My 4 year old has just been diagnosed - advice needed

[Gmhgerald]

My 4 year old daughter has just been diagnosed this week with type 1. We are shocked and devastated. Can anyone advise? Does it get easier?

 

[mrman]

Sorry to hear of your daughters diagnosis. The good news is there is insulin. It will be alot to take in at first and seem very overwhelming. It will get easier, plenty to learn though and push your medical team to do the dafne course asap. Carb counting will make such a difference. That is simply put matching the insulin doses to the amount of food eaten. what insulin is she on at the moment and is she injecting?

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[Gmhgerald]

Hi, thanks for the advice. She is on 2 units of Novorapid 3 times a day and 4 units of Lantus once a day. It has been a struggle to inject her. Though she has come round a bit in the last day or two though she will only let us do the injections in her tummy and I know you need to move the injection site round. She was quite unwell there and is slowly picking up again and regaining her appetite.

 

[mrman]

Will take time with the injections, this is very common in young children not surprisingly. Other parents have experienced this and think there is some useful tips in the parents section. Is she ok with the meter to check blood. If possible check on waking, our pre meal, and two hours agree each meal. This is important early on to establish doses are correct. With children being very active this will help with insulin sensitivity but comes with the risk of hypos. Always have fast acting glucose to hand.

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[Daibell]

Hi. I'm sorry to hear of the diagnosis; never easy at that age. Good advice from the others posters so far. To help get the balance right, most people are told to try to get the Basal (Lantus) right as far as possible by aiming for around 6mmol blood sugar at waking. Don't let my guidance override anything you have been told by your health team who know best for young children. The Bolus (Novorapid) is adjusted for the carb level expected at mealtimes. Many of us inject into the stomach, but if this becomes a problem do discuss other site options with the health team such as thigh and buttocks. At least with modern insulin pens things are a lot easier than for our parents generation with large syringes.

 

[Gmhgerald]

Thanks guys. We did up a brave chart and that has made a huge difference. She is more accepting of the schedule of injections. I'm sure it's going to be a very steep learning curve :-(

 

[CambridgeLass]

Hi. So sorry to hear about your daughter it DOES get easier. My daughter was diagnosed last Dec aged 6 so we are 6 months in now. Within time it will become more routine and her tolerance will build up. It's harder for the parents as we worry so much. The first few weeks are tough emotionally. You'll have lots of questions as time goes by.


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[Gmhgerald]

Thank you. Emotionally we are all over the place. It seems to consume every thought and like every parent we worry about her future. However with good knowledge, guidance and education I am sure she will do just fine. Its just bringing back a lot of bad memories as my husbands sister died from diabetic complications at 9 years old. :-(

 

[CambridgeLass]

Oh my goodness! I do believe diabetes care has come along way.... and will only get better. You're daughter WILL lead a long and healthy life Kids are amazing, they adapt so well and in a few weeks it will seem normal for her. That's certainly were we are now. I'm here if you need me. x


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[Gmhgerald]

Thank you for taking the time to advise. Its great to talk to someone who is going through this too as a parent.

 

[MrsDMiles]

Hi
My little boy was diagnosed in Feb and just turned 3
Brilliant Facebook group
Diabetic mums
Come join us x x


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[Q007]

Good Evening, I cannot offer you any advice as I'm new to this and learning, but your post caught my eye. I never knew that someone so young could be diagnosed and I just wanted to acknowledge how brave you are in dealing with this.

There are so many kind thoughtful and, indeed, knowledgable people on this site that just overflow with kindness to complete strangers, as I found for myself. The levels of accurate knowledge far outweighs that of which you may find with your GP. This surgery is open for business 247365. You're in good kind hands here. I'm truly very sad to read your post about your young son, it's not fair.

With my kind thoughts to you,

Q..


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[Robinredbreast]

I'm so sorry to hear of your little girls diagnosis, it is a big shock at first. In time, it will get easier with confidence and knowledge, that is why these forums are so good with helpful advice and support. My granddaughter was diagnosed at 2 1/2 and my GD and her parents took it well, I was the one in bits, she was extremely ill and in the HDU in hospital.
Children are tough little cookies and she will, I'm sure, not let diabetes stop her from having a happy and an active life.

Regarding starting school, or if she has already started, make sure the school knows of her condition and to get a care plan in place. Contact Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation ( JDRF) they are a very good organisation and will be able to help you, my GD recieved a diabetic teddy bear called Rufus with coloured injection sites, it was a tremendous help :thumbup: Also you should be entitled to an allowance for your daughter as she has Type 1.

Try not to worry too much, take care.

With best wishes RRB

 

[Gmhgerald]

Thank you all for your advice. This is a vital support link for anyone affected by diabetes in any way and I have to say it really helps. My little girl is doing really well. She certainly is and looks more healthy now she has been diagnosed and getting insulin and amazingly she has adapted so well to her new lifestyle. She even did her own finger prick for the first time last night on her own (though closely supervised) and at 4 years old and not even 3 weeks after diagnosis I think this is brilliant. However they now tell us she may be celiac also so this has upset us again as does the wait to find out. :-(

 

[foffi]

Hi gmhgerald
I hope you don't mind but I added you as a friend. In would like to share my story with you as I hope you will find it somewhat reassuring. I was also diagnosed with type 1 at age 4 (30 years ago!). The story is too long for the board though. Please let me know if you would like to me to get in touch through the forum. Regards, foffi

 

[Gmhgerald]

Hi foffi,
Thanks so much for adding me. I would love to hear your story very much if you don't mind taking the time to tell it?

 

[clarkee217]

Hi there
our daughter was the same age when diagnosed with Type 1, she had been poorly for a while and the GP had ignored my worries. We too went thru a almost grief stage but please be sure you will come out the other side.. you won't think so for a long time but you will. It is natural to feel like you have lost the child you knew but really she has just become a great deal more special to you.
Our daughter is 17 yjis month and we have witnessed many emotions both in ourselves and her, if you have a good diabetic support team you will get thru.
In the first weeks I used to wake up thinking it had all been a bad dream but then I reaised it was real and you just have to get on with things, for your daughters sake if not your own.
Make sure you have full support at her nursery/ school, these will play a vital role in her wellfare and your sanity, believe me.
The first bad night hypos will be the worst thing you have ever gone thru, but your little one will NOT remember a thing about them, whilst you are shaking with fear afterwards she will munch thru her bickies and drink her milk totally oblivious... believe me we have been there.
Try to relax and just be there for her, it will be a learning curve for her and you and the rest of the family but it does get easier, honestly.... it will never be worry free for you but you will find things easer to deal wit.

Much love and good wishes to you all xxx

 

[Gmhgerald]

Hi clarkee217, thanks for sharing your story. Its great to hear your daughter is now 17 and life is fine. I actually worry more about the growing up/teenage years. I am also very scared about the first night time hypo. But its reassuring to read that you do get through it. Im sure it all very quickly becomes a normal way of life. X

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[jillspittles]

My son is 12 and was diagnosed 2 years ago. Please please keep an eye on her mentally as my son is waiting to see a councillor as they say he has deep rooted depression. It seems the team worry about their blood levels and not talk to them about how they are actually feeling about everything that is going on. Good luck she will be fine

 

[stoney]

Hi GmhGerald

It is such a shock when you are told your young child has diabetes as well I remember when my son James was diagnosed in January 2000 just before his third birthday in April. We have been through it all but you will survive and it will soon become part of your routine. My son is now 16 and his Dad and I were so proud to see him at his Prom last week.

I owe my gratitude to the many people on this forum who take the time to give you their helpful knowledge and advice. I know I would not have got over all the hurdles if it was not for this forum.

So be strong for your little one and keep asking as many questions as you like, as I did.

Best Wishes

Yvonne :wave: