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Parent of T1D student

N

Nikkijs

Newbie
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Hi, my son has recently been diagnosed and is at uni going into a 4th yr, lives on his own so as parent am concerned how know that he is ok, any other parents on here that could give advise or suggestions please! I know he needs to stay independent but it's so hard not to worry when he's 300 miles away! Thanks in advance
 
I'm not a parent, but I've recently been diagnosed coming to the end of my third year (about to go into my fourth too). When you say he lives alone, is this in his own flat or does he have house/flat mates? I would say the best thing you can do is make sure he knows you're there if he needs you, particularly emotionally. Maybe it different for me, but my Mum is my first person to call when I'm feeling rubbish! Also being on his own its particularly important to make sure he's getting his basal insulin right to keep himself safe overnight
 
The uni will have a disability service that he really should get in touch with. He may need special requirements in exams or being newly diagnosed, extensions to his deadlines or even extenuating circumstances in his final results board. They are usually found in the equality unit of the uni and should be used to helping students in similar circumstances so may be able to offer him other support too. Sue xx
 
Thanks for both responses, very useful! Hope everything goes well for u becky, it's surprised me how many people get diagnosed at your age, a lot to take in alongside uni work and social life, I hadn't though about support at uni so will suggest that to him, and making sure friends are aware of he doesn't respond to texts, he had just moved out of a house share to new one with working people so may take s bit to have confidence to tell them
 
Yeah I thought I was alone till coming on here. I had a very stressful year working a full time placement while also doing uni work, so people are always asking if that was a factor. Which uni is he at out of interest? I got extenuating circumstances for the time I was off so had extensions to my assignments, plus my tutor is aware of everything so will help out if my grades don't go to plan. Definitely worth making sure the right people know, I was told to expect it to take a year to fully get used to everything
 
Perhaps you could suggest he joins this forum? There's quite a few young people like @becky.ford93 who I'm sure would be happy to chat with him through the good and the bad days! Wish you well Sue xxxx
 
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