artificial pancreas??. Stem cells?, anything please. Thanks in advance.
 
Hi @Deano001,
I'm type 2 so don't really have the information you want, but I'm sure some others will come by, who are type ones and will give you some advice.
All I can say is that my distant, I think would be nephew, has had Type 1 since birth and is now on a pump as far as I know, with no complications and the lad who is about 10yrs now, takes it in his stride.

I know this is easy to say but please don't panic, everything will eventually fall into place. You also need to search this form and do a lot of reading and keep asking the questions.

It also may help if you stay to the same thread so you can keep coming back and staying in contact with those that started talking to you. I'm aware it can be daunting, but just trying to suggest the best route so you can get as much info as possible. There is also a particular 'type 1' area on the forum.
Hope this info helps.
Neil
 
Regardless of treatment, things start off hard, but get so much easier as time goes on. I was 3 when I was diagnosed. I would hide under the hospital bed/ behind a curtain when it was time for my insulin. I used to cry and cry to begin with. However, I gradually came to accept the injections and the blood tests, and after a couple of months, it was just part of my routine. The great part came the first time I administered insulin myself. I was 5 at the time. I'm 27 now, and I can still remember the pride I felt at having done it myself. The truth is, things have come on a very long way since I was diagnosed. I didn't have a pen to use, it was a syringe with a long needle. My parents had to pinch my thigh to get enough fat to inject into. This is all brand new for your son at the moment. There are options as well if he really hates injecting as time continues. I have friends who are teachers, and they have said they are seeing a lot more children with insulin pumps lately. The main thing to do right now is to be there for him, which I am certain you are doing. I couldn't understand why Mummy and Daddy were hurting me to begin with. The first part of accepting my diabetes was when my mother said I wasn't very well, and these jabs were making me better.
 
Libre's aren't licensed for children.

Pumps are and are available to most newly diagnosed children under most CCG's. My hospital gives all children the choice of a pump.

A pump needs cannula changes every 2 or 3 days but involves more finger testing. Parent knowledge and time to micro manage it initially is imperative and necessary.

It is tough but children watch parents reactions and your child will be looking and learning from your reactions.... It is vital for you to manage diabetes in a positive manner in front of your child. Tears can be shed when your child is in bed.... It is manageable. Your child will accept but it is **** tough initially.

Things are hugely improved compared to 30 years ago, but there is a way to go yet with finding better ways to manage diabetes. Pumps have been huge improvements artificial pancreas's are nearing end of trials but fairly imminent but will have to go through the usual NICE guidelines etc.
 
Tha
donnellysdogs said:
Libre's aren't licensed for children.

Pumps are and are available to most newly diagnosed children under most CCG's. My hospital gives all children the choice of a pump.

A pump needs cannula changes every 2 or 3 days but involves more finger testing. Parent knowledge and time to micro manage it initially is imperative and necessary.

It is tough but children watch parents reactions and your child will be looking and learning from your reactions.... It is vital for you to manage diabetes in a positive manner in front of your child. Tears can be shed when your child is in bed.... It is manageable. Your child will accept but it is **** tough initially.

Things are hugely improved compared to 30 years ago, but there is a way to go yet with finding better ways to manage diabetes. Pumps have been huge improvements artificial pancreas's are nearing end of trials but fairly imminent but will have to go through the usual NICE guidelines etc.
Click to expand...
ks
 
Thanks for the reply. My boy is currently having 4 injections a day 3 short and 1 long before bed. I have heard of people having 2, also does he need to do 4 blood tests a day?. I'm also struggling with a snack to give him before bed, he seems to be living on toast. Any ideas. Thanks in advance.
 
To be honest ref blood tests, 4 is minimal.... My friends child has a test every two hours basically.

To know what is happening with a child's blood then the child (I would suggest) needs to be tested before he has a meal and 2 hours after, pre bed and waking up.

The only way around the blood tests at the moment is by wearing a CGM or a libre sensor. I know when I wore a CGM another friends daughter at 2 years old found it fascinating and knew almost instantly what buttons to press if it beeped. She wasn't diabetic, but she loved to play with the reader if it alarmed....so this could be something that could be considered, however it is wearing another gadget that is pierced in to the skin, and there aren't many gadgets around that would be licensed for a young child.

Please make sure that your stabbing gadget is set to minimal depth as this with a child will cause them more anxiety if it's hurting them from going in too deep or if the stabbed is getting blunt.

Your child if having a pump in the future will certainly need more blood tests. I would only say that children catch on to how their parents feel and say about testing and injecting.... Even from parents body language etc and to parents inadvertently making the child feel as if this diabetes is a huge difficult thing to manage. They pick up on everything... Your child will not necessarily count how many tests they are having a day... That is you doing that. I would suggest more tests a day to gain better control....but as the parent, it is you that's having to deal with these, not me...
 
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