Lauren - type 1 mumma
Newbie
Does your child have type 1 diabetes and ADHD? We are starting the process to get our 7 year old diagnosed with ADHD, it’s very rough as a parent and heartbreaking to see him struggling so much mentally.
-
Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »
Type 1 & ADHD
- Thread starter Lauren - type 1 mumma
- Start Date
Hi there @Lauren - type 1 mumma . I have a type of diabetes that has yet to be determined, it could be type 1 or not , it’s a wait and see situation. What I can tell you is I have diagnosed ADHD. I went through all the testing with an ADHD psychologist and was diagnosed Combined Type. If you have questions about ADHD please feel free to ask. I can talk about ADHD from my personal perspective and my from my real world experiences, in fact I can talk about ADHD until the cows come home. So please feel free to ask questions.
Mel
Mel
SimplyJason
Member
Hi Lauren, I myself am a Type One Diabetic and have been since the age of 2 now 56 so a bit of first hands on experience 
As a bonus I have ADHD as well!
I remember as a young child never being able to concentrate with my school report stating the typical ADHD trait of 'could do better if paid attention'.
There was absolutely zero knowledge of this condition as well back then, at least that my school knew about.
I myself never really knew that I had ADHD, but I did know, I had diabetes and that is what I concentrated more on.
You mention that it's 'heartbreaking to see him struggling so much mentally' which is fully understandable.
How does he respond when you ask him how does he feel?
Pretty sure here that you have contacted the NHS for futher help, the Diabetes UK and the ADHD Foundation.
Enjoy your day
As a bonus I have ADHD as well!
I remember as a young child never being able to concentrate with my school report stating the typical ADHD trait of 'could do better if paid attention'.
There was absolutely zero knowledge of this condition as well back then, at least that my school knew about.
I myself never really knew that I had ADHD, but I did know, I had diabetes and that is what I concentrated more on.
You mention that it's 'heartbreaking to see him struggling so much mentally' which is fully understandable.
How does he respond when you ask him how does he feel?
Pretty sure here that you have contacted the NHS for futher help, the Diabetes UK and the ADHD Foundation.
Enjoy your day
Hi, I have been type 1 diabetic since 13 years old and am now 54. My son showed signs of ADHD and was tested at uni. We had to answer some questions too, I said to my husband - I don’t know about son having ADHD - I think I have it!
My school reports always said daydreams at the back of the class!!!
I need deadlines but will be last minute to meet them. No point extending the deadlines as I would still be last minute.
I have never let my diabetes rule my life, never let it stop me doing anything. But never found it easy to control. The continuous glucose monitoring devices are a massive help as is my insulin pump. When I was just doing finger pricks I wasn’t very good at doing them all the time, I never wrote the results down- that must have been the ADHD. Maybe I should go get a diagnosis!!!!
Mags
My school reports always said daydreams at the back of the class!!!
I need deadlines but will be last minute to meet them. No point extending the deadlines as I would still be last minute.
I have never let my diabetes rule my life, never let it stop me doing anything. But never found it easy to control. The continuous glucose monitoring devices are a massive help as is my insulin pump. When I was just doing finger pricks I wasn’t very good at doing them all the time, I never wrote the results down- that must have been the ADHD. Maybe I should go get a diagnosis!!!!
Mags
Hi Lauren as an adult that did have type 2 - I know completely different to type one but I do have ADHD so get some of those issues as well. If your son is into charts and visual stuff you could perhaps help him with a food chart. I had a spreadsheet so that I could record the food and the the resulting BG number, it took a while but eventually the pattern became clear that x foods really spiked my bloods and other were more of a slow burn. So I was able to avoid the foods that were bad for me and enjoy the foods that weren't. Everyone reacts in a personal way to their food, the mood swings can be bad I try to always have some healthy snacks available for when I just don't want to eat, or when that thing that was a favourite for months is now something I can't face. I hope the diagnosis comes quickly and remember that all the advice is the average for all people with diabetes. Good luck
Absolutely fascinating what everyone above has said.
I’m 54 type 1 since 9yoa.
Was excellent at school (until similar to other comments- parts and traits of all the above ADHD type tendencies proved difficult to manage and work with)
Amazing how we’ve all ‘struggled with similar’ although I would not see myself as fully ADHD - but have certain mirrored tendencies.
Over my career (& married life ) have found listening and taking in conversations and info very difficult and at times problematic.
Anyway the point of the message - work with any of the above - not against it. I’ve ensured diabetes hasn’t stopped me eating what I’d like to eat, stopped me doing things - played many sports, cycled UK to Paris numerous occasions, and done regular 100 mile+ biking trips.
Long term blood/glucose result this week 6.1
Now with Libre etc it has been life changing and ground breaking in so many ways and identifying traits.
The only thing I’d waffingly try and sayin this message overall is don’t let anyone tell you their Diabetes/ADHD is a reason they cannot do something.
Find a way they can work with it, rather than a way that they can’t.
…. And thank you all for the messages - amazing how many of us long term 50 somethings (& others) are realising we’ve all been travelling in a similar direction unknowingly.
Maybe some of the agencies can really open some doors and insights for others (& us) moving forward with a bit of research into these fairly clear patterns.
I’m 54 type 1 since 9yoa.
Was excellent at school (until similar to other comments- parts and traits of all the above ADHD type tendencies proved difficult to manage and work with)
Amazing how we’ve all ‘struggled with similar’ although I would not see myself as fully ADHD - but have certain mirrored tendencies.
Over my career (& married life ) have found listening and taking in conversations and info very difficult and at times problematic.
Anyway the point of the message - work with any of the above - not against it. I’ve ensured diabetes hasn’t stopped me eating what I’d like to eat, stopped me doing things - played many sports, cycled UK to Paris numerous occasions, and done regular 100 mile+ biking trips.
Long term blood/glucose result this week 6.1
Now with Libre etc it has been life changing and ground breaking in so many ways and identifying traits.
The only thing I’d waffingly try and sayin this message overall is don’t let anyone tell you their Diabetes/ADHD is a reason they cannot do something.
Find a way they can work with it, rather than a way that they can’t.
…. And thank you all for the messages - amazing how many of us long term 50 somethings (& others) are realising we’ve all been travelling in a similar direction unknowingly.
Maybe some of the agencies can really open some doors and insights for others (& us) moving forward with a bit of research into these fairly clear patterns.
