Worried mum!!!

[dianab]

Hi Everyone!
Think this forum is a great idea! My 15 year old son was diagnosed on Friday with Type 1 diabetes and is on the basal bolus regime. We are beginning to find our way around but I have been worried by information I am hearing from people about blindness and kidney problems (ie transplants) being an impact from this illness (everyone thinks they are an expert!!) My son scuba dives and wants to be a marine biologist. Is this going to hinder him in reaching his goals?? What are the chances of him developing further problems with type 1?? Emotions are still running very high and I feel that I am not currently being told enough, but I think the nurses are trying to break us in slowly. In the meantime I am tying myself in knots with concerns about his future health and career choice.

 

[fergus]

Hi dianab,

You are right to be concerned about long term complications associated with diabetes. The good news is that they are by no means inevitable, and actually completely avoidable if blood glucose is controlled within a normal range. There are a number of long term T1s on the forum, including me, who have no complications at all.
As for scuba diving and his furure career, I got my PADI license 7 years ago (joy!) and diabetes has never been an issue. Careers guidance might be able to give useful advice about possible restrictions relating to deep water stuff?

All the best,

fergus

 

[hanadr]

If your son takes good control of his condition, there's not much he can't do. Contact diabetes UK. they have a good section for teenaers and children and know what can and can't be done.

 

[Lel]

Hey,

You always find that every non-diabetic you speak to about this disease is an 'expert'. They are great at telling you all the terrible things that can result from having diabetes but they are very misinformed about it.

It's true that there are complications that can arise including blindness and kidney failure but this is usually only the result of poorly controlled blood sugar. You should have look on the internet about these things and it should get a bit clearer in your mind.

Try and find out as much as possible about diabetes knowledge is your best weapon against this and it will put your mind at rest when your son want to go and be 'normal' with his friends etc. make sure that he is very clued up also as this is when things can get out of hand.
i havent had much help from my specialist team so i have learned so much from the internet.
you might be luckier than me but if in doubt try one of these forums and you will alway find there is someone there to help.

If i was to give your son some advise it would be:
1. Restrict your carbohydrate intake as much as possible as it makes it much easier to match yuor insulin to you carb in take without having to take more insulin that is really necessary as insulin can cause weight gain....as i found out lol. ask at your clinic for carb counting classes.

2. Test, test, test, test and then test a bit more, this is the only way you are going to know what is going on inside your body.

3. keep a food diary and note what you eat and what time, BG(blood glucose) levels before and for a few hours after to see what that particular food is doing to you and after a while you will have a little database so you can refer to it at a later date to check on different foods.
I mentioned time as i find that in the morning my body cant deal with some foods as well as others.

4. Stay positive and dont be a victim of Diabetes - this is really hard to do and there are times you will all want to scream and get frustrated etc and you are well within your rights to do so but you need to remember that diabetes is managable and controllable and there is absolutely nothing stopping your son from a completely normal life.

I wish you both well and hope things get a little clearer and easier for you both.

xx