My 10 year old son has had diabetes since he was 3 and has been on an insulin pump for 5 years.
He has gotten in to a bad habit of going in to the kitchen and helping himself to food and “forgetting” to give himself insulin or telling me he did.
I’ve been forced to take complete control of his diabetes again because his A1C test was horrible. His endocrinologist had a VERY long talk with him a week ago. He says he hates having diabetes and is sick of it. I have tried to reward him for being responsible and all sorts of techniques but he doesn’t take it seriously. He goes to the kitchen, when I’m unaware and eats things and doesn’t give himself insulin. I don’t know until the next bg reading which is drastically high.
I don’t want to do something harming, but I feel like I’m at the point of locking up all the food cabinets and refrigerator. I’m lost as what to do at this point.
Has anyone else had this problem with tween children with diabetes? If so, what did you do to correct it?
We had the same problem and I was where you are now. It went on for months, and no amount of conversation, threat or punishment from anyone seemed to have any impact. I was also “put in charge” after the miserable A1C, and was testing every hour to keep his numbers in line.
We finally turned the corner when his pump malfunctioned over a weekend, and he had to go back to shots. He complained so much about it, that I told him he couldn’t have his pump back unless he changed his food sneaking ways. I also restricted his food consumption to the kitchen (the amount of hidden food wrappers and plates everywhere else was unbelievable).
It’s definitely better now, but it still happens, but I think that just goes with the territory.
Thanks for your reply…His A1C was 9.9!!! OUCH and I’m SO concerned. I find food wrappers around the house as well and I’m sick. I’m honestly thinking about putting bicycle locks on the refrigerator and cabinets…NO JOKE! I hate to make it more negative than he already feels, but this is going to kill him.
He was hospitalized this April for the 1st time due to extremely high blood sugars over night.
Thanks Patti…will do. He needs some support. I’ve looked in our area, but because he’s so young, there aren’t groups available. I look in to it and thanks again!
Yikes, although my younger one (13) was at 13.1 last endo visit - it is so hard to manage this part. Our endo advised not restricting his food, because it would just lead to more sneaking and perhaps more push back. I have gotten rid of a lot of “junk” food (no more cookies etc.) and have gone to smaller packages of chips so I can gauge how quickly it’s being eaten.
I wouldn’t rule out that part of this is puberty kicking in, which impacts their numbers tremendously.
It’s hard for us, because my older son (t1 too), is coming off an extended honeymoon, and has wonderful numbers and is so responsible in his bolusing and testing.
WOW 13.1!!! My son’s problem is not over-eating or choosing bad snacks, but just helping himself and not bolusing for food. He just doesn’t think about it at all and even a piece of toast and/or yogurt will put him in the 400’s. It has been especially bad this summer because he’s home and wanders in to the kitchen a lot on his own.
Oh, and I get what your endo is talking about. If you restrict food, it does set them up to sneak. I’ve seen children who have weight problems that use this method as well. My son doesn’t “sneak”, he just helps himself like he doesn’t have diabetes. I didn’t originally train him this way, but this summer at home has been a nightmare.
Good thing school’s starting soon! A more regular schedule will probably help. My kids generally eat pretty well, but I found that the stuff that he was sneaking was more “portable” food!
We are just outside of San Francisco, in Tiburon. I belong to a support group for parents called Brave Buddies. Most of our members are local, but there are folks from all over the country
Here’s a link:
Lucky us, yes. Our younger one was diagnosed a few years ago at 10, and the older one the following year. They have a first cousin with T1 too, so I’m guessing there’s some genetic component at play…
My son is also 10. We have not quite hit this yet, but I am getting a lot of being annoyed because he has to test. I understand from other parents that many of our children go through this. A couple of things come to mind…
this is a marathon, not a sprint. While this is a tough period, he will eventually learn what he needs to to be independent and healthy. Maybe and end of day review of his BGs and boluses will help him start to learn the impact of his choices. Also, reinforcing that he has the power to decide what he eats, as long as he accompanies it with a bolus.
has he been to Diabetes Camp? We have only done family camp so far, but I understand from many other parents that time at sleepover camp makes a huge difference. Not only do they meet other kids their age with T1D, but they also come home feeling empowered.
Good luck. I must admit, that I would be just as frustrated as you in dealing with this.
have you told him all the consequences of poor control in graphic details? when my boys slip up, I remind them that I really, really would like to have grandchildren one day LOL
I would seek counseling for him because he is understandably burned out; of course he is sick of diabetes. We have never had this problem; usually have to force her to eat but once insulin is given the insulin makes her hungry and she will then eat. I would not restrict food or lock the fridge because that could set him up with an eating disorder but there must be some system whereby you can be alerted when he goes for food (when you are home that is). Maybe a video set up that can be rigged up with some kind of alarm? Must be some kind of electronic warning gadget. I would tell him that he is not free to go into the kitchen and prepare his own food, that he must come to an adult who will prepare it for him and punish him if he does not agree to the rule. I would give him the food, within reason, when he does come to you so he is aware he does not have to sneak, just be accountable for it.
We have gone to Camp Conrad Chinnock…he went by himself the summer before last but I wasn’t able to send him this year. I’m going to make sure I put money aside for this for next summer. Thanks
My girlfriend also suggested an alarm for the refrigerator and cabinets…or maybe even an alarm that goes off if someone goes in the kitchen. This might just drive me batty though because I have two teenage girls as well. I decided not to lock up the cabinets because many of you are absolutely right…it will teach him nothing and might make matters worse. I was just feeling desperate because I’ve talked to him over and over and he still walks in the kitchen and acts like he doesn’t have diabetes at all.
I understand your problem and sympathize. I have two children with type 1 and have similiar issues with both and unfortunately I don’t have a solution. My daughter was diagnosed at 7 and within a year was hiding food in her room and not bolusing for it. This has been a long haul and we still see her doing it at times and she is 12. We have told her we will count it into her meals and now she is on a pump but she hates to test. We have reduced this but there is no one correct answer. of course we were worried about this and I have talked to her many times as we are not super strict with what she eats. I was very worried about her developing food issues and had her going to a social worker at school, but she hated it and so I let her quit. My son was diagnosed at 10 almost a year exactly to the day before my daughter was diagnosed. He eats a lot. He is now 6’2" and so we really had a hard time trying to get him to test everytime he wanted to eat. We tried to add more snacks into his plan, but again they really have a hard time with this. I was at a loss for how to help so we just kept on him: TEST Test Test! We upped his carb allowance for each meal . We also did not want to restrict him too much, because my husband who was diagnosed at 10 missed at least one growth spurt because he was on such a strict regime.Cameron grew 6" one year, so his hormones were probably going crazy as well and he needed the food. Cameron, my son, hates to test also. So it worries me, but he spent the summer away working and proved he could manage his diabetes and tested frequently. But now that he is home he seems to be more lax again. I don’t have the right answer, but be aware I think this is a common problem. They do get tired of the disease and the long talks may help for a while but know they will probably rebel again. We have tried reward and punishments and all work for a bit, but nothing for us was or is full proof. I hope this is not too disappointing to you, just know you may have to try many things to find what works and know many of us have dealt with this too. I think your best bet is too just ask him if he took insulin everytime you see him eating and be his reminder. Is he on the pump as this is easier to solve if he is as it only means push a few buttons and not another injection. Take care and I hope you the best.
We recently changed Certified Diabetes Educators to a younger, cuter, tech savy, more cool person in the same office. I know that sounds so sexist and we resisted it for a while but my son’s numbers got so bad we felt we had to try something else or the dr. was going to drop us fro his practice. Our first CDE was great and I really liked her but she was more Mom, Grandmother age and he resisted everything she recommended and hated our visits with her.
The new one is a few years out of college and is also on the Omnipod. He repeats her words of wisdom and she even has him drinking skim milk and taking his healthier lunch to school which he had previously resisted. His A1C numbers have really improved to the low 6s. The rapport is good but she is very good at downloading different sets of numbers and adjusting his pump. She is also very good at calling him out when he did not bolus or changed bolus recommendations. She has even asked him if he was drinking at a party because his numbers dropped so low.
Maybe your son needs a mentor, coach or younger, male CDE who he would care to impress with his maturity due to his diabetes. My son definately did not care whether the dr., me , his Dad or the first CDE were happy with his situation - he wasn’t happy either so we could all just share in the misery. But he is now very concerned about the CDE’s and his hockey coaches opinions of him. She has also spent a lot of time working with a CGM to show him his BG and insulin needs during games and practices which has improved his play. So important at this age.
That is a great idea! I’m going to see if I can locate a CDE. Where do you find one? We have Kaiser insurance and they don’t offer much in care for diabetes. He does need someone to look up to and respect. I have the same issue…I’m mom and that doesn’t comfort him anymore. Today I went to his school because his pump was vibrating. He wouldn’t even let me talk in the nurses office…kept saying “ssshhhh”. He quickly hides his pump and is very concerned about people knowing. This is new…as he’s been diagnosed over 7 years. I would appreciate your advice on where to find a CDE.
