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Help! newly diagnosed 14 yr old diabetic

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Posted 10/19/2005 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hello! my name is Amiee and I'm 14 years old, I am in boarding school and just found out 3 weeks ago i'm type 1 diabetic, it was a big shock!

I'm just rubbish at it! my blood sugar keeps going from one extreme to the other, when I get up in the morning it's really low less than 3 and the later in the day it goes high, this frightens me as i'm in boarding school, I feel reliant on them helping me.

I also have a heart condition and a cardiac pacemaker, as if this wasn't enough I had to get diabetes aswell!

Posted 10/21/2005 12:35 PM (GMT 0)
Aimee, you have quite a burden to carry at your age, but something tells me that you're a strong kid. Just by getting on this forum and asking questions tells me that you're ready to confront this problem. Do as much research as you possibly can. Learn all about diabetes. There are many sites on the web that will give you lots of information.

Keep a log of your blood sugars, what you eat and what activity you have done. This will start to form a pattern. Don't be to distressed about the highs and lows. After you begin to see patterns, you can do what you have to do to control the ups and downs. This will involve changes in your insulin dosages and modifying your diet.

ALWAYS carry glucose tablets with you. They can be purchased cheaply at any drugstore and do not melt or degrade like candy. If you feel a low coming on (jittery, weak, sweaty) take a couple of tablets, sit down and wait for it to get better. Have a buddy that knows what low blood sugar attacks are like, so they know what to do if you get into trouble.

Dont panic! A diabetic who is very skilled at controlling their blood sugar can be healthier than a person who lives on junk food and abuses their body. It takes practice, but with time, you can become quite good at it. You may even be in a position to help someone else out some day, with the experience you will gain.

Best of luck to you. Please stay in touch. Don't let it get you down. A positive attitude is 3/4 of the battle.
Posted 10/21/2005 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Amiee,

I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 12 (I'm now in my mid 20's) and this is what I found, too. Once you understand how your body works and why you get the highs and lows you will find diabetes a lot easier to manage. It will just take time. It's very scary at first, but once you get used to it you'll be fine. It's a complex thing to manage but when you understand it more it will be easy!

I find the best help I get is to talk to people who specialise in diabetes (I have a phone number for a nurse at my local hospital I can call whenever I need to) and they offer my very good advice if I'm worried about anything. Along with this, I read up all the time as much as I can about diabetes.

I'm sure you'll find it becomes easier!

Claire x
Posted 10/21/2005 7:22 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Diamonad and Claire for your replies.

I am keeping a log of my blood sugars and what i eat, and hopefully I won't feel so rubbish at it.

I feel tired sometimes and never know if this is because of my heart condition (dextracardia) or blood sugar being too high or too low, so I feel I have to check my blood sugar before I do anything just to reasure myself.  It's very hard, I'm scared of doing the wrong thing!  I will get there in the end, I am determined too, but feel alone sometimes at boarding school, my parents are not in the same country!  The school is good - sometimes, like recently I had to walk out of a lesson because the teacher wouldn't let me test my blood sugar so I did it anyway, and it was low so i'm glad I did that.  I have got some glucose tablets now which I've used when my sugar was low (they helped alot).

Now because of that the school lets me test my blood whenever I want and someone comes with me, so they are learning with me.

I feel a bit better.  Thanks.  Amiee xx

I glad just to meet people who know about this, I'd heard of diabetes but knew nothing about it,  well I do now!! (well a bit)


Post Edited (Amiee) : 10/21/2005 1:30:41 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/21/2005 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
The easiest way to control your blood sugar is to stay as close to a routine as possible. Yes, bread, cereal and other carbohydrates do raise blood sugar quicker and higher than proteins like meat, eggs and cheese. But you're growing and you do need to eat a balanced diet. You should eat about the same at each meal. Not necessarily the same foods, but the same quantity of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. It will make it easier for you, especially at first, to keep your blood sugar stable. Exercise at approxaimately the same time every day. Exercise lowers blood sugar also, so you may need a snack before or after to keep from going low (hypoglycemic, or hypo as we call it) There will be times in the day when you might be especially low. Save your favorite cheats for that time, but don't overdo it. That way you won't feel deprived. I am a member of several forums. Do you mind if i hook you up some other diabetics your age? If I have your permission, I'll give them your email to contact you.
Posted 10/21/2005 8:17 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the information Diamond

You can give my email to other diabetics, I would like that, thanks.

Amiee

Posted 10/22/2005 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
What type of insulin are you on?  Lantus and humolog are a good combo.  I would ask about those if you are not on them.  More flexibility with eating and scheduling.  The insulin pump is awesome my 2 yr old is on one.  He hasn't gone low since we got it.  He can even sleep through the night and skip breakfast if he wants.  Good luck.
Posted 10/22/2005 6:17 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Dandylion,

Thanks for the reply, Yes I am on Lantus and Humalog rapid insulin, but I still get the occasional low blood sugar, but I'm trying and will keep on trying until I get it right.

The Insulin pumps sounds great but I don't know anything about that, so I'm going to ask my Doctor and specialist diabetic nurse.

Thanks again

Amiee x

Posted 10/22/2005 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
My son was getting low blood sugars with Lantus mosly at night. Make sure you eat a bedtime snack. Glass of milk, 1/2 peanut butter sandwich, cheese and crackers. They said he was on too much Lantus anyway, Maybe ask abou that. Lanuts is pretty good too. Take care you are so strong.
Posted 10/22/2005 6:54 PM (GMT 0)

Thankyou so much for the help and advice, which I really need!

Being in boarding school is difficult because really I eat what the school has, but now my 'house parents' are getting me all the things I need and the foods that I am allowed, I am doing my best to learn all I need to know so that it will become part of my life and just routine, instead i'm having to think all the time if i'm doing the right thing, but I will get there in the end.

Thanks again

Amiee x

Posted 10/23/2005 8:11 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Amiee,

It sounds like you are doing all the right things, so just carry on and you'll get there!  I'm a bit disappointed that your teacher tried to stop you doing a blood test but at least the school learnt from that.  If you ever feel that you are alone, you are not.  If you need to air your feelings then do so here! 

Claire x

Posted 10/24/2005 4:44 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Claire for the reply, it's means alot to know i'm not alone, i'm glad the school learnt from that aswell!! and they are still learning as I am too.

Thanks again

Amiee xx

Posted 10/24/2005 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Amiee. My name is Rachel. I understand, partially, what you're going through. I know you have added junk, but I'm like you. I am 14 and got diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in May. It's been hard on me, and I'm sure it's really hard for you too. What is your range? In time, your blood sugar will settle. But I'm sure you've heard that before. I'm fairly settled in 5 months, so it might take a little while, but you'll get it regulated. If you need to talk, my email is= ragjesusrox is the first part before the @hotmail.com part. I've also got M N Messenger, if you have it. Where is your boarding school? Well, I just wanted to tell you that I'm praying for you, and hopefully you can somehow contact me and I can give you all the advice i can. Well, hope to talk to you soon.

(Rachel, hope you don't mind me disguising your email address from the spam robots. Members can post their email addresses on their personal page on HealingWell where it is protected. Putting it in the posts will get you buried in spam in a matter of days. ~Jeannie)

[img]/community/emoticons/smile.gif[/img] Love in Christ,

Rachel

Post Edited By Moderator (Jeannie143) : 10/26/2005 10:56:56 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/7/2005 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
bump

Posted 11/8/2005 8:54 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Amiee,

How are you doing now?  Are things getting better for you?  Let us know how you are doing.

Claire x

Posted 11/8/2005 5:59 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Claire

I am doing much better thanks, I feel alot more confident now about diabetes, i haven't had a really bad hypo for ages, I am learning the warning signs.  I am getting some very good help!  I've seen a diabetic specialist nurse who taught me to log everything, like blood sugar, what i eat and what i was doing at the time.

I am happier, much happier

Amiee xx

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