Hi Everyone, my daughter Kennedy was diagnosed 6 weeks ago and she just started middle school two weeks ago. She is doing ok at home and at my parents, school has been a real struggle to get a handle on carb counts, and we have switched her back to bringing lunch because her afternoon blood glucose has been so high 280 ( right during math) We are working on refining her 504 plan to add in some BG testing before tests at school to be sure she isn’t too high. She really cries after being with her friends the most, because she says they think she’s ok now, but she’s not ok. For the first time, she had some candy with a friend without telling me. And now she’s sick with a cold, bad ragweed allergies and asthma attack, and her blood sugars are out of the roof. Going to call our endo today I think to figure out what to do.
Anyway just venting… I have found some kids she can talk to in our town, but she doesn’t want to talk or meet with them because they’re not her age. Anyone know of an 11 year old girl that might email her or talk sometime? a pump user? We have omnipod stuff at our house and are hoping to go live sept 23 at endo’s Kosair.
And I am considering doing an interview series for my blog on closed loop studies. Who are the top five experts you would like to see me interview?
My 10 year old is a boy, so no help with a contact for Kennedy. However, I did want to jump in on the allergies and cold. We fine that we really have to raise my son’s basal and I/C ratios when he is sick with a cold and when he is suffering from allergies. Of course, you need to work on figuring out how much to increase for yourselves, but I just wanted to let you know that this is very common. Also, watch out for the couple of days at the end of the cold. My son always runs low then.
Hang in there. This is a big adjustment period (obviously), but things will get better and easier to manage.
I’ve got a few answers for you possibly. I was diagnosed 28 years ago and started on the Omnipod last December. It’s quite an adjustment, but I’ve enjoyed it overall. I would suggest waiting on the pump until she is able to get her blood sugars in line with shots and carb counting (of course I trust your doctor). Sick management is a lot of trial and error. I take 2x the amount of blood tests now that I’m on the pod, generally 6-8 a day when everything is working (excessive physical activity or illness - more tests).
My 5 tear old son was diagnosed this February, but we’re waiting at least a year to make sure his insulin production has stopped and to get im comfy with all of the steps needed. Most schools are required to offer introductory diabetes awareness sessions for teachers and administrators which should help in that atmosphere. Wishing you guys the best.
My daughter was diagnosed T1 18 months ago and is also 11 years old. She started the omnipod 2 weeks ago with GREAT success. She would welcome a chance to chat with your daughter. Message me at erintouw@gmail.com and I can get you her email address. Hang in there! She will get through this rough patch!
It’s hard. I was 15 when I was diagnosed so it was a little different because I was slightly older but I found the biggest thing that helped me was knowing I could do it myself. Make sure as you’re doing things Kennedy understands what you’re doing and let her take it over (with supervision as needed) as soon as possible. That will put both you and her in a better place when she’s with friends and away from you. It’s hard at first (I was diagnosed about 5 days before school started and the two at once is a really difficult combo) but you will pull through this. I’m not EVER going to say diabetes is a good thing but it will make you both stronger in ways you never would have imagined once your through the initial shock.
wow thanks everyone for the advice, we did talk to endo yesterday and get ratio’s switched around. We are looking at a pump start date of sept 23 so that is exciting!
My son is 12 and in middle school. Our 504 lets him do what ever he needs t do so good luck with yours. When we were first diagnoised we struggled to0 because of being different. my best advice is to breathe and take it one bs at a time! Good luck! 2 years and counting!
I was diagnosed when I was 11 years old. From personal experience, I admit it was a HUGE adjustment period because my friends, and even my siblings did not understand what I was going through or how I felt. It’s difficult for a child when you’re the “oddball out” so to speak. I think the biggest thing that helped me adjust and deal with bad days was to know that I was in control and had the power to change things for myself, with lots of support for my parents. I had a huge team of doctors (endocrinologist, nutritionist, therapist) that I saw frequently and I went to a few training sessions to learn how to properly give myself insulin, determine how to adjust my dosages when I was sick (or on my cycle), how to gauge portion sizes, and also how to adjust to living with diabetes around my friends, which at that age, was the most important to me!
I was able to check my sugar in the nurse’s office anytime I wanted to in school and I was able to carry bottled water and snacks with me to eat in class if I felt low. You might want to look into keeping insulin, glucose tablets, and a glucagon shot in the nurse’s office.
My best advice though is to ask her doctors and search local hospitals/diabetes centers for support groups for adolescents. I attended a few of these in my area and it was great to be able to “fit it” with kids that understood exactly what I was experiencing!
Oh - and for some mom and daughter pampering, check out a pampering event at www.divabetic.org. I did this with my mom, sisters and a good friend and we had a BLAST!
Last but not least… when she’s overwhelmed and frustrated, try to stay positive and upbeat. She’s learning things about her body that most 11 year olds aren’t mature enough or cognitively able to comprehend yet. She’ll need a few hugs.
My daughter is 10 and was diagnosed a year ago. Emma will be going on the pump in November (Omnipod). We are in Canada so use different measurements for insulin, but everything else is the same. Emma would love to start emailing your daughter if she is ready to talk. We have a great school that makes it really simple for Emma to test whenever and wherever she wants! Emma showed a JDRF video on diabetes and a small presentation to her division. They were all really receptive and had a lot of questions. It really helped that everyone knew what she was going through. Let us know if you want to talk!
Tammy
We experienced something very similiar. 18 months with T1 and still in the honeymoon. Since beginning the omnipod we are even using less insulin than when just using humalog and lantus. Our endo explained that with the pump the body is now getting small amounts throughout the day at a more precise dose- more similiar to a working pancreas. She was on 5 units of Lantus and her basal rate is only .12 per hour now…enjoy the crazy honeymoon ride.
