My Son Has Type 1 To

[Rob B]

Hi everybody

Now this may sound silly but I have 5 children and they are all perfectly fine, except my little boy who also has type 1 diabetes, and since we was told and I can’t myself but to think that it was me who he got it from. I know it sounds silly but I’ve always thought about this and I can’t get this out of my head, I look at him every day and he just looks happy and like a normal happy little boy should be. Thing is I still blame myself only because I have it as well and nobody else in my family has it at all. I don’t know what to do but it’s driving me mad or crazy one of or both and I always blame myself for him getting this watching him grow up because we have to call him in for his medicine. When I talk to him about it he doesn’t seem bothered but I know when he gets older he is going to go through exactly what I went through when I was his age. I love him to bits and I didn’t get that from. My parents so I’ve always made sure that he gets plenty of it all the time. Somebody need to talk to me about this it’s driving me mad and I really don’t know what to do please help was it because of me or was he just unlucky

 

[sninge]

Hi Rob.
When we decided to have our daughter 17 yrs ago, passing on diabetes was something I was aware of so I spoke to the people in the know and there was such a small % higher risk than if I didn't have diabetes. You didn't say how old you son is? I was 10 when I was diagnosed and it was water of a ducks back for me as like your son I had loving parents and being a parent now I realise how much harder it was for them than me and look at how much diabetes has come on since we were kids, it will be so much easier these days than what our parents went through.
At least Diabetes can be controlled even if it can be a real challenge, the last few years I've watched one of my daughter's friends have a really hard time in hospitals all over the country trying to deal with her asthma and miss out on a huge amount of her education and social time with friends. It isn't impossible but very rare for that to be the case with diabetes. My Diabetes has certainly made me a stronger person, ive grown up multi tasking as we are always wondering what our sugars are doing!! Diabetes runs in both my parents blood lines but ive never once thought of them as responsible, although to be fair I know my mum struggled and used to tell me as a child she wished it was her and not me so I think your guilt is very natural!
Best wishes for your son, sounds like he is taking in his stride, be the proud dad you should be!

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @Rob B Diagnosis brings with it a multitude of emotions and questions and yes this is one area people question, but type 1 is an auto immune condition, some may have relatives and some like me don't know anyone else with type 1, it's literally the luck of the draw, I constantly questioned what i'd done to get it, was it triggered by illness, genetics, something i'd done in my teenage reckless years, it's natural to ask these questions, however the real focus is understanding the present situation and getting as much knowledge and support as possible so you are armed and ready to face the days and weeks ahead. It's coming to terms with it which will help to focus the mind.

Kids are resilient, much more than us, they adapt quite easily, it's adults who struggle with change, but follow his lead, adapting and learning to how best to manage - lean on the forum as much as you need as we are all here to support.