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Type I and small children

Q

Qc34x2

Member
Messages
16
Type of diabetes
LADA
Hi

I have been diagnosed with lada and am wondering what life is really like dealing with fully fledged type I (insulin, carb counting etc) with two plus small children. We were planning to have three but diabetes is looming rather large over that plan. I know it shouldn't own me but I feel before making any decisions I should know what I am letting myself in for. I have two healthy children and for them it may be better to stop at that. Thanks
 
Tagging @azure as she is T1 and has children.

I only have the one. Diabetes does not significantly affect my role as a mother (ok, she knew how to call an ambulance early on and that the sweets in my handbag were only for me) but otherwise we play, swim, hug and get on with life.

You'll have to discuss the pregnancy risks with your healthcare team but lots of diabetics have good pregnancies and happy, healthy kids.
 
I have 3 children Yes, Type 1 is a nuisance with young children, but I don't think it makes that much of a difference whether it's 2 or 3 children personally : D

How long have you been diagnosed? What's your control like?

My advice would be to not let Type 1 stop you (unless there are additional medical issues, of course).
 
Hi I had my daughter at 42 1/2 years old ( and a single parent) so don't let diabetes stop you from doing anything.

All the best RRB
 
I see you asked about this here too:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/advice.116698/

So it's clearly on your mind. For that reason, I'd say listen to,your heart. If you want another child and all's well then don't let diabetes stop you. There's absolutely no reason why you can't be a good mum with Type 1. In fact, I reckon it makes us stronger and more organised
 

It certainly made me get up and fight every time I got knocked back, it toughens you up.
 
Hello @Qc34x2 As someone who only had one child I would of liked to of had another, so don't let diabetes dash your dreams, you can get the support you need, best wishes
 
Thank you everyone and huge apologies I had forgotten I had posted before! You are right it is on my mind, obviously there are other considerations as well aside from my health. I suppose (this time
)I was rather looking for a picture of 'your average day balancing children, job, life and diabetes on top' please PM (if that is possible) if you would rather
 
Well, as I say just the one child here (unless you include the husband). So up at 6.30, blood test, insulin, breakfast, unload dishwasher/hang out washing, wake up child. Breakfast for her, school run, anther blood test for drive to the station, commute to London, work - with associated tests, injections and all that, home for 7 cook dinner, while that is on check homework has been done, test, inject, eat, chat about day. Put her to bed, chores, test, basal, bed!
Some days also have the gym, park, swimming, hypo, highs - you just have to keep going...
 

It's pretty much the same as it would be without Type 1 but with the addition of lots of blood tests. That's the main thing.

Also, going out requires that I take my 'kit' as well as the usual baby paraphernalia, so I automatically add that on to my packing list.

Finally, the other thing that I notice is sometimes it's harder to advance at exactly the right time when its a meal where there's some kind of baby/child chaos : D

Carb counting is nothing. It soon becomes a habit and is very quick once you get familiar with carb values. It really doesn't complicate meals at all

As you get more used to Type 1, it will fit into your life and not be something that your life has to fit around
 
I've been blessed with 4...... Of course it is harder work than not having diabetes but it is perfectly possible. I work, drive, look after my kids and they seem to do ok.

Pregnancy is hard work but the end result makes it worth while....most of the time
 

Thank you, it is mealtimes and things that most worry me tbh as it is so hard to do anything 'on time or immediately' with small people.
 

Did you already have type I before you had children (if you don't mind me asking)
 
I can only speak as a father but I had no problems being a dad to my two kids. But then again, I've never viewed my Type1 diabetes as a big deal as I have lived with it for most of my life.
 
Qc34x2 said:
Thank you, it is mealtimes and things that most worry me tbh as it is so hard to do anything 'on time or immediately' with small people.
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@Qc34x2 You've already got children so you're 90% there in knowing what to expect, I'd say You understand things like how long it can take to get out of the house; how little people like to thwart your careful planning : D ; how meal times can be a bit chaotic. Knowing all those things, will stand you in good stead. Yes, diabetes adds another thing, but when I think back over a week with 3 children, the 'hardest' things aren't usually anything to do with diabetes. They're just part of looking after young children

For meals, you need to be flexible (but you have to be anyway with children, right?) So you can't bolus at an exact time every single time. You can still carb count ok though You'll need to do more tests as children can throw you an unpredictable routine - so you might be more or less active than you're expecting.

But in all honesty, none of that is a big deal
 
Qc34x2 said:
Did you already have type I before you had children (if you don't mind me asking)
Click to expand...
Yes. I've had it since I was 3.
 
Breastfeeding has done wonders for my diabetes. I reckon they should prescribe it on the NHS
 
I have two small children aged almost 6 years and 8 months. I had gestational diabetes in both pregnancies--while it was nothing like as challenging as managing pregnancy as a T1 (I imagine ) it was still stressful and time consuming. Was diagnosed as T1 when my daughter was 6 months. The pancreas is still tottering along and I'm only on a small amount of basal plus breastfeeding plus lowcarb diet so I guess my T1 is the slow progressing kind like yours. I wouldn't have minded a third but husband is quite firm this will not happen and Im okay with that. In answer to your question, the only difference I can see is testing, testing, testing. Plus I feel more able to ask for help (from family, friends) and have realised it is okay to buy in help (eg paying teenagers to walk my son home from school when I couldn't manage it). Be well and enjoy your children! H
 
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Thanks everyone this is all really helpful. I am breastfeeding too and hope to do at least a year (if she will, doesn't seem so keen now established on solids). I suppose part of it is the effect it has on the children, knowing mummy has a chronic disease and I suppose at some point they will ask the inevitable question and also them having to know when older what to do if I have a hypo. If I could put that off for longer by not having a third then it might be good. They wouldn't test for GDM with my first as they said I didn't have any risk factors (he was then just under 9lb which was big for me). I had a pretty strict low carb high fat etc diet for GD with a lot of walking after meals which kept me controlled until 36 wks when I had to go on a tiny bit of insulin overnight but how do you all manage a low carb diet now, I get so hungry!! Also I worry about working and stress not helping my levels too.
 
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