How can I help my toddler with anxiety and angers

[Blissfool]

Hi - my beautiful 2 1/2 year old son was diagnosed T1 two weeks ago, with severe ketoacidosis. After 8 days gruelling time in hospital we are back and learning the hard way how to manage it all. For some time, he has had episodes of increasing anxiety (eg getting hysterical because we changed our duvet cover) and gets very upset and thrashes around. Everyone told me this was just "being two" but I knew it wasn't. He is by nature very peaceful and gentle. Now when he gets like this, I've noticed he is running high, and it reaches the point where he is obviously very very anxious and feeling out of control. When he is low, he says he is "too sad to do anything". On top of this, is the shock and trauma of the last couple of weeks, and of being so ill for quite a while. How do I help him learn ways to understand and manage the emotional/physical fallout and effects of his diabetes? When he is racing high, it is incredibly hard to reach him.

Vikki

 

[sugar2]

Hi Vikki,

Well, I want to send both you and your little boy all the best wishes. I am a t1 myself, adn I have a little boy of 2 1/4...so can empathise a little. I am worried about my little one to be honest, after he went tothe loo over 30 time syesterday!

How to help, well the good news is that he settles down, and you are able tohelp him with is diabetes control, these occurances will becaome less often. It is completely normal, for any diabetic, whatever their age to get agressive, frustrated or act out of control when their blood sugar is high or low....i used to call low blood sugars "funny feelings".Keep really close contact with teh diabetes team at the hospital...they should be a great support.

Some of this is "being 2" but only in combination with "being diabetic" Having said that, it is a very long time since |I got angry about something irrational, because ove the years, (apart from drowing up) it is rare for my blood sugar to not be in a normal range. This takes time and work, and witha child is complicated by the factthay keep grouwing (see shoe shop bill!!) You are doing a great jo, after such a horrible time.

Wishing you all the very best